Oscar Hedstrom

Carl Oscar Hedstrom (1902)

Indian 1908 Twin (in 2003)

Carl Oscar Hedstrom (* March 12, 1871 as Carl Oscar Hedström in Lönneberga , Sweden , † August 29, 1960 in Portland , Connecticut ) was a Swedish - American inventor , motorcycle pioneer and co-founder of the Indian Motocycle Company . Hedstrom was considered a technical genius and in the 1900s as "America's best motorcycle developer".

Life

Hedstrom was born in Sweden. In 1880 his family emigrated to the United States . At the age of 16 Hedstrom learned the trade of toolmaker in a watch factory and graduated as a journeyman. Hedstrom, enthusiastic about the emerging cycling sport, also devoted himself in his free time to improving bicycles and pacemaker machines with De Dion Bouton motors for racing, which he and his partner Henshaw successfully used from 1899 onwards. In January 1901, Oscar Hedstrom met businessman George Hendee , who was interested in his technical skills. The Indian Motocycle Company was founded in 1901 . Hedstrom drew an engine that was a copy of Emil F. Hafelfinger's engine, which in turn borrowed from De-Dion-Bouton. Hedstrom completed three copies of his new engine in 1901. Until 1913, Hedstrom was in charge of the technical development of Indian - at that time the largest motorcycle factory in the world.

Hedstrom was extremely inventive and held several patents , among others

Chain Tensioner (August 26, 1902)
" Camel back tank " with two separate containers for petrol and oil (August 26, 1902)
Ignition advance (May 12, 1903)
Carburetor (June 9, 1903)
Throttle Grip (July 12, 1904)
Pendulum Fork (January 10, 1905)
Leaf spring fork and rear suspension (June 23, 1914).

On March 28, 1903, Hedstrom set an (unofficial) world speed record for motorcycles of 56 mph (90 km / h) with an Indian in Ormond Beach . In 1913 he sold his shares in the company, retired from business and lived in Portland for the rest of his life.

Web links

Commons : Oscar Hedstrom - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

↑ Dirk Mootz: Indian designer Carl Oscar Hedström. In: Classic Motorrad: 2/2014. ISSN 0937-9495 ., Pp. 84-89
^ Wolfgang Wiesner: American motorcycles . Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart, 2nd edition 1992. ISBN 3-613-01362-2 , p. 17
↑ US Patent 707923 (accessed January 8, 2014)
↑ US Patent 707922 (accessed January 8, 2014)
↑ US Patent 727944 (accessed January 8, 2014)
↑ US Patent 730649 (accessed January 13, 2014)
↑ US Patent 765138 (accessed January 8, 2014)
↑ US Patent 779709 (accessed January 8, 2014)
↑ US Patent 1101435 (accessed January 8, 2014)
↑ motorcyclemuseum.org Oscar Hedstrom (accessed January 7, 2014)

personal data
SURNAME	Hedstrom, Oscar
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Hedstrom, Carl Oscar (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American inventor
DATE OF BIRTH	March 12, 1871
PLACE OF BIRTH	Lönneberga , Sweden
DATE OF DEATH	August 29, 1960
Place of death	Portland (Connecticut)

[1] Dirk Mootz: Indian designer Carl Oscar Hedström. In: Classic Motorrad: 2/2014. ISSN 0937-9495 ., Pp. 84-89

[2] Wolfgang Wiesner: American motorcycles . Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart, 2nd edition 1992. ISBN 3-613-01362-2 , p. 17

[3] US Patent 707923 (accessed January 8, 2014)

[4] US Patent 707922 (accessed January 8, 2014)

[5] US Patent 727944 (accessed January 8, 2014)

[6] US Patent 730649 (accessed January 13, 2014)

[7] US Patent 765138 (accessed January 8, 2014)

[8] US Patent 779709 (accessed January 8, 2014)

[9] US Patent 1101435 (accessed January 8, 2014)

[10] torcyclemuseum.org Oscar Hedstrom (accessed January 7, 2014)