The Evolution Of The Harley
Posted by Samuel Morton on May 21, 2010
The Harley Davidson Company officially started with the completion of its first bike in 1903. Unofficially it all began in 1901 when 21-year-old William S. Harley drew up plans for a little engine that displaced 7.07 cubic inches and had 4-inch flywheels.
By 1903 William Harley had joined with his boyhood friend Arthur Davidson, as well as Arthur’s bro Walter. They used the machine shop of their buddy Henry Melk to finish the prototype of their first engine-powered bike. The engine that powered this prototype was not quite strong enough to shove the motored-bike up Milwaukee’s modest hills without the rider turning to pedal power.
The 1st “real” Harley Davidson motorcycle was finally finished with extra help from another Davidson bro named William. It was regarded as having a bigger engine of 24.74 cubic inches with 9-3 / four inch flywheels weighing 28 pounds. The new bike was functional by September 08, 1904, and made its first appearance in a Milwaukee motorbike race.
The 1st Harley Davidson Motor Company factory was built in 1906 on Chestnut Street. It had been a modest 40 by 60 foot single story wooden structure. Chestnut Street was later renamed Juneau Avenue, and though the original structure got replaced, this location remains the Motor Company’s company HQ to this day. A total of 50 motorbikes were produced in 1906.
The following year, 1907 led to much change for the fledgling company. William S. Harley graduated from the school of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in mechanical engineering. The factory was expanded and the company officially incorporated. Production increased to 150 bikes in 1907.
Success continued in the years that followed. The original factory was demolished and replaced by a new 5-story structure of reinforced concrete and red brick. It shortly grew to take up 2 blocks along Juneau Avenue and round the corner on 38th Street. In this period bikes produced by Harley Davidson began to control the motorcycle racing arena and production reached 16,284 in 1914.
World War I saw the requirement for motorbikes in the military. Harley Davidson provided over 20,000 motorcycles to army forces during World War I. Improvements and increased production continued after the war. The Harley Davidson Motor Company was actually one of only two American cycle makers to survive the Great Depression. The company continued to provide machines for the military thru World War Two and the Korean War. The Jeep then replaced it in popularity.
The Harley Davidson Motor Company is still going robust today, regardless of bumps and bruises on the way. You may recognize it on the stock exchange under the symbol HOG.
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