Wartime tank badges

[otis71]

What is the correct color for the "Harley Davidson" script on 1945 white painted tank badges?

[Chris Haynes]

Red & Black if memory serves.

[vph-d]

The badges themselves are gray.
VPH-D

[Rollo]

I asked a similar question at Wauseon of the judges but my question was regarding the color of the remaining part of the emblem. There were two war year knuckles next to each other on the judging field, both squadron gray but one had white/gray emblems with red and black lettering and spears and the other had black emblems with red and white lettering and spears. One was a 44 and the other a 45. How do you determine which is correct. I got no definitive answer. Maybe years specific but no one could answer the question. I bought two NOS emblems in the box over 35 years ago from Carson Little and one was the white/ gray one and one was skyway blue??? with orange lettering and spears.

Tom (Rollo) Hardy
AMCA #12766

[exeric]

Tom, a friend of mine bought a box of old H-D parts at a garage sale in Tampa, back in the mid '70s. In that box were quite a few original H-D tank emblems and among them were war years emblems. I recall the light gray emblems, and the black emblems. We both thought they were overpainted, but on closer examination it was obvious they were too well done to be an armature job. I asked him about those emblems a few years ago, but he sold them many years earlier. By the way, thanks for mentioning Carson LIttle; what a character

[1950Panhead]

The 1945 parts manual list gray, black, blue emblems.
Most (or all?) flight red 46's had cream emblems.

[Rollo]

Used to love to go to his shop. It was hike but was always worth it. I bought a 58 basket case from one of his former mechanics who gave it to a friend in return for a loan for some legal issues. The bike was all there but the amount of extra parts was what made the deal for me. He had worked for Carson for 13 years and saved every thing he took off a bike. The parts alone was worth what I paid for all of it so it was like getting the bike for free. My dumb ass chromed those emblems 40 years ago but I was a dumb ass punk, what did I know. Now I do and would never do something like that again and am working with a young guy who is building bikes on the side and told him to save everything. He is restoring a 58 for a guy and the guy wants all new shiny repop stuff but has all the OEM parts with the bike. He now knows what the stuff is worth and is saving it for his own restorations. Some times the message get through.

Tom (Rollo) Hardy
AMCA #12766

[exeric]

I had a '34 VL that was missing it's fenders, and handlebars. Carson sent me an excellent set of fenders, and straight bars for $250. I guess he got even with me at one of the Florida meets when I asked about adjustable trees for my '51. He said there were some in the trailer, but I would have to unload it. Man, what a job; but I didn't mind helping him out. I think that was the last time I saw him. As I recall, he was semi-famous for riding his '36EL to every Super Bowl.

[vph-d]

I believe all/most 44 and 45 model were shipped with gray emblems, as the few factory photos available show this color. The blue and black emblems were available for sale over the parts counter. I have no idea how "available" these emblems actually were during the war.
VPH-D