Hot News: REAL Inventor of First Harley-Davidson!

[HarleyCreation]

If you click on this hot link you will be directed to a letter describing the (ahem) "real" inventor of the first Harley-Davidson!

Don't get me wrong. Melk was a real guy and had input -- and a lathe.

But possibly (and I wondered about this before) the lathe really belonged to his father.

I tracked down a Melk grandson who claimed he still owned the very same lathe, but guys who saw photos of it didn't think it was old enough to be the original lathe of 1901-1903.

There is also a photo of the Melk home in 1919 on this website and I believe it's same one I photographed in the 1990s for the Creation book, although it has changed some over the years.

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/d/i/o/Nancy-Dion-Ca/PHOTO/0089photo.html

[Kojack]

It's not that unusual for a family member to brag a little about the accomplishments of a relative, or even exaggerate a little. I guess without being able to talk with those original founders we'll never know for sure but the possiblility of the Melks at least contributing to the project seems feasible. Being a former machinist with an interest in the old stuff, I'd like to see the lathe. By the way, here's a nice resource for old machine tools.
http://www.lathes.co.uk/page21.html

[c.o.]

Interesting......I'm sure there could be a few similar stories in other family trees associated with those early days. I still think a guy needs a time machine to go back and check the facts. Otherwise you have to do it the hard way like Herb did.

[HarleyCreation]

Originally posted by Kojack
It's not that unusual for a family member to brag a little about the accomplishments of a relative, or even exaggerate a little. I guess without being able to talk with those original founders we'll never know for sure but the possiblility of the Melks at least contributing to the project seems feasible. Being a former machinist with an interest in the old stuff, I'd like to see the lathe. By the way, here's a nice resource for old machine tools.
http://www.lathes.co.uk/page21.html

I have those lathe photos somewhere. I'll dig them out by and by and post them.

[HarleyCreation]

Originally posted by c.o.
Interesting......I'm sure there could be a few similar stories in other family trees associated with those early days. I still think a guy needs a time machine to go back and check the facts. Otherwise you have to do it the hard way like Herb did.

You're right. Over the years at least two other guys have claimed their great-granddaddy was responsible for the first Harley. (Of course ppl who have read THE book will instantly ask: Which first Harley, because there were actually TWO first Harleys of totally different designs which in "official" histories are partially or totally merged together in a confused mess.)

One guy claimed his ancestor is in the 1907 lineup photo of the workers and that HE was the guy who invented the first bike. Trouble is, the guy he pointed out as his ancestor was already identified as another guy, Albert Becker (of the famous Becker brothers of "Hidden Room" fame.)

The other guy claimed he went to the Factory around 1944 as a kid with his dad (Axel Jensen) and old Arthur Davidson treated them like royalty and said they couldn't have done it without the input of old Axel and even promised the kid a free motorcycle.

But that's where the story begins and ends.

Of course that 10x15 ft woodshed was actually a BIG place, with various floors and passageways and departments once you walked thru its humble little door so I suppose there was room for everything and everybody....

Actually Henry Melk has a REAL claim to fame and if I may pat myself on the back (pat pat pat) I was the first one to bring his name to light. Before I found his name in a long forgotten 1942 article in the "Milwaukee Journal" he was only referred to in "official" histories and elsewhere as the "northside friend." And like I said, this letter in the OP is valuable because it goes further with the claim that maybe the lathe really belonged to old man Johann Melk and not to young Henry. Doesn't that make sense?

BTW: the Melk family home was a couple blocks away from the Harley family home up on Burleigh in 1901. This was a couple miles from the Davidson home and the woodshed so we have to assume that Bill Harley knew Henry Melk because they were neighbors.

[exeric]

What ever became of that "hidden room" story ? I never did hear a conclusion to it but I suspected Geraldo Rivera had something to do with it.

[HarleyCreation]

Originally posted by exeric
What ever became of that "hidden room" story ? I never did hear a conclusion to it but I suspected Geraldo Rivera had something to do with it.

While others have used the Geraldo Rivera Capone vault farce to dismiss it, I never did. Instead I hunted down information on the original source of the story -- "Sherbie" Becker -- and fully believe that Sherbie wasn't fooling and had no reason to lie being there early and growing up with the Harley-Davidson motorcycle right with the founders. A guy who lived the dream like Sherbie wouldn't need to fib.

I heard that after "hidden room" story was revealed in Enthusiast mag (my story), a couple of shallow bore holes were drilled into the massive concrete walls in that area. But that was hardly enough to either prove or disprove what actually lies behind them.

The "hidden room" story needs to be revisited sometime and a theory presented using the best evidence we have at this time.

[exeric]

If you've got some time to kill Herb, maybe you could give us a bit of background on the hidden room and what is possibly in there.

[c.o.]

hmmmmmmmm...........that would certainly be interesting indeed.........:)

[Chris Haynes]

If you've got some time to kill Herb, maybe you could give us a bit of background on the hidden room and what is possibly in there.

Herb, we are still waiting. :D

[Slojo]

After the 2003 100 year anniversary tour with Bruce Calvin and I ridding with John Harley Herb Wagner and others touring around town (Milwaukee) it is my opinion that none other than William Sylvester Harley himself was the chief force and designer in the first bike. He was truly an engineer, designer, draftsman and freehand artist. All others involved where his assistants, partners in crime.
I don’t intend to take away or impugn these gentlemen as they all surely had a hand in one way or another for the finished product, the first Harley Davidson. Besides why did they not call it Harley Melk or Melk Davidson or any other derivative? My hat is off to Mr. Harley and his ability to join hands with all that it took to accomplish the task including but not limited to the Davidson crew, the Melks and all the others.
I would bet the first Harley was a joint effort of 20 or more individuals along with several parts suppliers.
Joe

[milw.pirates]

I heard that after "hidden room" story was revealed in Enthusiast mag (my story), a couple of shallow bore holes were drilled into the massive concrete walls in that area. But that was hardly enough to either prove or disprove what actually lies behind them.

The "hidden room" story needs to be revisited sometime and a theory presented using the best evidence we have at this time.[/QUOTE]

Herb,
Were the bore holes done during the renovation of Dept. 43, in the mid to late 90's?,They stuck over a million into redoing the basement,then moved the whole dept. to the P.D.C..
Ken

[c.o.]

Alright...... this story sounds mighty interesting! It's got my gears turning on this wintery night! :D

[Dave R]

I heard that after "hidden room" story was revealed in Enthusiast mag


Okay...now you got me curious, and completely in the dark...

Does anyone have the "Enthusiast" with the original "reveal"? What are the details here?

[Chris Haynes]

Okay...now you got me curious, and completely in the dark...

Does anyone have the "Enthusiast" with the original "reveal"? What are the details here?

Give me the date. I have the mag.

[HarleyCreation]

After the 2003 100 year anniversary tour with Bruce Calvin and I ridding with John Harley Herb Wagner and others touring around town (Milwaukee) it is my opinion that none other than William Sylvester Harley himself was the chief force and designer in the first bike. He was truly an engineer, designer, draftsman and freehand artist. All others involved where his assistants, partners in crime.
I don’t intend to take away or impugn these gentlemen as they all surely had a hand in one way or another for the finished product, the first Harley Davidson. Besides why did they not call it Harley Melk or Melk Davidson or any other derivative? My hat is off to Mr. Harley and his ability to join hands with all that it took to accomplish the task including but not limited to the Davidson crew, the Melks and all the others.
I would bet the first Harley was a joint effort of 20 or more individuals along with several parts suppliers.
Joe

That was a fun day and no mistake. We ended up with bikes right on Bill Harley's grave for photos. John Harley said: "I think grandfather would like that."

I agree that Bill Harley was the genius behind the whole thing. You only have to look at the vast number of patents he held to see that. Some writers have denigrated him but they are just mean and bitter. Right now we have found 4 or 5 myths about the Eight Valve (some regarding Bill Harley) and what others have claimed but probably is not true.

The only guy whose input seems to have been important was Ole Evinrude, and that was VERY early. Once Bill Harley went to college and got his engineering degree he was second to no one.

[HarleyCreation]

Herb,
Were the bore holes done during the renovation of Dept. 43, in the mid to late 90's?,They stuck over a million into redoing the basement,then moved the whole dept. to the P.D.C..
Ken

Wasn't Dept. 43 still on the north side of the south building with the ramp going downstairs into it? Where the dynos were?

The "hidden room" was in the basement of the north building towards the west end near the elevators. But I think they had just done some renovation there too. Hazy in my mind but it's all in my files.

[HarleyCreation]

Give me the date. I have the mag.

For some reason I found it instantly. Odd, that rarely happens because when I look for stuff it usually refuses to be found. Maybe the ghost of Harleys past wants this to be told or something on this New Years Eve.

"Is There a Hidden Room at Harley-Davidson?"
Enthusiast
Winter, 1992
p.28

I think there was also a follow-up disclaimer in another issue, but that doesn't want to be found right now.

[c.o.]

Right on Herb!!! Hopefully Chris is as lucky in finding that article!

[milw.pirates]

Wasn't Dept. 43 still on the north side of the south building with the ramp going downstairs into it? Where the dynos were?

The "hidden room" was in the basement of the north building towards the west end near the elevators. But I think they had just done some renovation there too. Hazy in my mind but it's all in my files.
Herb,
It's my understanding that Dept.43 was area to the right of the ramp into the basement,I know of the bricked in area under the stairwell,that has the time capsule,they had a small brass plaque to mark it.My Dad gave me a tour after the renovation.
The hidden roam I have heard about but have never seen.
Ken S.

[Chris Haynes]

http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/hd36knuck/Harleyshiddenroom.jpg
http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/pp209/hd36knuck/Harleyshiddenroom1.jpg

[Dave R]

Thanks for posting that Chris...very intriguing. Wonder if anybody has ever thought to experiment with something like "ground-penetrating radar" to get an image of what's behind the walls. The old timers didn't spend time and resources in the old days building unused, empty areas in a building. Has to be something in there.

Hey, let's get the "History Detectives" involved...!!!

[rwm]

sounds like a job for geraldo rivera.maybe al capone's money is behind that wall

[Chris Haynes]

If they already poked holes in simply stick one of those small camera/light setups in it and have a good look.

[c.o.]

Thanks for posting that article Chris! It still leaves one to wonder. Your camera idea is a good one. If something was found I think a small access could be punched through that wall with minimal impact. I'm glad these kind of stories exist. It gives a guy something to ponder. The "what if factor" if you will........ :D