This past weekend I made a difficult decision to let something go that had a special place in my heart – my 1954 Indian Princess Bicycle. I found this beauty a few months back at an estate sale north of Sanford and knew it was special the moment I set my eyes upon it. The embossed Indian Princess logo, the smooth lines of the fenders, the vintage 1961-62 Michigan Bicycle License Decal, and the rusty chrome were different than any other I had ventured upon before. The current owner let it deteriorate on their front porch for many years before it made its way to their sale. Matter of fact, I believe they thought I was crazy for wanting to take this rusted beauty home with me. Thankfully, my supportive partner Lisa knows that I have a love for bicycles and she didn’t question my interest one bit. Lisa has a similar relationship with vintage flamingos.
Well, the bicycle found shelter for several months in my workshop before a decision had to be made. What do I do with the bike? My workshop is already crowded with many unfinished projects and funds are a little tight to consider a complete restoration, given a baby is on its way in a matter of weeks. We even considered using the bicycle as a lawn decoration, however I could not quite resolve intentionally allowing this unique piece of history to decay further. The only real solution seemed to be finding a new owner that would either appreciate the heritage of this bicycle or find someone who would ride it. This is where Skip comes into the picture. The bicycle and Skip were destined to meet.
Skip is a collector of all things manufactured by Indian and is assembling an Indian Bicycle Collection. He is currently in possession of a motorized Indian Bicycle, an Indian Scout, and has been searching for years for an Indian Princess and Indian Chief to round out his collection. It was indeed his lucky day because he won $300 in the Florida lottery before spotting my ad through a Google Search. Thanks to Skip and his desire to have a museum quality collection, my bicycle will be completely restored within a matter of months and stand proudly with its family. Of course, it will no longer be mine. However as the saying goes, sometimes if you love something, you have to let it go free. In this case, it is definitely the right decision and maybe one day Skip will send me a picture of our Indian Princess.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I really enjoyed this entry Sean.
Keep on writing……..
xo,
Kim
Thank you Kim. Skip called last night after reading the post on the internet and he is making great strides on restoring the bicycle. He is inviting Lisa and I over for the unveiling in the near future. We’ll take photos!
Great story..great ending. You must post the unveiling pics !
congrats on baby kathryn, i love the buggy – i also am a vintage/shabby chic gal – i love it all – let me know when the indian princess is restored – can’t wait!
thanks kim, she’s so great – never met but, she has a spirit about her.
well, i’ll visit again – thanks for sharing – maria – cottage feel
I talked to Skip a few days ago and he is hard at work on the bicycle. He is nearing a debut party!
Hello Sean,
I recently found a mostly-dissolved Indian Princess bicycle in a creek on a project site I was working at in metro ATL. The only thing salvageable was the stamped logo plate on the head tube (like your 3rd photo above). It was pretty rusted, but the face and lettering are all there and we’ve removed the majority of the rust with vinegar and a tooth brush. Our restoration project is a bit smaller scale than the fellow who purchased the bike from you, but I’m hoping to polish it up and make a necklace out of this for my wife.
Not sure if you have any experience with restoring rusted metal, but if you have any tips that’d be great. The metal is pretty rough (matte) after the rust, so we need someway to polish it up.
Take care,
-Joel
please conatact me. I am restoring my mother indian and I am looking for the decals and other parts. If you can please help. thanks
Skip – it looks like Brian could use some help. Please reply if you are following this discussion. Thank you!
I have an Indian Princess that is in excellent condition. No rust on frame or rims and has been garaged since being purchased new by my aunt. It has been in my garage for the last 10 years and I am thinking about letting it go……Original….seat….grips…..tires (I think) etc…..Email me if anyone is interested…I will take pics soon…..
Download the Indian bicycles parts catalog for free at sunnymeadcycles.com/aboutus
I do not see where the parts cat. is for the indian bicycles can you sent or post the link,,, tks
Sean…..
If Skip is a true Indian Princess collector I have a bike he might be interested in purchasing. It is an all orininal Princess from the late 50′s and was purchased new by my aunt who is now 88. I have had it in my garage for the last 10 or so years. It is green with the tan seat..no rust and all the orininal decals and markings. Pass on the post and I will check back in the near future. My direct email is kellarocmd@aol.com
I am also ready to let my Indian Princess go but I need help finding her a new home. She moved to Washington State with us and I don’t want her to rust here!
Sean, I can identify with your love of the Indian Princess bicycle. It is a beauty with its sleek lines and delicate touch of chrome on the front fender. It is a sturdy lightweight bike built to last generations.
My sister was lucky to borrow one from our Aunt Joy when we were about 13. It had belonged to our first cousin, Shirley. (We’d outgrown our 20 inch kids’ bikes and felt so grown up getting our three speeds in sixth grade. The only new bikes we ever received were our first ones, the tricycles pre-kindergarten.) Having used bikes didn’t bother us, but I would have preferred a girl’s bike considering my used 3 speed Schwinn was a boy’s bike, though I was happy to have it. Plus I enjoyed seeing Dad smile at having paid only $15 for it.
So I envied my sister’s acquisition of the Indian Princess. It was a girl’s bike. In 1976, my cousin decided to claim her Princess and took it home. Recently, I asked her about it, “Do you still have the Indian Princess Bicycle?” And she replied, “That, old thing! It’s long gone.”
I was crushed. How I wished I’d never answered the door the day she came and picked up the borrowed bike! For the last ten years I’ve been searching for an Indian Princess and this weekend after a long search I finally found my bicycle. I bought it used at a local flea market for $107.00. She wanted $125, but agreed to take the smaller amount since it was all the money I had.
Mine is not the elusive Indian Princess, but still I’m certain it is a Phillip’s bicycle and a twin to the Princess called “The Meteor”. It looks identical to the picture and is black with a white accented back fender. I consider it to be in perfect stored condition. So sometimes the things you desire come to you even though it may be a long time coming. And I plan on riding it!
Thank you for sharing Donna! Happy trails.
my brother has one of these bikes for sale if anyone is intersted, he wants 300 hundred for it and lifes in fl, you can contact me threw my email addess at cdrinkwater52057@gmail.com
My husband is trying to restore an old bike he found for me 4o years ago. At first I thought he was crazy. “That old bike”. I can see now how many people love these bikes. He has 10 other bikes so I am starting to worry about his bike fetish!