Nostalgic Metal Signs - The Harley Davidson

The Harley Davidson a legend. On the right are just a few of the signs that make up this fine collection. Click on any one of the signs or here to view/order any of them.

The Harley Davidson 1903-1995 and still going strong

• 1903 Harley Davidson is founded
• 1903 The first Harley-Davidson motorcycle is manufactured
• 1905 The "Silent Grey Fellow" nickname coincides with the new standard grey color.
• 1907 The first Harley-Davidsons sold for police duty
• 1909 First "V-Twin" engine
• 1912 First clutch mechanism
• 1914 Stepstarter and internal expanding rear brake
• 1915 Three speed transmission
• 1916 The first issue of "The Enthusiast" publication
• 1922 74" Twin engine debuts
• 1928 Front wheel brake appears
• 1929 WL 45" Twin engine
• 1932 45" Servicar
• 1936 80" Side Valve Twin engine and the first "Knuckle Head" 61" engine
• 1937 William A. Davidson dies
• 1941 74" OHV Super Power engine
• 1942 Walter Davidson dies at age 65
• 1943 Bill Harley dies at age 66
• 1947 74" OHV Big Twin engine
• 1948 74" "Panhead" engine is introduced
• 1949 The Hydra-Glide debuts
• 1950 Arthur Davidson dies at age 69
• 1957 XLH Sportster
• 1958 The Hydra-Glide turns into the Duo-Glide
• 1959 XLCH Sportster
• 1960 The "Topper," a fiberglass motor scooter, was introduced.
• 1960 Harley Davidson teams up with Italian manufacturer Aeronautica Macchi S.p.A. to produce a line of smaller bikes including the Shortster and Sprint models.
• 1965 The Electra-Glide debuts
• 1965 George Roeder sets a world land speed record (177.225 m.p.h.) for 250 cc motorcycles on a much modified Harley-Davidson Sprint
• 1965 After being privately held for over 60 years, Harley-Davidson goes public.
• 1966 The introduction of the Harley Davidson "shovel head" engine
• 1967 Electric start Sportster
• 1969 Merger with American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF)
• 1971 FX 1200 Super Glide
• 1972 1000 cc XLH/XLCH Sportster
• 1972 First disc brakes on a Harley
• 1977 FXS 1200 Low Rider and FLHS
• 1978 75th Anniversary models
• 1978 FLH 80 Electra-Glide
• 1978 First electronic ignition on a Harley
• 1979 FXS 80 Low Rider
• 1980 FLT rubber mounted engine
• 1981 Senior executives at Harley-Davidson purchase the company from AMF. Harley-Davidson once again becomes a privately owned company.
• 1983 President Reagan imposes additional tariffs on all Japanese motorcycles 700 cc or larger.
• 1983 The Harley Owners Group (H.O.G.) is established.
• 1984 The Introduction of the "Evolution" engine
• 1984 First Softail models and Air Assisted Anti-Drive
• 1986 By offering common stock and subordinated notes, Harley-Davidson once again becomes a publicly owned corporation.
• 1987 In an unprecedented move, Harley-Davidson petitions the ITC for early termination of the five year tariff imposed in 1983.
• 1988 Patented "Springer" front-end returns
• 1990 Dyna model is introduced
• 1991 All Harleys change to five speed transmission
• 1992 All Harleys adopt a belt drive
• 1993 "90th Anniversary" homecoming
• 1995 First fuel injection models