Topic: This Is About 1947.

[bill440cars]

       Hope this picture turns out okay and will be just big enough to but not so big that I can't post it. Now that it has come out, I want to say I have no idea why my Grandfather looks the way he does in this because he doesn't look that way in the actual picture. That is the Showroom area with somjavascript:void(0);
Some1947" Chiefs on it. This isn't the actual picture that I was looking for but, you get the idea. I've got a couple of others that I'm gonna try to get to where I can post them too. I hope they will be as interesting to you as they are to me.
                                              Later on, Bill

[medic09]

Keep 'em comin', Bill!  That's cool history there...

[bill440cars]

Keep 'em comin', Bill!  That's cool history there...

             Thanks medic,

                        I appreciate that, my Dad said that he was in the forth grade when my Grandfather started the business up. He started out by buying up enough parts bike and parts, to build an older model Chief, put a sidecar frame on it with a box on the frame and scoured the countryside with a friend, looking for old bikes and parts. What ever he picked up on was put in 1 of 2 categories (Use For Parts or Build To Sale) and that shop was in business until Dec 67. when he died.

                                                      Later on, Bill          

[bma300]

Bill, thats a great pic.  Seems your history goes way back with motorcycles.  Keep the pics coming so everyone can enjoy.

[750rus]

great picture of some of your heritage! those old pics are great!

[bill440cars]

Thanks bma & 750, I've got 2 more and I'm having a bit of a problem getting them sown to size. Bear with me, okay? I've always said that I was practically born on a motorcycle and my Mom always insisted that she thought I was at least half motorcycle because that's about all I ever though or talked about. Do you guys see anything wrong with that?

                                                            Later on, Bill

                                     
                         

               

[scunny]

nice pic Bill, looks like he started out with a bit of room in his shop, I bet it was pretty cramped when he finished.

[grumburg]

Bill: What a great shot! When men were men and appreciated every day. My uncle survived WWII and said "every day is a bonus".

[grumburg]

Bill: What a great shot! When men were men and appreciated every day. My uncle survived WWII and said "every day is a bonus".

[bill440cars]

nice pic Bill, looks like he started out with a bit of room in his shop, I bet it was pretty cramped when he finished.

           scunny, even though I don't remember being in that shop until around 7yrs old or so, I've been told that, I'd been running around down there since I could walk. I've never seen the "shop" (as we called it) that empty looking. The area from the center post and over to the right, had counters there with motorcycles between there and the rear of the shop. Basically, there were 2 bays to work in and along the wall, between the picture window (on the left) and the large door (to the right of the window) was were the used motorcycles and the customers motorcycles were parked. You can bet that I've got a lot of memories from those days and that place. Sadly, my Dad doesn't remember a lot of the things I bring up but , then again, he does remember things that I don't or am a little sketchy on. I wish I had of gotten info from him and my Grandfather when the time was better.                                 Later on, Bill

[bill440cars]

Bill: What a great shot! When men were men and appreciated every day. My uncle survived WWII and said "every day is a bonus".

         You are absolutely right, grumburg. There was a whole different attitude back then. Of course, since that picture was taken the year I was born, it would be a bit before I really knew what life was like back then. My Dad is a WWII veteran also. After he did his part in WWII, he joined the Army Reserves, when the were formed, became a Warrant Officer around 56' and retired in 85' as a CW4.

             I was hoping you all would appreciate the picture and as soon as I can get the other 2, I have with me, I'll get them on.
                                                             Later on, Bill                    

[upperlake04]

Bill - strange how these b+w images on paper are so precious and mean so much to us. My father gave me some old photographs of his fathers that go back to 1887-1945.  There are undoubtaby my most cherished possessions and if there was only one article I could keep , it would be that box of personal history. I think its about connection and belonging.

[gerhed]

Great pic, Bill.
Like to see more--bigger too.

Gerhed

[bill440cars]

       Hey Dave,
               You are so right about things like pictures and such, from back when. That is incredible that you have that cover back as far as 1887. That's Fantastic.
                                           

Great pic, Bill.
Like to see more--bigger too.

Gerhed

           Hey Phil,
                  Soon as I can get them sized so that I can post them, I will. I've got one of my Dad's transportation, when he met my Mom, and it's a cross mounted V-Twin Shaft Drive (I think it was called an 871). That was their only transportation for a while. The other one is in front of the front door of "The Shop" and it is of my Grandfather and 2 fellow riders with their Indian Chiefs. I would like to post them all bigger but, I'm lucky to be able to post them at all. Can you or anybody else enlarge them? Be my guest.

                                                                   Later on, Bill