345:
engine, this model was not successful and went out of production in 1919. Franklin certainly developed a high performance version of
Charles Gustafson's Powerplus engine, to the extent that the side-valve engine became the main design used in American high-performance motorcycles, supplanting more expensive overhead valve, multiple valve, and overhead camshaft designs used earlier on racing motorcycles, and persisting well beyond World War II in Class C racing in the United States.
352:, a mid-sized motorcycle with a 37 cubic inches (610 cc) engine. Design improvements over Indian's larger motorcycles included a gearbox bolted to the engine and driven by helical-cut gears instead of a primary chain. Franklin's 1922 Indian Chief used a larger version of the Scout's drivetrain design. Compared to the Powerplus-powered motorcycle it replaced, the Chief had dual camshafts, gear drive similar to that of the Scout, and a wet clutch.
260:, in which he enrolled in its foundation year of 1894, he lived with his paternal grandfather, Robert Franklin. Upon leaving St. Andrew's Franklin was accepted into the civil service and began training as an electrical engineer. Upon completion of his training Franklin was appointed to the post of engineer at the
305:
frame. The trial was used to select
Britain's team for the Coupe International races of 1905. Only Ariel rider J. S. Campbell and Matchless rider (and co-owner) Harry Collier finished the trial; Franklin was selected as the third team member based on his speed and consistency during the trial. His
40:
1163:
His side-valve racers became the fastest things on the track, utterly defying accepted engineering principles. Indian's side-valve
Powerplus-based racers were so good they drove the exotic eight-valve works machines into obsolescence, even forcing arch-rival Harley-Davidson to channel its racing
379:
In the second half of 1931 Franklin took a leave of absence from Indian to rest and recover his health, although at first he continued to work from a drawing office at his home. He died from complications due to intestinal cancer during the night of 19 October 1932. He left behind his wife Annie
344:
as one of his earliest assignments, it is not known for certain who designed this model and
Franklin himself had only been at the factory for three months when it first went on sale at Indian dealerships in February 1917. A lightweight motorcycle with a 15.7 cubic inches (257 cc) flat-twin
320:
Franklin began racing Indian motorcycles in 1910, and competed on one in the
Tourist Trophy in May of that year. The riders of Indians at that race had persistent tyre problems; Franklin and three other Indian riders had tyre failures and did not finish. That August Franklin left his job at the
306:
participation in the 1905 Coupe
International made him the first Irishman to participate in international motorcycle competition. Franklin competed with the British team in the 1906 Coupe International on another JAP special, this time with Harry Collier and his brother Charlie on Matchlesses.
316:
Franklin entered every Isle of Man T.T. race from 1908 to 1914. When he finished, he finished in the top ten, but he did not finish in 1910 and 1912. His best finish in the Isle of Man T.T. was second place, where he was part of the Indian team that finished first, second, and third.
252:
Franklin had already survived his own bout of scarlet fever when, in his teens, he contracted pneumonia and nearly died from it. Despite his illnesses, he became his parents' first child to survive to adulthood. Two of his younger brothers would also survive to adulthood.
328:
in
September 1915 led to the closing of Indian's Dublin depot in October 1916. Franklin, the manager of the depot, was given a position in the Indian's design department at their headquarters in Massachusetts, and left for the United States in November 1916.
321:
Rathmines power station and became a dealer in Indian motorcycles. He rode and tuned
Indians exclusively from then on. In June 1912 he rode an Indian eight-valve model at Brooklands to become the first man to cover 300 miles in 300 minutes.
992:
Apparently, Indian took the need seriously, because top designer
Charles Franklin drew plans for a three-wheeled vehicle based on the popular Indian 101 Scout chassis, fitted with either a 37-cubic-inch or an optional 45-cubic-inch V-twin
1055:
As it turned out, the Model O was exactly what motorcyclists didn't want. Its small motor didn't excite enthusiasts, and the dropping prices of mass-produced cars effectively destroyed the market for motorcycles as cheap
367:
had the same frame geometry, which, in the lighter 101 Scout, resulted in exceptional handling and stability. Franklin later designed a three-wheeled utility vehicle, the 1931 Dispatch Tow, based on the Model 101 frame.
359:, a single-cylinder 21 cubic inches (340 cc) lightweight motorcycle which preceded Harley-Davidson's equivalent single-cylinder models by one year Franklin generally approved Arthur Lemon's development of the
285:
annual race meeting at
Crystal Palace, London; his first track event and his first event outside Ireland. He won one of the five heats and finished third in the final. His first motorcycles were Belgian
380:(a.k.a. Nancye), whom he had married in Dublin in July 1907, and his daughter Phyllis, born in Dublin in September 1908. Nancye and Phyllis Franklin had arrived in the United States in May 1920.
290:
single-cylinder machines, which he rode in the reliability trials and beach speed trials in 1903 and 1904 and at the 1904 Crystal Palace event. As at May 1905 he had also ridden
324:
Franklin was recruited into the Indian company in late 1914 and tasked with establishment of an Indian depot in Dublin. The depot had opened by May 1915. The imposition of the
332:
In June 1916, in his last race in Ireland, Franklin rode a Featherweight Model K two-stroke single, winning the prize for best performance by a motorcycle under 300 cc.
1209:
371:
Franklin also designed highly successful racing motors in a range of valve configurations from side-valve to overhead-valve (both 2-valve and 4-valve) and overhead-cam.
1214:
214:
of 1922, and the Indian 101 Scout of 1928. Prior to this, he had been part of the Indian motorcycle team that won first, second, and third place in the
309:
Discussions during the team's return from the 1906 Coupe International on the shortcomings of the organisation of the race led to the creation of the
313:, which was first run the next year. Franklin entered the inaugural 1907 Tourist Trophy, but withdrew his entry two weeks before the race meet.
1204:
363:
design, which Indian acquired in 1927, and he redesigned the Scout for 1928. The resulting Indian 401 four-cylinder motorcycle and
281:
In 1903 Franklin began competing in reliability trials, hill climbs and beach racing. On 24 September 1904 he participated in the
1219:
297:
On 29 May 1905, Franklin competed as a private entrant at the Auto Cycle Club's trial on the Isle of Man on a "special" with a
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20:
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245:; which became 18 Whitworth Road after the road was renumbered in 1883 or 1884. Three of his siblings died from
1194:
249:
in the previous year, and another, a sister, died from the disease and was buried four days after he was born.
957:
Franklin's Indians: Irish motorcycle racer Charles B Franklin, designer of the Indian Scout & Chief
117:
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Franklin was born on 1 October 1880 to Lorenzo Bruce Clutterbuck Franklin, a
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976:"1936 Indian Dispatch-Tow – Sometimes, three wheels are better than two"
1136:"The Rise and Fall – A Century Later, Looking Back at the Indian Brand"
955:
Sucher, Harry V; Pickering, Tim; Diamond, Liam; Havelin, Harry (2011).
302:
39:
1146:(6). Pickerington OH USA: American Motorcyclist Association]: 28–34.
265:
198:(13 October 1880 – 19 October 1932) was an engineer and a motorcycle
1038:(10). Pickerington OH USA: American Motorcyclist Association]: 71.
340:
Although Franklin has been credited with the design of the 1917
241:
Bayly. He was born at 1 St. Patrick's Villas, Whitworth Road,
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218:, finishing in second place. Franklin was inducted into the
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982:. Topeka, Kansas, USA: Ogden Publications. pp. 1–3
869:
845:
785:
419:"Charles Franklin at the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame"
237:
and iron merchant, and his wife, Annie Honor Wrixon,
857:
797:
1210:Irish expatriate sportspeople in the United States
1000:
749:
574:
572:
598:
1171:
999:Wilson, Hugo (1995). "The A-Z of Motorcycles".
569:
1215:People educated at St Andrew's College, Dublin
1134:Youngblood, Ed (June 2001). Wood, Bill (ed.).
19:For other people named Charles Franklin, see
1164:budget toward side-valve engine development.
335:
1133:
779:
767:
38:
1114:(6). American Motorcyclist Association].
1078:(1). American Motorcyclist Association].
1102:Possibly the best bike Indian ever built
973:
875:
580:"TT Database Race Results: C B Franklin"
63:1 St. Patrick's Villas, Whitworth Road,
1100:"Museum Classic: 1929 Indian 101 Scout
1064:"Museum Classic: 1923 Indian Big Chief
1007:. London: Dorling Kindersley. pp.
606:"TT Database TT 1911 Senior TT Results"
1172:
998:
851:
791:
276:
271:
1097:
1061:
863:
803:
1205:Motorsport people from County Dublin
1025:
755:
610:The official Isle of Man TT website]
974:Williams, Greg (March–April 2011).
584:The official Isle of Man TT website
149:Motorcycle racing career statistics
16:Irish motorcycle designer and racer
13:
1003:The Encyclopedia of the Motorcycle
202:. He designed motorcycles for the
14:
1231:
1062:Wood, Bill, ed. (January 2002a).
21:Charles Franklin (disambiguation)
1026:Wood, Bill, ed. (October 2001).
294:and Royal Progress motorcycles.
181:1 (1911, Senior TT second place)
44:Franklin on an Indian Motorcycle
1220:People from Drumcondra, Dublin
1098:Wood, Bill, ed. (June 2002b).
1:
948:
228:
361:Ace four-cylinder motorcycle
258:St. Andrew's College, Dublin
7:
1190:Indian Motorcycle designers
348:Franklin then designed the
10:
1236:
1066:The beginning of a classic
311:Isle of Man Tourist Trophy
118:Isle of Man Tourist Trophy
85:Springfield, Massachusetts
18:
1028:"Classics – 1917 Model O"
464:, pp. 10, 11, 18–19.
355:After designing the 1925
336:United States (1916–1932)
206:, including the original
153:
148:
144:
136:
132:
108:
100:
92:
72:
49:
37:
30:
383:
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204:Indian Motocycle Company
1200:Irish motorcycle racers
223:Motorcycle Hall of Fame
959:. Panther Publishing.
421:. motorcyclemuseum.org
210:of 1920, the original
196:Charles Bayly Franklin
32:Charles Bayly Franklin
1195:Isle of Man TT riders
1140:American Motorcyclist
1108:American Motorcyclist
1072:American Motorcyclist
1032:American Motorcyclist
729:, pp. 115, 128.
612:. UK: Duke Marketing
586:. UK: Duke Marketing
980:Motorcycle Classics
681:, pp. 108–109.
301:V-twin engine in a
277:Ireland (1903–1916)
272:Motorcycling career
216:1911 Isle of Man TT
939:Sucher et al. 2011
927:Sucher et al. 2011
915:Sucher et al. 2011
903:Sucher et al. 2011
888:Sucher et al. 2011
840:Sucher et al. 2011
828:Sucher et al. 2011
816:Sucher et al. 2011
744:Sucher et al. 2011
727:Sucher et al. 2011
715:Sucher et al. 2011
703:Sucher et al. 2011
691:Sucher et al. 2011
679:Sucher et al. 2011
667:Sucher et al. 2011
655:Sucher et al. 2011
643:Sucher et al. 2011
631:Sucher et al. 2011
564:Sucher et al. 2011
552:Sucher et al. 2011
540:Sucher et al. 2011
528:Sucher et al. 2011
516:Sucher et al. 2011
504:Sucher et al. 2011
492:Sucher et al. 2011
477:Sucher et al. 2011
462:Sucher et al. 2011
447:Sucher et al. 2011
406:Sucher et al. 2011
243:Drumcondra, Dublin
114:Indian motorcycles
83:71 School Street,
966:978-0-9564975-5-0
633:, pp. 59–60.
554:, pp. 33–34.
506:, pp. 25–27.
283:Auto Cycle Club's
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67:, Dublin, Ireland
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28:
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1056:transportation.
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76:19 October 1932
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943:
941:, p. 209.
931:
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905:, p. 307.
892:
890:, p. 303.
880:
868:
856:
854:, p. 105.
844:
842:, p. 290.
832:
830:, p. 282.
820:
818:, p. 253.
808:
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794:, p. 104.
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705:, p. 118.
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326:McKenna duties
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155:Isle of Man TT
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110:
109:Known for
106:
105:
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98:
97:
94:
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82:
80:(aged 52)
74:
70:
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62:
60:1 October 1880
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34:
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15:
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6:
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3:
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1018:0-7513-0206-6
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981:
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972:
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958:
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935:
929:, p. 43.
928:
923:
917:, p. 38.
916:
911:
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897:
889:
884:
877:
876:Williams 2011
872:
866:, p. 79.
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848:
841:
836:
829:
824:
817:
812:
806:, p. 63.
805:
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782:, p. 31.
781:
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770:, p. 30.
769:
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758:, p. 71.
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645:, p. 61.
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611:
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566:, p. 37.
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542:, p. 33.
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530:, p. 30.
529:
524:
518:, p. 28.
517:
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494:, p. 25.
493:
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479:, p. 24.
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357:Indian Prince
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262:power station
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247:scarlet fever
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165:7 (1908–1914)
164:
162:TTs contested
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1155:. Retrieved
1143:
1139:
1123:. Retrieved
1111:
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1101:
1087:. Retrieved
1075:
1071:
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1054:
1047:. Retrieved
1035:
1031:
1002:
991:
984:. Retrieved
979:
956:
934:
922:
910:
883:
878:, p. 1.
871:
859:
847:
835:
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811:
799:
787:
775:
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751:
722:
710:
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686:
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626:
614:. Retrieved
609:
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588:. Retrieved
583:
559:
547:
535:
523:
511:
499:
449:, p. 6.
423:. Retrieved
413:
408:, p. 5.
378:
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347:
339:
331:
323:
319:
315:
308:
296:
280:
255:
251:
238:
232:
212:Indian Chief
208:Indian Scout
195:
194:
126:Indian Chief
122:Indian Scout
78:(1932-10-19)
25:
1185:1932 deaths
1180:1880 births
852:Wilson 1995
792:Wilson 1995
137:Nationality
128:motorcycles
93:Nationality
1174:Categories
949:References
864:Wood 2002b
804:Wood 2002a
425:18 January
350:1920 Scout
303:Chater-Lea
235:shipwright
229:Early life
178:TT podiums
101:Occupation
65:Drumcondra
56:1880-10-01
1152:0277-9358
1120:0277-9358
1084:0277-9358
1044:0277-9358
756:Wood 2001
266:Rathmines
256:While at
225:in 2016.
1125:13 April
1089:13 April
104:Engineer
1157:30 July
1049:30 July
1009:104–105
993:engine.
986:30 July
616:30 July
590:30 July
342:Model O
170:TT wins
116:at the
112:Racing
1150:
1118:
1082:
1042:
1015:
963:
292:Humber
157:career
384:Notes
375:Death
200:racer
140:Irish
96:Irish
1159:2011
1148:ISSN
1127:2015
1116:ISSN
1091:2015
1080:ISSN
1051:2011
1040:ISSN
1013:ISBN
988:2011
961:ISBN
618:2011
592:2011
427:2018
124:and
87:, US
73:Died
50:Born
299:JAP
264:at
239:née
220:AMA
1176::
1161:.
1144:55
1142:.
1138:.
1112:56
1110:.
1106:.
1076:56
1074:.
1070:.
1053:.
1036:55
1034:.
1030:.
1011:.
990:.
978:.
895:^
734:^
608:.
582:.
571:^
484:^
469:^
454:^
435:^
392:^
288:FN
268:.
1129:.
1104:"
1093:.
1068:"
1021:.
969:.
746:.
620:.
594:.
429:.
173:0
58:)
54:(
23:.
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