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Harley-Davidson history
Harley-Davidson company history timeline
Harley-Davidson got its all-American start in 1903, at the dawn of the "Motor Age." Two friends got together and combined bicycles with newfangled engines.
Harley-Davidson was founded by William Sylvester Harley, Arthur Davidson, Walter C. Davidson and William A. Davidson in 1903 and is headquartered in Milwaukee, WI.”
In 1903, out of a small shed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, four young men lit a cultural wildfire that would grow and spread across geographies and generations.
After drawing up plans for a small engine designed to fit on a regular bike frame, William S. Harley worked with Arthur and Walter Davidson to build this “motor-bicycle.” They finished the first model in 1903.
1903: William Harley and the Davidson brothers (Walter and Arthur) build their first motorcycle in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The machine went through many refinements until 1903, when the men established the Harley-Davidson Motor Company and produced three of their motorcycles for sale.
The three began work on a new and improved machine with an engine of 24.74 cubic inches (405 cc) with 9.75 in (24.8 cm) flywheels weighing 28 lb (13 kg). Its advanced loop-frame pattern was similar to the 1903 Milwaukee Merkel motorcycle designed by Joseph Merkel, later of Flying Merkel fame.
1®, was released in 1905 and was very similar to the first two bikes produced.
In 1906, Harley and the Davidson brothers built their first factory on Chestnut Street (later Juneau Avenue), at the current location of Harley-Davidson's corporate headquarters.
By 1906, Harley and the Davidson brothers were moving out of their shed and into their first factory, which was located at the current site of Harley-Davidson headquarters.
In February 1907, they displayed a prototype model at the Chicago Automobile Show with a 45-degree V-Twin engine.
Over the next several years both demand and production grew at a healthy rate, and by 1907 the company had begun to advertise.
The company was officially incorporated in 1907.
In 1907, William A. Davidson quit his job as tool foreman for the Milwaukee Road railroad and joined the Motor Company.
With the new facilities, production increased to 150 motorcycles in 1907.
1909: Harley-Davidson introduces its first V-twin engine.
Begun in 1910, the factory with its many additions would take up two blocks along Juneau Avenue and around the corner on 38th Street.
Such capabilities served to set the company's motorcycles apart from the competition; by 1911 there were 150 other companies manufacturing the vehicles.
In 1912, Harley-Davidson introduced their patented "Ful-Floteing Seat", which was suspended by a coil spring inside the seat tube.
After 1913 the majority of bikes produced by Harley-Davidson would be V-Twin models.
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Harley-Davidson competitors
Company Name  | Founded Date | Revenue | Employee Size | Job Openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Motors | 1908 | $156.7B | 155,000 | 1,259 |
| Ducati North America | - | - | - | 1 |
| Ford Motor | 1903 | $158.1B | 186,000 | 1,938 |
| Tesla | 2003 | $81.5B | 99,290 | 2,143 |
| Advance Auto Parts | 1932 | $11.2B | 68,000 | 2,399 |
| Oshkosh | 1917 | $2.1B | 16,000 | 543 |
Harley-Davidson history FAQs
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Harley-Davidson may also be known as or be related to Harley-Davidson, Harley-Davidson Europe Ltd., Harley-Davidson Inc, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Harley-Davidson, Inc. and Harley-davidson Motor Company.