Early Motorcycle Enthusiast's Archive Including 9 Issues of The Antique Motorcycle, Panoramic Inscribed Photo of Riders and Their Bikes, and a Rare Original Polaroid of Actor Steve McQueen at One of Their Events

Early motorcycle enthusiast's well-preserved and extensive archive of publications, photographs, and plaques related to the antique motorcycle movement in America.Archive compiled by Samuel L. Merrill of Portland, Oregon, spanning from the 1970s to the mid-1990s. This archive includes over two dozen original items: photographic prints (including one original Polaroid depicting actor Steve McQueen at an antique motorcycle event near Fresno, CA in 1979), event plaques, and an impressive suite of 9 printed periodicals related to the Antique Motorcycle Club of America (AMCA) and related organizations.

Among the highlights is a striking large-format (truncated) black-and-white photograph depicting 21 riders posed alongside their motorcycles—predominantly rare pre-1916 models including Excelsior, Harley-Davidson, and Indian machines. The reverse includes a detailed handwritten list of riders and their bikes, indicating multiple Harley-Davidson D-2s, a 1912 Indian 2-speed racer, and a 1915 Excelsior among others. Also included is a Polaroid image captioned "Reedley, Calif. C.A.M.A. 1979," showing Steve McQueen (named in handwritten inscription) standing among other enthusiasts. McQueen’s well-documented love of early motorcycles makes this image a valuable artifact of his real-world engagement with the vintage motorcycle community. Additional snapshots show gatherings at pre-1916 tours and reliability runs, including one labeled “Archie’s 32 H.D.” and another attributed to the "1979 H.C.C.A. 3rd Pre-’16 Cycle Tour – Shirley Van Veldhuizen.”

The printed material is equally rich. Included are 9 issues of The Antique Motorcycle, ranging from 1982-1997, and featuring vivid cover photography of restored classics such as a 1912 Pierce Four, a 1914 Harley-Davidson V-twin, and an early Sears Dreadnought. Each issue contains detailed restoration articles, archival advertisements, member profiles, and histories of early 20th-century manufacturers. A standout article from the Summer 1995 issue (Vol. 34, No. 2) titled “The Prodigal Son’s Return” discusses the rediscovery and restoration of a 1947 Indian Chief, describing how “the bike had sat under a tarp for nearly twenty years before roaring back to life in full regalia.” Also present are a 1978 AMCA membership roster, a 1983 issue of Freewheeling West (Vol. 1, No. 2), and Volume 7, Issue 1 of Evergreen Times, a Pacific Northwest-focused publication of the AMCA Evergreen Chapter, featuring a cover image of a Sears motorcycle and text discussing recent “Pre-16 Tour” events and mechanical advice columns for antique engine tuning. Ephemera include two metal plaques commemorating participation in elite tours: the 1982 Sixth Annual Pre-1916 Motorcycle Tour at Giacometti Ranch in Santa Rosa, CA, and the 1980 Fourth Annual Delta Traveler Reliability Tour in Lodi, CA, both sanctioned by the AMCA and California State Automobile Association. Overall light toning and handling to the printed matter; minor edge wear to some photos; metal plaques show mild oxidation at edges. Overall very good condition. (Inventory #: 21842)