As summer is coming to a close, warm weather fans are scrambling for the last rays of sunshine. Final trips to the beach are being made, hikes are taken, and motorcycle rides are planned. Motorcycles are everywhere during the summer months, and some brave souls ride through cooler periods. Various styles of bikes populate the roads, though, none so respected as the Harley-Davidson.

Harley-Davidson is a company based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that produces motorcycles designed for highway cruising. Their motorcycles are mostly larger bikes classified as 750 cc or higher, which designates the cubic centimeters of air/fuel mixture the engine draws in a complete engine cycle. Harley-Davidsons have a distinctive exhaust system and are noted for customization giving rise to the chopper style in which each rider chooses how the bike looks and runs.

The concept for Harley-Davidson is traced back to the beginning of the twentieth century. In 1901, at the age of 21, William S. Harley developed plans for a small engine with a 116 cc displacement to be used on a regular pedal bicycle frame. Over the next two years Harley and his friend Arthur Davidson worked on the motor bicycle, which was completed in 1903 with the help of Arthur’s brother Walter Davidson. Unfortunately, it was not powerful enough to ride up Milwaukee’s hills without pedaling assistance. 

They immediately began working on their second generation bike. Considered the first “real” Harley Davidson it had a 405 cc engine with 9-3/4” flywheels that weighed 28 pounds. Its loop frame pattern was similar to that of the 1903 Milwaukee Merkel motorcycle designed by Joseph Merkel. They received help from pioneer of outboard motors Ole Evinrude who was working on gas engines for automobiles at the time. The bigger engine and loop frame design pushed it out of the category of motorized bicycle into what would lead to the definition of a modern motorcycle. It was working by September 1904 and competed in the Milwaukee motorcycle race at the State Fair Park, ridden by Edward Hildebrand who took fourth place. Completed motorcycles were being produced on a limited basis by April 1905.

The next year Harley and the Davidsons built their first factory, which remains the corporate headquarters today. During their first year in the factory, they produced 50 motorcycles. Demand rose, leading to an expansion of the factory in 1907, which led to the creation of 150 motorcycles that year. They became officially incorporated in 1907 and began selling Harley Davidsons to police departments, an important relationship that stands today.

Along with use by the police force all over the country, Harley-Davidson was adopted by the military. In 1917 their use was expanded from smaller operations to 20,000 motorcycles aiding the World War I effort. By 1920 the company was the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, with dealers in 67 countries. Expansion continued, surviving the Great Depression, World War II, and a tarnished reputation in the1950s due to Hollywood’s portrayal of the bikers as outlaws and the U.S. Tariff Commission’s restrictions.

Now Harley-Davidson riders include everyone from burly men with handle bar mustaches to church secretaries. With a loyal consumer base, Harley-Davidson’s revenue expands further than just transportation into customization and logo displaying on clothing and collectibles. Morphy Auctions, a division of Geppi’s Entertainment, has multiple motorcycle toys in their Fall Sale. Included are almost thirty Harley Davidson toys. Within the offerings are a cast iron Hubley hill climber motorcycle toy and a cast iron Hubley Harley sidecar motorcycle. Morphy’s sale closes this week on Thursday, September 11, 2008 through Saturday, September 13. Click here to see a full list of lots available for bidding.