|
|
 |
Harley-Davidson's Lost Past
|
|
|
|
|
|
Original Harley-Davidson designs
Paul Garson
03/01/2006
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Photography by Scott C. Hall
|
While the collection numbers close to 250 documents, we focused on
a handful to better appreciate their detail and unlock some of the lore of
Harley-Davidson. These documents, now truly rare, are wondrous works of art in
their own right, each meticulously drawn on fine Chinese linen (the premium
medium of the day) and coated with translucent wheat starch, thereby producing
durable (but regretfully not inflammable) documents that otherwise have stood
the test of time very well. Serving to dispel the ambiguities faced by
historians and restorers, these precious documents cast a clear and exact light
on the very foundations of the world’s most famous and enduring brand of
motorcycle.
 A 1912 spring-assisted fork. (Click image to enlarge)
THE DRAWINGS REVEALED
Ultimate Icon
When asked to discuss their own selection of representative
samples from among the 250 drawings, Hall and Smith both agreed their first
choice would be the renderings of the famous H-D bar-and-shield logo. One of the
most recognizable corporate and cultural icons in the world, it is printed on
untold millions of T-shirts and a variety of other items. We see here the only
original renderings known to exist. H-D itself has no such original; in fact,
even the microfiche copy has apparently gone missing.
Grandfather V-Twin
Next on Hall and Smith’s list is the full scale 1:1
drawing (28 x 21 inches) of the 1916 F-head V-twin motor complete with the words
“Harley-Davidson Milwaukee–U.S.A” embossed in high relief across the engine
case. Says Smith, “The drawing has a cutaway in the timing chest showing the
timing gear hook up with the timing marks, the oil connections and magneto. It
even has the spark plugs, and all the fin detail and carburetor. My gosh, it’s
just so beautiful.”
 An instruction sheet for a 1911 free engine clutch. (Click image to
enlarge)
Though Harley-Davidson introduced its first V-twin in
1909, the 1911 version is considered the first successful V-twin configuration,
and the 61 cu in 1915 motor was a milestone innovation, as it doubled the
preceding engine’s horsepower through redesigned cams, higher compression,
larger manifold and carburetor, and increased breathing. “That same basic motor
design,” says Smith, “took Harley all the way to 1929 and the 74-inch JD and Two
Cam motors. So you could say [this] motor drawing is of the Granddaddy of
Power.”
The Right Direction
Scanning the collection of drawings relating to
Harley’s front end development, one can see the evolution. A 1908 tapered
tubular design, in effect an early leading link “springer”, was in production
until 1923. At that point, H-D added external helper springs to accommodate the
heavier weight of the front end. The more widely known four-spring Springer
front-end design appeared in 1926, based on the smaller scaled Harley
Peashooter. “It was a downsized Springer that evolved into what was later seen
on the VL models, which was a heavier duty cast I-beam design,” explains Smith.
 Schematics of a 1915 gas tank with oil pump. (Click image to enlarge)
Artful Engineering
One of the more technically, as well as artistically,
appealing drawings is that of a nomagraph (dated 10/02/1920) that illustrates
the exact relationship of the piston position with various angles of the
crankpin. Says Smith, “When seen up on a wall, a person might think ‘abstract
art’. On closer inspection, seeing that it’s a Harley-Davidson drawing, you’d
recognize that it’s an engineer’s effort to illustrate piston and cylinder
relationships to the crank. Call it engineered art.”
Another Smith favorite
is the drawing of the racing Peashooter’s head, the only drawing that documents
a very rare motor. What set the Peashooter apart from the competition, which
relied on F-head design to win races, was Harley’s development of a full
hemi-spherical head and a complete overhead valve with almost straight-through
porting. In order to win the Short Track World Championship, the Peashooter had
to race in Australia, where short track originated, and competed there from 1927
to 1930. The hemi Peashooter was built to compete against the Rudge 4-valve and
AJS Big Port of that period, and was produced in a street version as well.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
