Oddball motorcycle engines

Here's the first entry. It is a 1929 Indian Scout 45". It has an OHV set-up, with hemi heads, chief valves, chief intake, Bonneville cams, and has been converted to a recirculate oiling system. It was built in 1939 by Elmer Turner. It is probably oddball because it is the only one he made. He was an Indian dealer, and also worked with John Deere. He had the parts cast in the JD factory. Elmer designed this engine and made the patterns for it. He wanted something to outdo the new Knucklehead that HD came up with. He originally made a road machine out of it. In that form he rode to Springfield, Mass., to show it to the factory guys. The honchos all gathered 'round, rode it, agreed it'd show a 61" Knuck nothing but Indian tail lights, and generally were very enthusiastic about it. He then offered them the rights to make it, for free. He was a true blue Indian man. They turned him down, and told him to go back to Iowa and sell what was already made. He did just that. It has been said that his wife was of a healthy size, and that the little 45 showed what it had, hauling the two of them to Springfield and back! Later it was sold to a fellow that turned it into a hill climber and campaigned it in the midwest. The frame had to be heavily modified to fit this engine due to it's tremendous height. The crossmember that is under the gas tank was removed, it's front casting turned upside down and raised about 2", the rear casting was removed completely, and a curved tube fitted. The gas tank is a heavily modified '26 Scout item. I hope you enjoy seeing a pic of this motorcycle oddity.

 

Here's entry #2.

It's a 1903-1905 Chicago 400. These are listed as no known survivors, so I guess this does not exist. It was made by Hoffman in Chicago. They also made a V twin. This one has a 1 digit serial number. They also made general use engines for farms, etc. The rod is bronze, and very roughly sandcast. It is a physically large engine for this era, most were tiny. It is not known how many were made, but it can't have been too many. The bikes were also known as Hoffman.

Sorry the pic is sideways, I don't know how to turn it around.......