Not new, but newly in paperback at an affordable $30, The Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Archive Collection has a great deal to offer the Harley fan as well as a lot of interesting, less-known information for those who are not hard-core.
For instance, were you aware that in the early days Harley was well-known as a producer of deluxe bicycles, with a full line for men, women, and children? The pictures and the details about them are right here in the book.
Or did you know that in the 1930s a creative manufacturer put Harley motors into propeller-driven ice boats? Again, it's all right here, with pictures.
Did you know that at one time the Motor Company produced bikes using an opposed-twin "boxer" configuration, as BMW does today? Or that the company for awhile produced purpose-built factory hill-climbers? Did you know that Harley once built snowmobiles?
Most significantly, and this you may already know, starting very early in its existence, Harley-Davidson made it a practice to set aside one each of every model that came off the line, and went to considerable effort to buy back models from previous years to complete its full collection. That collection is the basis of this book. A variety of images from the book can be viewed in the slideshow at left.
In 408 pages there are more than 600 photos, with brief, to-the-point discussion of many of the models. Adding interest beyond just the images of the bikes are a number of posters, advertisements, and photos from the various eras that help establish a context for the machines. Well-known motorcycle photographer Randy Leffingwell handled the shooting and he and Darwin Holmstrom shared the writing duties. Bill Davidson, Vice President, Core Customer Marketing, supplied a Foreward.
I'll lay it on the line. If you're nuts about Harley-Davidson you have got to have this book. It's a great companion to your copy of Harley-Davidson Museum Masterpieces by Dain Gingerelli, for which Randy Leffingwell also handled the camera. And even if your blood doesn't flow black and orange it's well worth spending some time with. It's fun and interesting to peruse: time well spent.
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