The History of Harley Davidson
The Harley Davidson company is located in the United States and was created in Milwaukee, Wisconsi. The company was started in the year 1903 by William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson. The production aspects of the company focus mainly on motorcycles. Motorcycle helmets are the other main product manufactured by the company based out of Wisconsin.
Less than 10,000 employees work for the company, which pulls in roughly $6 billion per year. Customers of the company can purchase their motorcycle equipment all over the company from a variety of stores. The hobby of owning and riding a motorcycle has grown over the past handful of decades to enormous proportions. The history of the company’s motorcycles is documented in its museum along with other clubs and events that the company sponsors. Cagiva, MVAgusta, and the Buell Motorcycle Company are other operations owned and run by the company.
William S. Harley was only 23 years old when the company was founded along with Arthur Davidson. Harley first drew up plans for a small engine to be used in a small bicycle frame. The two founders of the company, Davidson and Harley, were childhood friends prior to founding one of the most successful motorcycle production companies in the world. The demand for motorcycles increased when World War I broke out across the globe even though the United States government used motorcycles in the Poncho Villa Expedition. Riders of the company’s bikes were protected by the company’s helmets, which were manufactured in mass amounts during the war effort. The three wheeled delivery vehicle known as the Servi-Car and power plants based on the company’s motorcycle engines were manufactured during the Great Depression to keep the company in business. Helmets have gone from being manufactured using leather to now being manufactured with fiberglass. There have been helmets manufactured with face guards and without face guards during the company’s history. The company’s largest manufacturing plant, in York, PA, suffered a strike in 2007. The strike caused the layoff of 440 employees in Wisconsin and employees in other areas of the country. Harley, Davidson, Walter Davidson and William A. Davidson were all inducted into the Labor Hall of Fame for their efforts founding and operating the company.
