Oscar Hedströms minnessten

Here is a memorial stone to the designer of the Indian motorcycle - Carl Oscar Hedström.

The foundation stones from the hut he was born in 1871 are still there.

The whole family emigrated to the USA in 1880 and Carl Oscar soon showed great talent for mechanics.

He was also an accomplished racing cyclist and in 1899 designed a very fast Pacer, a motorized tandem bicycle designed to break the air resistance of racing cyclists. He met the racing cyclist Hendee and the two signed a contract in 1901 for Hedström to design and build a 'light' motorcycle for everyday use.

This was the first Indian motorcycle. The Indian was the first American motorcycle and, by 1907, the most technologically advanced, with its twin V-engine.

The name Indian stood for something that goes everywhere and was straight and enduring.

Oscar Hedström died in 1954, aged 83.