Not to worry though, as Esta Manthos, the 91 year old curator, is
donating the ENTIRE collection to be featured in a new museum in the
planning stages for downtown Springfield. This includes 54 motorcycles,
over 5,000 toys, and other historical artifacts such as an Indian
airplane engine.
http://www.masslive.com/republican/stories/index.ssf?/base/news-1/1182413689219470.xml&coll=1
SPRINGFIELD - The owner of the closed Indian Motocycle Museum is
donating her multi-million dollar collection of antique motorcycles and
memorabilia to the Springfield Museums Association to assure it will be
remain in the city where the historic company was founded more than a
century ago.
Esta K. Manthos, 91, who has traveled to all 50 states by motorcycle,
collected bikes made by Indian Motocycle Co. for many decades, along
with thousands of biker toys and mementos.
Yesterday, the sprightly, ponytail-wearing owner of the Indian Motocycle
Museum at 33 Hendee St. gave nearly all her beloved relics away,
including her own 1942 Indian.
The Indian Motocycle Museum, which Manthos and her late husband,
Charles, opened 35 years ago, was housed in the defunct manufacturer's
last remaining building.
Annual Indian rallies at times drew thousands of bikers to Springfield.
Carvalho said that once the new museum opens, 18 to 24 months from now,
he hopes to revive Indian Day.
The collection's exact monetary worth, loosely estimated at $3 million
to $5 million, is unknown, Carvalho said, although he noted that
original Indian motorcycles in top condition can sell for $40,000 to
$100,000 a piece.
The collection also includes a few historic Harley-Davidsons, a dozen
antique and high-wheel bicycles, a musical hurdy-gurdy, old trophies and
photographs of early female motorcycle riders.
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