When the First World War started in 1914, opposing armies still used cavalry, and the horseman looked down on the humble dispatch rider and his motorcycle with some disdain. But this would quickly develop into the first mechanical war, and the horse was relegated to a pack animal.
Triumph supplied 30,000 side-valve 550cc Model H singles to the Allied war effort, while Douglas contributed 25,000 of the 350cc flat-twins that became renowned for having an engine that ran as smooth as a sewing machine.
Meanwhile, the American motorcycle industry shipped 15,000 Harley-Davidsons and 41,000 Indians to Europe. When peace came in 1918, it would be reasonable to assume that, as Indian had made substantial profits from supplying so many motorcycles to the Government, they would be in a much stronger position. But that’s not how it worked out.
The Hendee Manufacturing Co (makers of
