Paint Colors for the Hummer-Series Lightweight Models This Is a Work in Progress – Version April 15, 2011
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Paint Colors for the Hummer-series Lightweight Models This is a work in progress – Version April 15, 2011 What colors were the Harley Hummer and related lightweight models painted? One would think this was an easy question to answer. The Club had previously used Harley-Davidson’s General Engineering Standard 30143 as the authority for colors available on these models. H-D provided us a copy of the 1950-1969 sections of this document way back in 1983. Recent examination showed a considerable number of errors in that document. We embarked on an effort to compare all other available factory documentation to produce a consolidated and authoritative list. We compared GES with two other primary documents: The Legend Begins (99403-93), and 1958-1966 Lightweights Parts / Service Colors and Accessories (99444-93), both of which are still available from Harley- Davidson. We also used a number of secondary Harley-Davidson documents. General Engineering Standard 30143 (“GES”) provides a comprehensive list of the “standard” and “special” paint colors used by the Motor Company for each year and model. The format of GES presents some problems - some colors were standard on big twins, but optional on Hummers, and the format does not allow for this distinction. GES is resplendent with typographical errors and other inaccuracies. Notably, it shows the Hummer “B” model in 1953 and 1954, but the B model was not produced until 1955. The Legend Begins (TLB) was a tremendous effort to document the early years of the Motor Company. TLB documents through text descriptions, and Season Order Blanks (SOB) (through 1957), the standard production of each year and model. Mid-year changes, particularly “Spring Specials”, do not appear. 1958-1966 Lightweight Parts / Service, Colors and Accessories (LPS) focuses on the Hummer-series and Topper scooters, and does document, often with handwritten additions, many mid-year changes. Ostensibly, much effort was put into the LPS to make it as correct as possible. We now consider LPS to be the best single primary source. Factory-to-dealer notices (FTD), and Dealer Order Blanks (DOB) announce “spring specials” and other mid- year changes. Unfortunately, there is no compendium of these, and some may exist which are not available to us at this time. Here is a list of document types used. Some of these auxiliary documents appear on our website. GES - General Engineering Standard 30143 TLB - The Legend Begins (text description) SOB - Season Order Blank (from TLB through 1957) LOB - “Lightweight” Order Blank – Hummer & Model 165 – 1956-1957 (from TLB) LPS - 1958-1966 Lightweight Parts / Service, Colors and Accessories DOB - Dealer Order Blank – mid year specials ENT - Enthusiast, new model year announcement (typically September issue) FTD - Factory To Dealer letters ADV - Factory Advertising The “Opinion of The Harley Hummer Club” presents our opinion of the correct paint colors for each year and model, based on our research of the information available to us. We present the information provided by the various factory documents. We discuss any discrepancies found between the factory documents. For mid-year changes, we present the date when the change occurred - when that is available. We do leave one or two questions unanswered. The Harley Hummer Club, Inc. would appreciate any documentation which is not currently available to us. 1948 – 1957 Lightweights - General These bikes had the gas tank, fenders, and front fork panel painted a “main” color. The frame, front fork, chainguard, headlight shell, battery box, wheel hubs, and other small parts were painted black. Wheel rims and handlebars, if not chrome, were also painted black. 1948 Model 125 Opinion of The Harley Hummer Club Standard Colors: Brilliant Black Optional Colors: None Factory Documents TLB (std): Brilliant Black TLB (opt): None SOB: Does not show Model 125 GES: Not available ENT: Not specified Discussion The 1948 Model 125 was released mid-year, and was not included on the SOB. TLB references the 1949 documentation. ENT – April 1948, “Presenting the Model 125” 1949 Model 125 Opinion of The Harley Hummer Club Standard Colors: Brilliant Black Optional Colors: None Optional Colors (May 6, 1949 - later): Flight Red, Azure Blue Factory Documents TLB (std): Brilliant Black TLB (opt): none SOB (std): “Black Only” GES: Not available FTD: Spring Special: Flight Red, Azure Blue, extra charge Discussion The FTD “Spring Special” was announced May 6, 1949. 1950 Model 125 Opinion of The Harley Hummer Club Standard Colors: Brilliant Black, Flight Red, Riviera Blue, Sportsman’s Yellow Optional Colors: None Factory Documents TLB (std): Brilliant Black, Flight Red, Riviera Blue, Sportsman’s Yellow TLB (opt): none SOB (st): Brilliant Black, Flight Red, Riviera Blue, Sportsman’s Yellow SOB (sp): Metallic Green, Flight Red, Azure Blue, White GES (st): Riviera Blue, Sportman Yellow GES (sp): Azure Blue, Flight Red, Metallic Green ADV: Dealer handouts, magazine ads: Brilliant Black, Flight Red, Riviera Blue, Sportsman’s Yellow Discussion SOB: shows the standard Model 125 colors in a separate section. SOB: shows Metallic Green, Flight Red, Azure Blue, White in other models section, but there is no corroboration for availability on Model 125, except GES for Azure Blue. GES shows Azure Blue as special for Model 125. No corroboration except SOB other models section. GES does not show Brilliant Black or Black. We consider this to be in error. GES shows Flight Red as special. It was special on big twins, but standard on Model 125. Question: Azure Blue was a “Spring Special” color for Model 125 in 1949. GES shows it as “special” for Model 125 in 1950. However, absent other corroborative documentation, we consider GES to be in error. 1951 Model 125 Opinion of The Harley Hummer Club Standard Colors: Persian Red, Rio Blue, Sportman’s Yellow Optional Colors: Metallic Green, Metallic Blue Factory Documents TLB (std): Persian Red, Rio Blue, Sportman’s Yellow TLB (opt): Metallic Green, Metallic Blue SOB (std): Persian Red, Rio Blue, Sportman’s Yellow SOB (opt): Metallic Green, Metallic Blue GES (st): Persian Red, Red, Rio Blue GES (sp): Metallic Blue, Metallic Green Discussion GES: Both Persian Red and “Red” are shown. We consider “Red” to be in error. 1952 Model 125 Opinion of The Harley Hummer Club Standard Colors: Persian Red, Rio Blue, Tropical Green Optional Colors: [Metallic] Marine Blue Factory Documents TLB (std): Persian Red, Rio Blue, Tropical Green TLB (opt): Metallic Marine Blue SOB (std): Persian Red, Rio Blue, Tropical Green SOB (opt): Marine Blue Metallic GES (st): Persian Red, Rio Blue, Tropical Green GES (sp): Bronco Bronze, Marine Blue [Metallic], White ADV (std): Persian Red, Rio Blue, Tropical Green ADV (opt): Marine Blue Discussion SOB has a separate section for Model 125. SOB shows Bronco Bronze as optional for K, OHV, G-GA, but not Model 125. GES shows Bronco Bronze for Model 125. No corroboration. We consider this to be in error. GES shows White for Model 125. No corroboration. We consider this to be in error. ADV – “For Your Riding Pleasure” (F-R1) 1953 Model 165 Opinion of The Harley Hummer Club Standard Colors: Forest Green, Glacier Blue, Pepper Red Optional Colors: Glamour Green Factory Documents TLB (std): Forest Green, Glacier Blue, Pepper Red TLB (opt): Glamour Green SOB (std): Forest Green, Glacier Blue, Pepper Red SOB (opt): Glamour Green GES (st): Forest Green, Glacier Blue, Pepper Red GES (sp): Glamour Green Discussion SOB has a separate section for Model 125 standard and optional colors. GES shows “B” (for Hummer) instead of “S” for Model 125. We consider this to be in error. 1954 Model 165 Opinion of The Harley Hummer Club Standard Colors: Anniversary Yellow, Daytona Ivory, Forest Green, Glacier Blue, Pepper Red Optional Colors: None Factory Documents TLB (std): Anniversary Yellow, Daytona Ivory, Forest Green, Glacier Blue, Pepper Red TLB (opt): none SOB (std): Anniversary Yellow, Black, Daytona Ivory, Forest Green, Glacier Blue, Pepper Red SOB (opt): Forest Green tanks / Daytona Ivory fenders Glacier Blue tanks / Daytona Ivory fenders Pepper Red tanks / Daytona Ivory fenders Daytona Ivory tanks / Forest Green fenders Daytona Ivory tanks / Glacier Blue fenders Daytona Ivory tanks / Pepper Red fenders GES (st): Anniversary Yellow, Black, Daytona Ivory, Forest Green, Glacier Blue, Olive Green, Pepper Red GES (sp): none ENT (std): All models - Anniversary Yellow, Daytona Ivory, Forest Green, Glacier Blue, Pepper Red ENT (opt): KH/74 OHV/Servi-Car only – tanks one color and the fenders another (See SOB above) Discussion ENT – September 1953 – “Presenting the 1954 Golden Anniversary Harley-Davidsons” TLB shows two-tone combinations for KH/74 OHV/Servi-Car only ENT shows two-tone combinations for KH/74 OHV/Servi-Car only SOB has a single consolidated color section. GES shows both “B” and “S”. We consider the “B” (1955-later Hummer) designation to be in error. GES shows Black for “B” and “S” in 1954 and 1955. No corroboration. We consider this to be in error. GES shows Olive Green for “B” and “S” in 1954 and 1955. No corroboration. We consider this to be in error. ADV shows Anniversary Yellow, Daytona Ivory, Forest Green, Glacier Blue, Pepper Red Question: “Two-tone” paint schemes were available for other models. However, there is no indication that the “two-tone” option was available for Model 165. Absent corroborative documentation, we consider SOB two-tone schemes were not available on Model 165. 1955 Model 165 Opinion of The Harley Hummer Club Standard Colors: Anniversary Yellow, Atomic Blue, Aztec Brown, Black, Pepper Red Optional Colors: Hollywood Green Factory Documents TLB: "Written description for all models but Hummer not available”. SOB (std): Anniversary Yellow, Atomic Blue, Aztec Brown, Black, Pepper Red SOB (opt): “All Models” - Hollywood Green SOB (opt): Any combination of tanks in one color and fenders in another using our standard colors except Hollywood Green, will be supplied at no extra charge.