About this project
B.R. Howard was contracted by a prominent car and motorcycle collector to conserve the oldest 1902 Indian motorcycle in existence. The camelback, #114 was the 14th Indian ever produced and it was still in its original, unrestored condition.
What we did
Indian #114 was thoroughly photo documented before any work began. Paint samples were collected and sent out for analysis.
A consolidant was used to stabilize the paint in order to prevent further flaking, tenting, and additional loss. This coating was adjusted to match the existing gloss unit level of the paint so that it would not alter the appearance. All active corrosion was mechanically reduced using a combination of methods and techniques. Chelating gels were also mixed up in our lab and applied to areas of the painted surfaces where rust staining had bleed through and discolored the paint. Custom aqueous solutions and gels were formulated to clean the surfaces of the bike which dramatically improved the overall aesthetic.
The procedures described above were systematically integrated and often overlapped in areas to ensure that all surfaces were properly treated and stabilized. The conservation work performed on the Indian motorcycle was executed by graduate trained conservators and conservation technicians that followed all ethical guidelines set forth by the American Institute for Conservation (AIC).
The bike eventually was displayed at The Quail, a Motorsports Gathering where it won the “Spirit of the Quail Award”.