Harley Davidson Inc.
Management 322
Company¢s Overview
In 1903 William Harley and Arthur Davidson made the first Harley-Davidson motorcycle available to the public. It was built in a small wooden shed with the words “Harley-Davidson Motor Company” written on the door. The next year, in 1904, C.H. Lang opened the first Harley-Davidson dealership in Chicago, selling one of the first 3 Harley¢s ever made. In 1906 the company opened a new factory, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The next year, in 1907 the company doubled its factory space. Also in 1907 the Harley Davidson Motor Company was incorporated, with the stock being divided among the 4 owners, including William and Walter Davidson (Arthur¢s brothers). By 1920 Harley Davidson is recognized as the largest motorcycle manufacturer in the world, supported by over 2,000 dealers in 67 countries. In 1953, one of Harley Davidson¢s competitors, Hendee Manufacturing, which produced an Indian motorcycle line, goes out of business. For the next 46 years Harley Davidson is the only American manufacturer of heavyweight motorcycles.
In 1912 Harley Davidson built a six store building on Juneau Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. This building would become the main offices and factory for Harley Davidson. In 1947, to supplement existing manufacturing facilities Harley Davidson purchased the old A.O. Propeller plant, which the company successively converted from wartime manufacturing into a large machine shop. In 1962, in response to a growing trend of including fiberglass in motorcycle production Harley Davidson purchases a 60% equity share in the Tomahawk Boat manufacturing company. Harley uses the company¢s existing equipment to manufacture its own fiberglass parts, beginning in 1963 with the official opening of the Tom ...