Henry Melk invented the first H-D???

[Chris Haynes]

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com...0058photo.html

[fabercycle]

I dunno.........Melk doesn't fit on a tattoo too well.........

[c.o.]

Wheww....... That's a lot of tattoos with spelling errors..........

[gary.h]

Wheww....... That's a lot of tattoos with spelling errors..........

wow,that heated spoons gonna hurt....

[c.o.]

wow,that heated spoons gonna hurt....

Ahhh........ you could just fire up the tape recorder motor and guitar string and get to alterin'.... I'm sure it'll turn out just fine.........heh..heh...

[HarleyCreation]

http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com...0058photo.html

Besides getting "Original Inventer of the first Harley Davidson" wrong they also blew this item:

"[Melk] continued his work with the company as William Davidsons Assistant, for the rest of his life."

Around 1912 or so Melk was working with Bill Harley in the engineering department (not Davidson). But I am almost certain (without digging) that Melk did NOT work there for the rest of his life. I thought he started his own company. A wire company I think it was...

[HarleyCreation]

Wheww....... That's a lot of tattoos with spelling errors..........

That's funny!

Not to mention all those tee-shirts.

[c.o.]

That's funny!

Not to mention all those tee-shirts.

How about the coffee mugs and underwear???

[HarleyCreation]

How about the coffee mugs and underwear???

This is looking serious!

[Rubone]

Can you imagine! I'd like you to meet my rottweiler "Melk" just doesn't quite have the same ring to it!
Robbie

[Earl]

But something like.....

"Melk & Ole's Motor Shop"

Now that has kind of a nice ring to it, don't you think ???

[Barry Brown]

OK GUYS, HOW ABOUT THIS. HERE IS ONE OF MY BEST BARN FINDS EVER! A 1903 "NELK". Can it be just a coincidence but pictures were found of Nelk with his incredible German lathe when he had his shop in New Jersey before moving to California where he worked for the Smith bicycle shop in Palo Alto. The bike is watercooled and has overhead cam!! Doc Patt never forgave me for letting that one get away. I never forgave myself but that is a very long list. NELK, MELK, SCHMELK HARLEY IS BEST , YOU KNOW THE REST!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL WHO FREQUENT THIS FORUM, THE BEST ONE GOING!

[Barry Brown]

HERE IS THE OHC SETUP

[HarleyCreation]

But something like.....

"Melk & Ole's Motor Shop"

Now that has kind of a nice ring to it, don't you think ???

It does sound nice. Too bad nobody interviewed those two guys.

[HarleyCreation]

OK GUYS, HOW ABOUT THIS. HERE IS ONE OF MY BEST BARN FINDS EVER! A 1903 "NELK". Can it be just a coincidence but pictures were found of Nelk with his incredible German lathe when he had his shop in New Jersey before moving to California where he worked for the Smith bicycle shop in Palo Alto. The bike is watercooled and has overhead cam!! Doc Patt never forgave me for letting that one get away. I never forgave myself but that is a very long list. NELK, MELK, SCHMELK HARLEY IS BEST , YOU KNOW THE REST!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL WHO FREQUENT THIS FORUM, THE BEST ONE GOING!

That's an amazing machine! I think maybe I've seen it in Horseless Age or another early publication but didn't realize it was OHC. Do you know what Nelk's first name was? I have a card in my "makes" file with Nelk on it but the card is blank. The name came off someones list, I guess. Your data is now on that card. Anything else about this Nelk motorcycle? Was it a one-off job only?

Online sources say Nelk is 1905 and that an example is at the Curtiss museum. Looks similar.

I always assumed Strand's Cyclone was the first U.S. OHC, but I guess not. Very cool.