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Harley Davidson History 1910-1920
1910 The famed "Bar & Shield" logo is used for the first time. It is
trademarked at the U.S. Patent office one year later.
At least seven different first place finishes are captured at races, endurance
contests and hillclimbs across America. All seven winners are riding
Harley-Davidson® motorcycles.
1911 The "F-head" engine becomes a workhorse of the Harley-Davidson
motorcycle until 1929.
1912 Construction begins on what will become the six story headquarters
and main factory building at Juneau Ave. in Milwaukee. A separate Parts and
Accessories Department is formed.
H-D exports motorcycles to Japan, marking the first ever sales outside of the
U.S. Dealer network grows to over 200 nationwide.
1913 The Racing Department is formed, with William Ottaway as its first
Assistant Engineer to racing engineer William S. Harley. Also, the Forecar
delivery van is offered for the first time.
1914 Sidecars are made available to Harley-Davidson buyers. Clutch and
brake pedals now available on F-head singles and twins.
The Motor Company formally enters motorcycle racing this year. The first Racing
Engineer is William S. Harley. Within a few short years, team Harley-Davidson is
referred to informally as the "Wrecking Crew" because of their incredible
dominance of the sport.
The Two-Speed rear hub transmission is introduced for two years only in the
Model 10F. Patented by William S. Harley, it was effective but discontinued in
order to further improve drivetrain function in 1915 with a three-speed design.
1915 Harley-Davidson motorcycles are now available with three speed
sliding-gear transmissions with final and primary drive on the same side.
1916 The Enthusiast begins its reign as the longest continuously
published motorcycle magazine in the world.
1917 During this year, roughly one-third of all Harley-Davidson
motorcycles produced are sold to the U.S. military. The Quartermasters School, a
department of Harley-Davidson devoted to training military mechanics on
Harley-Davidson motorcycles, opens for business in July. It will later become
the Service School.
The sale of Harley-Davidson bicycles begins. Individual components are made by
the Davis Sewing Machine Co. of Dayton, Ohio. The bicycles are sold through the
H-D dealer network.
1918 Almost half of all Harley-Davidson motorcycles produced are sold for
use by the U.S. military in World War I. At War's end, it is estimated that the
Army used some 20,000 motorcycles in their efforts, most of which were
Harley-Davidsons. One day after the signing of the Armistice, Corporal Roy Holtz
of Chippewa Falls, Wis., is the first American to enter Germany. He is riding a
Harley-Davidson.
1919 The 37 cubic inch opposed twin cylinder Sport model is introduced
and gains great popularity overseas. Unique not only for the cylinder
configuration, which was directly opposed and flat, the Sport quickly earns a
reputation for being uncommonly quiet.
Return to the Harley
Davidson History Index
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