1918 Harley Davis-son - Mar 16 Not HD Frame, but a Davis National

[nomad-dyno]

Been experimenting this week with different methods to remove the spray paint and keep the layer(s) underneath. The one that ended up working the best was Goof Off, rags, fingernails and rubbing.

There is some awesome info over on the CABE on these Harleys and other Davis made bikes. For instance, there are supposedly some knockoff chainrings out there are are cut rather than stamped out. One of the telltale signs of a true HD ring is the chamfered/beveled edge on the inside if the ring below the teeth.

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I started on the BB to try and find some color. The bottom layer does have a drab greenish look that could possibly be HD green, but I can't find this color elsewhere on the frame. But with the bike being 96 years old it could have had a repaint (or two). Who knows.
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Here is what it looked like yesterday after I finished with the top tube and down tube. Mostly a black hardcoat and a lot of bare metal too. Some indications of a blueish-green color like tarnished copper too.
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After this I removed the ring and took a wire wheel to the face of it.
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What a great project! I found a Harley Bicycle restoration article at this link:
http://www.nostalgic.net/restoration-of-a-1918-harley-davidson-bicycle-part-1

God luck with the restoration.

 

[kingfish254]

Thanks! Believe me, I have looked over that article MANY times in the past month!

 

[Gold Street Customs]

Very cool ,good find!!!!

 

[BikeNerd]

Found this neat Harley ad from 1919

Interesting. I believe this ad was probably one of the first of the "Madison Ave." types of advertising, the "you need this" perspective where you're not cool and "with it" unless you own the latest gadget. This got started in earnest in the twenties.

Anyway, cool ad. I'd love to have a poster of this.

 

[tanksalot]

I had the same head badge hole in a Pilgrim badged bike.( I have no idea who made it though.) Nice find & Chain ring ..

 

[kingfish254]

I had the same head badge hole in a Pilgrim badged bike.( I have no idea who made it though.) Nice find & Chain ring ..

I'm not sure who else used the bottle cap style headbadges other than Davis on their Dayton bikes and some other brands they made bikes for.

 

[kingfish254]

Interesting. I believe this ad was probably one of the first of the "Madison Ave." types of advertising, the "you need this" perspective where you're not cool and "with it" unless you own the latest gadget. This got started in earnest in the twenties.

Anyway, cool ad. I'd love to have a poster of this.

I found the image online somewhere. I also like the line in the ad that says. "Bring Dad with you" hoping that Dad would by a motorcycle while he was there.

 

[kingfish254]

Found this cool pic from the Harley museum.

 

[kingfish254]

And I found this example from a For Sale ad that shows that as I suspected the downtube would have had "Special" lettered on it.

 

[Kato]

Thought you might like this pic......

[URL=http://s1154.photobucket.com/user/Kato3man/media/IMG-20140123-00387.jpg.html] [/URL]

 

[truckd]

I just bought a 1917 Harley Davidson Frame, head set, fork and bottom bracket cups for $108.oo it should be here Mon 4-27-15
I'd post pic's but it is so confusing as to how to post them on this site

 

[kingfish254]

Does your Harley have the headbadge?

 

[LukeTheJoker]

I just bought a 1917 Harley Davidson Frame, head set, fork and bottom bracket cups for $108.oo it should be here Mon 4-27-15
I'd post pic's but it is so confusing as to how to post them on this site

http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-post-photos.80241/

Luke.

 

[KJV]

Cool,, a Huffman built Harley Davidson. excellent find.too bad the headbadge is gone. cleaning up nicely.

 

[kingfish254]

Cool,, a Huffman built Harley Davidson. excellent find.too bad the headbadge is gone. cleaning up nicely.

Actually mine isn't a HD. It's the correct Davis frame that would have been used for an HD, but it was never an actual HD.

 

[KJV]

Cool , never the less.
At least you have the chainring..
You can build a good clone HD.

 

[kingfish254]

Thanks man, it's gonna be a fun future project. All of the research has been fun too.
Rather than a full blown clone, I have some ideas around bare metal homage to a HD.