1918 Harley Davis-son - Mar 16 Not HD Frame, but a Davis National

[kingfish254]

I was lucky enough to pick up this spray bombed bicycle with a Harley Davidson chainring on it this past week. It's really been fun playing .... Tracy, trying to uncover what story the old bike can tell me. So far I know that the HD chainring is legit and that the frame is a 1918 Davis built frame. Since it doesn't have a headbadge, I am still trying to determine if the frame and ring go together. Most of the parts are from the correct period, so we'll see.

Here is my 1918 Harley Davis-son as it looked when I bought it. (wrong bars, pedals and wheels, the rest to be determined)

Here is what it's supposed to look like.

 

[Missing Link]

Nice find, good luck finding those original bars, they're so sick, but, they'll probably set you back more than the whole bike if and when.

 

[kingfish254]

More pics will follow tonight.

 

[kingfish254]

Nice find, good luck finding those original bars, they're so sick, but, they'll probably set you back more than the whole bike if and when.

I don't plan to sink the money into this to make it a full resto. Just clean it up and make it a cool period bike.

 

[Missing Link]

I don't plan to sink the money into this to make it a full resto. Just clean it up and make it a cool period bike.

Cool can't wait to see how it comes out when you're done.

 

[mikeeebikey]

Soma fabracations has the LAUTERWASSER, I believe would be sweet.
Kinda wondering what you mean by period correct? Wood rims?

 

[kingfish254]

Soma fabracations has the LAUTERWASSER, I believe would be sweet.
Kinda wondering what you mean by period correct? Wood rims?

Those would be nice, but I am thinking more along the lines of these that I have coming to me from a trade with @Machine Age Victim .

I didn't say period correct, I said period bike, so a bike that looks somewhat proper to the period. Maybe periodesque would be a better term . I'm not dropping the coin it would take for wood rims.

 

[mikeeebikey]

Reading comprehension fails me!
Those bars are cool.
I was hoping somebody would save this bike, it found a good caretaker!

 

[kingfish254]

Been experimenting this week with different methods to remove the spray paint and keep the layer(s) underneath. The one that ended up working the best was Goof Off, rags, fingernails and rubbing.

There is some awesome info over on the CABE on these Harleys and other Davis made bikes. For instance, there are supposedly some knockoff chainrings out there are are cut rather than stamped out. One of the telltale signs of a true HD ring is the chamfered/beveled edge on the inside if the ring below the teeth.

I started on the BB to try and find some color. The bottom layer does have a drab greenish look that could possibly be HD green, but I can't find this color elsewhere on the frame. But with the bike being 96 years old it could have had a repaint (or two). Who knows.

Here is what it looked like yesterday after I finished with the top tube and down tube. Mostly a black hardcoat and a lot of bare metal too. Some indications of a blueish-green color like tarnished copper too.

After this I removed the ring and took a wire wheel to the face of it.

 

[kingfish254]

Continued with the spray paint removal today. On the seat tube, there was no indication or ghost of the typical Davis Made decal on the black. (Another possible?? indicator that the black is a repaint).

No headbadge ghosting either on the black. That round hole is a broken off bottle cap type headbadge holder that is typical of Davis bikes.

Here is what she looked like after I finished the spray paint removal today.

 

[kingfish254]

Here is some of that blueish-green paint. It's a layer below the black.

And some red on top of the blue green. Also the drab green bb color.

 

[dragnusa]

Very sweet bike, I would have to say an HD would have to be one of the bikes on my dream list.

 

[kingfish254]

I just love this chainring!!!!

 

[kingfish254]

Here is the fork which I completely forgot to remove any spray paint from.
Davis and age appropriate. Possibly not HD appropriate.

 

[kingfish254]

Very sweet bike, I would have to say an HD would have to be one of the bikes on my dream list.

Thanks buddy! I'm pretty stoked about it.

 

[RainierBeer]

Wow, nice score. That chain ring is pretty killer.

 

[LukeTheJoker]

Great bike and I love that you are looking after it, that chainring is amazing!

Luke.

 

[Chips_Mahoy]

Nice KF! I wish I had your time and money...


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[kingfish254]

Nice KF! I wish I had your time and money...

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From the man that cranks out killer builds left and right and owns THREE Silver Kings!!!
I think you do!!!!

 

[ifitsfreeitsforme]

Looking good Brian. Keep it up.