William Harley and Arthur Davidson: Men Behind the Iconic Motorcycle

By 1903, the efforts of the five men resulted in the first fully functional Harley-Davidson motorized bicycle prototype. It featured a looped frame, a gasoline-powered engine, and a leather drive belt.

Within three years they’d perfected a reliable, road-worthy “motorcycle” ready to market to the public.

In 1907, The Harley-Davidson Motor Company became Harley-Davidson, Inc. Harley was listed as Chief Engineer and Treasurer. Davidson was the Secretary and General Sales Manager. From that time forward, the fate, fame, and fortune of the two men were inextricably intertwined.

On December 9, 1908, Davidson married Clara Augusta Biesel, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Together they had (at least) two sons and one daughter.

On December 30, 1950, after a lifetime devoted to motorcycles, Arthur Davidson was killed in a two-car collision just three miles from his Wisconsin home, at the age of 69. Davidson’s wife, Clara, was also killed.

Establishing a Brand: Harley-Davidson, Inc.

In 1903, Arthur Davidson met Chicago businessman Carl H. Lang. Lang offered to sell new Harley-Davidson motorcycles from his Adams St. shop in Chicago. This made him the first official dealer.

In January of 1905, the company placed small advertisements in the Automobile and Cycle Trade Journal. They were offering bare Harley-Davidson engines to the do-it-yourselfers.

By April they were producing complete motorcycles on a limited basis. That first year, Carl H. Lang sold three bikes from the five built in the Davidson backyard shed.