Ultimate Harley-Davidson, by Hugo Wilson (oversize HC, 2000, $3)
William S. Harley and brothers Arthur, William, and Walter Davidson "constructed an engine from scratch and redisigned the frame to make it stronger and more suitable for its new role. The first bikes were put together in a... shed on the premises of the Davidson's family home..."
Road conditions of the early 1900s were rough, meaning any bike had to be strong and powerful enough to handle them. Once mass produced cars came into the picture, the more expensively produced motorcycles fell out of favor. Still some people continued to buy them, especially police forces. Harleys stayed competitive by developing new technologies: the sprung fork, the magneto ignition, mechanical inlet valves, chain drive, mechanical oil pumps, electric lights and a three speed gearbox, all by 1915. The most important innovation, though, was the V-twin engine, which was still in use when this book was published.
None of those innovations means anything to me, but if you are a bike enthusiast, I assume they make sense to you. This book includes pictures of all their bikes, as well as diagrams of their innovations. Look for this book in the transportation section, next to the home maintenance section, avail. 12/14.
