Post by truenorth on Apr 14, 2024 6:29:03 GMT -8
Single Cylinder Time Machine: 1912 Harley-Davidson Model 8
52k
While everyone remembers the year 1912 as when the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage, there were other noteworthy happenings. This was the year that Woodrow Wilson was elected President of the United States. His policies would have far-reaching effects on both domestic and international history for decades to come. It was also the year that the Ottoman War broke out as a warm-up for World War I. Paramount Pictures was founded that year and Massachusetts became the first state to enact a minimum wage. Perhaps most remarkable was the eruption of Novarupta that happened in Alaska that year. It was labeled as the second-largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century.
1912 was also right in the middle of the time when automobiles and motorcycles were just starting to be plentiful and reliable enough to start replacing horses as basic transportation. The proliferation of machining technology made it possible for manufacturers to spring up all over the place. There were numerous enterprises making automobiles and motorcycles, and it was sort of a “Wild West” economic atmosphere. The manufacturer may be there tomorrow if you need parts, or they may not be. It took consolidation through financial and market forces to thin the herd and set America up transportation-wise for the next century.
While Ford and General Motors get credit on the automobile side for driving out the weaker competitors and producing the cars America needed, the same could be said for Harley-Davidson and Indian on the motorcycle side of the equation. Harley-Davidson, founded in 1903, was gaining popularity and market share with their single-cylinder and V-twin motorcycles. As you can see from the photographs, Harleys were still very much designed and engineered more as powered bicycles than the true motorcycles they would become. This is evidenced by the pedal and chain arrangement used to get the motorcycle going until the leather belt can be engaged to enjoy the gentle propulsion made possible by the 30 cubic inch single-cylinder engine. Looking closely at the picture above also reveals the simple design of the engine and the relative precision of the casting and machine work done back then to make these reliable machines.
52k
While everyone remembers the year 1912 as when the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage, there were other noteworthy happenings. This was the year that Woodrow Wilson was elected President of the United States. His policies would have far-reaching effects on both domestic and international history for decades to come. It was also the year that the Ottoman War broke out as a warm-up for World War I. Paramount Pictures was founded that year and Massachusetts became the first state to enact a minimum wage. Perhaps most remarkable was the eruption of Novarupta that happened in Alaska that year. It was labeled as the second-largest volcanic eruption of the 20th century.
1912 was also right in the middle of the time when automobiles and motorcycles were just starting to be plentiful and reliable enough to start replacing horses as basic transportation. The proliferation of machining technology made it possible for manufacturers to spring up all over the place. There were numerous enterprises making automobiles and motorcycles, and it was sort of a “Wild West” economic atmosphere. The manufacturer may be there tomorrow if you need parts, or they may not be. It took consolidation through financial and market forces to thin the herd and set America up transportation-wise for the next century.
While Ford and General Motors get credit on the automobile side for driving out the weaker competitors and producing the cars America needed, the same could be said for Harley-Davidson and Indian on the motorcycle side of the equation. Harley-Davidson, founded in 1903, was gaining popularity and market share with their single-cylinder and V-twin motorcycles. As you can see from the photographs, Harleys were still very much designed and engineered more as powered bicycles than the true motorcycles they would become. This is evidenced by the pedal and chain arrangement used to get the motorcycle going until the leather belt can be engaged to enjoy the gentle propulsion made possible by the 30 cubic inch single-cylinder engine. Looking closely at the picture above also reveals the simple design of the engine and the relative precision of the casting and machine work done back then to make these reliable machines.