Come early August, 85 million classic antique motorcycles mirroring those owned by members of the AMCA’s Long Island Big Sandbar chapter will roll off the showroom floor of the nation’s 37,000 Post Offices. Each and every one will be in mint condition and guaranteed to make it across the country for just 39 cents.
Antique Motorcycle’s spring edition previewed the U.S. Postal Service’s American Motorcycle stamps. They will be dedicated 8:30 a.m., Monday, Aug. 7, in Sturgis, SD, just prior to the Mayor’s ride to the Crazy Horse Memorial. The ceremony takes place across the street from the Sturgis Post Office near the Community Center. Larry Spielfogel’s 1940 Indian Four, and George Tsunis’ 1965 Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide will be prominently displayed in front of a 10 ft. enlargement of the stamp images. Penny Nickerson has yet to determine if she and her 1918 Cleveland will make it to Sturgis. The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum is expected to showcase the cycles when they’re not being ridden.
So how did the American Motorcycle stamps come to be?
“There’s power in using the mail,” explained U.S. Postal Service Executive Director of Stamp Services David Failor, “Over the years we received hundreds of letters requesting motorcycles stamps. We're proud to recognize the role of motorcycles in American culture.”
The Postal Service receives suggestions from about 50 thousand people every year, yet only 20 to 25 subjects make the cut. To narrow down the selection, the Postmaster General’s Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee—a cross section of designers, historians and academics—review the suggestions and make recommendations to the Postmaster General for final approval.
Once the American Motorcycles stamps concept got the go ahead, meetings took place with the Smithsonian Institution’s curator of the Division of Transportation to determine which cycles to depict. The 1918 Cleveland proved to be a visually appealing example of an early model; the Indian’s enclosed fenders established it as a classic; and the Harley personified America’s love affair with a big cross-country cruiser. Prominent during the 1960s and 1970s, Choppers followed a tradition of earlier customized motorcycles known as “bobbers” for their shortened or bobbed features.
The Postal Service referenced several motorcycle books and found Penny’s 1918 Cleveland in Todd Rafferty’s The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Motorcycles.
Spielfogel’s 1940 Indian Four
An avid motorcycle collector, Larry Spielfogel was out with his family and stopped at a gas station to fill-up in 1995. After asking the owner if there were any old motorcycles around for sale—and bribing him $10—Larry finally got directions to an old Victorian house.
After knocking on the door several times without an answer, he started walking around to the back when an older gentleman, Leonard Moeller, shuffled out the front door. Larry explained the purpose of his visit and Leonard motioned him to follow as he slowly made his way around back. Leonard started kicking at a 5ft. high by 10 ft. wide pile of leaves to reveal a blue tarp. Larry uncovered it to discover the 1940 Indian sitting on blocks. All of the original parts were there but the bike was rusted and in very poor condition. The expensive restoration process took more than two years. Of the 60 motorcycles Larry owns, 14 are four-cylinder Indians like the one depicted on the stamp.
“I am so proud the Postal Service is immortalizing this Indian,” said Larry. "It’s a testament to Leonard, the gentleman and original owner. We became good friends. Leonard and his wife had no children. He had a passion you don’t see today for motorcycles. The Indian and his 1918 Pope Twin I later obtained were his children; his wife was his love. I wish they were alive today to experience this.”
