The oldest-known US-made motorcycle will go up for auction on April 21 at the Frederick County, Maryland, fairgrounds.

The 1903 Indian motorcycle hung on the wall in a dentist’s office for 30 years before being stowed first in a garage, and then in a basement.

1903 Indian Motorcycle (Photo: Wolfe Industrial Auctions, Inc.)

“This motorcycle predates the Harley — the bike most Americans associate with homegrown motorcycles,” says Steve Rinker, who runs Buck’s Indian, an Indian motorcycle restoration firm in Romney, WV. “The handful of 1902 Indian models that were built were deconstructed, their parts used to build the 1.75-hp 1903 models. And as far as we know, this is the only unrestored 1903 still in existence.”

Auctioneer Josh Ruby called the bike “one of the most primitive motorized vehicles you’ll ever see.”

Several pre-1930 Indian and Harley Davidson motorcycles, including a side car, will accompany the 1903 model on the auction block, as well as 1940s cars, World War II memorabilia, and antique railroad items, more than 900 lots in all. Ruby says he doesn’t know what to expect as far as bidder interest or sale price for the Indian, since it hasn’t been sold since the 1950s.

Online bidding is available at www.proxibid.com.