The E.J. Cole Collection is considered by many to be the finest, most diverse single collection of American-made machines. It includes 220 motorcycles collected over a period of 50 years. Among them, 2 of Cole’s personal favorites, his 1907 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank and his 1910 Flying Merkel Twin Racer, both in original and unrestored condition will be auctioned by Mecum with all others on March 20-21 at the South Point Casino and Exhibit Hall, 9777 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas NV 89183
The 1907 Harley-Davidson Strap Tank featured here is expected to bring between $800,000 to $1 Million. Here is the story. The 3 Davidson brothers, plus William Harley, weren’t bicycle racing champs or trained engineers like their competitors in the pioneering days of motorcycling. But they knew a good idea when they saw it, and set about building a motorcycle in 1901, which they finished in 1903, a single-cylinder of 116cc. This first prototype lacked power, so they enlarged the engine size to 24.74 cu-in. (405cc) for their next model, and with a little advice from Ole Evinrude, the bike would climb hills without ‘light pedal assistance,’ establishing a pattern which served them well for the next century.
Their second prototype adapted the Merkel purpose-built motorcycle frame rather than their first bicycle frame, and this second machine was finished in 1904, and competed in a race on September 8th of that year in Milwaukee – the first recorded appearance of a Harley-Davidson. In 1905, the budding factory in a small Milwaukee shed built five machines, and began advertising engines for sale in The Automobile and The Cycle Trade Journal. The engines were enlarged to 26.84 cu-in. (440cc), and produced about 4 HP. By 1906 a new factory was built on Chestnut Street (renamed Juneau Ave. and still H-D headquarters), and about 50 bikes were built. These first models are known as the ‘strap tank,’ for the nickel-plated steel bands suspending the fuel and oil tanks from the frame. In 1907, H-D built 150 machines and displayed a V-twin prototype that February at the Chicago Automobile Show – the future was clear. H-D were one of around 150 motorcycle manufacturers at that date, and by 1908 the company’s production leaped to 1,149 machines.
These earliest Harley-Davidson ‘strap tank’ models are the rarest and most coveted of all Milwaukee machinery, and this 1907 model is one of the first 207 built, including the prototypes. The serial number (#2037) suggests it is the 37th Harley-Davidson built in 1907, making it their 94th machine ever built, including the two prototypes. This machine, #2037, is widely considered the best unrestored ‘strap tank’ Harley in the world and was purchased from the Leo Bongers estate auction in David City, Nebraska, in January 1993. It should be noted that Leo Bongers’ father was the original owner of this machine.
All Buyers and Spectators are welcome to attend the Mecum MidAmerica Las Vegas Auction 2015. Gate Admission: Adults: $20.00 per person per day. Children: 12yrs and younger free. Advanced Tickets (available through March 13. Friday, March 20 gates open at 10 am with auction from 4-6 pm. Saturday, March 21 gates open at 8 am with auction starting at 11 am. More info at Mecum Auctions.
The guys have some real desirable stuff on offer if you got the coin…
Thank you, just showed this to my wife. She says my collection of eight bikes is to many. ..z
This is very cool. I’m glad that there are people around with the money, time and passion to properly care for these old bikes and preserve them for the future to appreciate.
if this is the finest example in the world someone will be bidding against the original manufacturer
Hopefully they will find a good home with people
with the wherewithal to display and care for them properly.
Some of these bikes are in original condition. A vehicle is only original once, any restoration and no matter how small, it’s no longer original. Hope the buyers understand this.
I’m going… can’t miss just seeing these bikes. This doesn’t happen too often.