Despite its innocuous name and unintimidating appearance, the Indian Papoose actually started out as an instrument of war – and a clandestine one at that! In the early days of World War II, the UK's Special Operations Executive, charged with supporting resistance cells throughout occupied Europe, called for development of a lightweight motorcycle that could be air-dropped with an operative behind enemy lines. The work was farmed out to a secret SOE facility, codename Station IX, in the town of Welwyn just north of London. By happy circumstance Station IX was commanded by Lt. Colonel John Dolphin, an experienced rider, and among the staff was Harry Lester, a former race bike engineer. The Corgi's emigration to America was more by coincidence than any great marketing strategy. Brockhouse Engineering of Southport, on the northwest coast of England, manufactured the bikes for Corgi – the same Brockhouse that by 1951 had purchased the rights to Indian and was looking to broaden the model line. Which is how the Welbike became the Corgi became the Papoose! Altogether some 27,000 were built before production ceased in 1954. The Jalbert Collection's Papoose, a 1953 example, is complete – albeit having suffered a minor electrical malady – and would be an excellent candidate for restoration. It is sold on a bill of sale
Despite its innocuous name and unintimidating appearance, the Indian Papoose actually started out as an instrument of war – and a clandestine one at that! In the early days of World War II, the UK's Special Operations Executive, charged with supporting resistance cells throughout occupied Europe, called for development of a lightweight motorcycle that could be air-dropped with an operative behind enemy lines. The work was farmed out to a secret SOE facility, codename Station IX, in the town of Welwyn just north of London. By happy circumstance Station IX was commanded by Lt. Colonel John Dolphin, an experienced rider, and among the staff was Harry Lester, a former race bike engineer. The Corgi's emigration to America was more by coincidence than any great marketing strategy. Brockhouse Engineering of Southport, on the northwest coast of England, manufactured the bikes for Corgi – the same Brockhouse that by 1951 had purchased the rights to Indian and was looking to broaden the model line. Which is how the Welbike became the Corgi became the Papoose! Altogether some 27,000 were built before production ceased in 1954. The Jalbert Collection's Papoose, a 1953 example, is complete – albeit having suffered a minor electrical malady – and would be an excellent candidate for restoration. It is sold on a bill of sale
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
