Jdcb 4374

[Rooster]

I know this is a really wild and crazy long shot, but you just never know................

A friend recently acquired an old Harley-Davidson Rider's Hand Book from 1924. For it's age it's in relatively nice shape.

Here's a photo of the handbook................





As he was thumbing through it, he discovered this 'Owner's Memorandum', basically a piece of paper with pertinent information regarding this specific motorcycle, as seen in this photo..............





His first thought was, how cool would it be to hook up this old Rider's Hand Book with the current owner of the machine? Imagine if you owned JD4374, and out of the blue this important piece of it's history showed up?

Towards that end, I am posting this here. If the current owner of this machine, JD4374 happens to be a member here and sees this, or if there is another method of advertising or contacting the potential current owner, my friend would like nothing better than to reconnect this old document with him.

PM me here with any info or further inquiries.
Perhaps an ad in the The Antique Motorcycle would be appropriate.

Thanks to all who respond in kind fashion.

Edited to add:
Bike was bought in Phoenix August of 1924 and was used in hill climbing races and oval racing.

[pfindlay]

Mine is JDCB6195 ... close, but no cigar. Peter

[Rooster]

I find it encouraging that there's one even that close out there...!
Thanks for responding, Peter.

[pfindlay]

BTW ... although the book is dated 1924, the JDCB is a 1925 model, as is the drawing on the cover.

[Rubone]

Mine is 25JDCB1826. I told the guy ( not Rooster, the owner, who doesn't have a clue) I was interested as soon as he mentioned it on another site but now he seems to think he found the Holy Grail and is attempting to solicit bids . I gave up. When dealing with someone without any background in the hobby and thinks they have something extra special I find it is just a waste of time.

[painterdale]

Does the copyright read "1925"?

Dale

[Rubone]

Most of the the sales catalogs, riders handbooks, accessory catalogs, etc, are printed in the previous year since the bikes were released in the fall of the previous year, not the calendar year.

[Steve Swan]

Most of the the sales catalogs, riders handbooks, accessory catalogs, etc, are printed in the previous year since the bikes were released in the fall of the previous year, not the calendar year.

Yes, the '27 Rider's Handbook is printed in 1926 and inside the handbook are '27 pictures.

fwiw, i have the Owner's Memorandum card for "74 Solo" 27JD 13443, purchased June 25, 1927 by a John Poltrack at 46 W. Main Street. No town or state is noted.

[Rooster]

Mine is 25JDCB1826. I told the guy ( not Rooster, the owner, who doesn't have a clue) I was interested as soon as he mentioned it on another site but now he seems to think he found the Holy Grail and is attempting to solicit bids . I gave up. When dealing with someone without any background in the hobby and thinks they have something extra special I find it is just a waste of time.

I certainly don't think he thinks it's "The Holy Grail", Robbie.
I think he thinks it would be cool to hook the handbook up with the owner of 25JD4374. That's all.
It's a long shot, but worth the effort. He's not looking to get rich, or even make a profit! So in that regard, you're woefully mistaken. Did you make him an offer?
This will run it's course; odds are against finding the current owner, and in the end he'll have a document worth about $40. It's a simple task to do an Advanced eBay Search to see what they've been selling for, therefore establishing market rate. (Reprints are $39.)