I Love Amazon

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

4036. Harley Davidson Pig Rider


In 1901, William S. Harley, age 21, drew up plans for a small engine with a displacement of 7.07 cubic inches (116 cc) and four-inch (102 mm) flywheels. The engine was designed for use in a regular pedal-bicycle frame. Over the next two years Harley and his childhood friend Arthur Davidson labored on their motor-bicycle using the northside Milwaukee machine shop at the home of their friend, Henry Melk. It was finished in 1903 with the help of Arthur’s brother, Walter Davidson. Upon completion the boys found their power-cycle unable to conquer Milwaukee’s modest hills without pedal assistance. Will Harley and the Davidsons quickly wrote off their first motor-bicycle as a valuable learning experiment.

Work immediately began on a new and improved second-generation machine. This first “real” Harley-Davidson motorcycle had a bigger engine of 24.74 cubic inches (405 cc) with 9.75 inches (25 cm) flywheels weighing 28 lb (13 kg). The machine’s advanced loop-frame pattern was similar to the 1903 Milwaukee Merkel motorcycle (designed by Joseph Merkel, later of Flying Merkel fame). The bigger engine and loop-frame design took it out of the motorized-bicycle category and would help define what a modern motorcycle should contain in the years to come. The boys also received help with their bigger engine from outboard motor pioneer Ole Evinrude, who was then building gas engines of his own design for automotive use on Milwaukee’s Lake Street.

3 comments:

  1. You have no idea how long I have been trying to find this pig! My boyfriend used to have this pig as a small child. (It was actually his first toy!) Sadly, he lost it in a fire, but I wanted to surprise him with a new one for christmas!

    Do you know where I could get it? I'm desperate :D

    email- ising20@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. As i Have One For sell it will not be cheap tho email me at DXistheman@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I have a pigs for sale in perfect condition, how much can I get for it ?
    write to siennoc@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete