1905 Harley Davidson Motorcycle

Overview

1905 Harley Davidson

This is a perfect example of the 1905 Harley Davidson. 1905 was the first production year of this iconic American motorcycle and there were only 3 motorcycles and one motor produced.

In the mid 1990’s a group of enthusiasts from across America banded together to create a small quantity of the best quality, technically correct, structurally strong, mechanically correct machines that would represent far into the future what was originally made long ago. The mechanical artisans that were invited to participate were the best in the country in their fields and the most knowledgeable of the actual workings and make up of these machines.

The attention to detail in the creation of the individual parts was precise down to the smallest detail. An example would be the gas tank bung and filler cap. The caps on this machine are so correct that you could remove them and screw one into an original bung on a 1905 machine if you could find one. The sizes of the caps and bungs are not at all common today so new taps and single pointed threads were used to duplicate that which was used in the factory at the time. In the early 1900’s this was called the “poor man’s patent”.

Although this machine has never been started, it was prepared exactly to be operable. The builder’s belief was that it was unrealistic to expect to ride this machine and it was prepared and assembled with an expectation of preservation. A coating of Cosmoline was used in the engine build to protect the innards from the elements found in display areas like an air conditioned office or museum. This preparation method was used so that the machine (artwork) would not damage its potential living quarters with oil or gas stains nor would the engine components and plating deteriorate through time.

At first glance the engines from 1905 and 1908 are very similar but there are changes in design that were employed to upgrade the machines. Engine cases were held together with 6 studs in 05 and 8 studs in 06, 07, and 08.

This fine machine has rarely seen the light of day. The extremely minimal number of machines created by this group is rarely offered for sale to the public. They are normally exchanged between collectors on prearranged options. Estate problems provide this excellent opportunity to the buying public.

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