Tom Janda’s Harley-Davidson scrapbook

Look back on the life of a Harley-Davidson^® enthusiast from almost a century ago

Images courtesy of the Harley-Davidson Museum^™

From official event photographers, to snapping selfies at a pitstop, or Insta360 footage captured mid-ride, there’s no denying that images form a big part of the Harley Owners Group^® experience. Whether you’re seeking to relive the thrills of an action shot, reminisce about an incredible journey or jog your memory of a meaningful moment that’s personal to you, they’re a way to preserve time, just for second.

Today, we share our snaps with friends through social media, through the H.O.G.^® Stories gallery and carry them with us everywhere on our phones, available at the touch of a button. However, this hasn’t always been the case, and a recent acquisition by the Harley-Davidson Museum^™ shows that, while the format of our images may have changed, the amount of fun to be had with a Harley^® certainly hasn’t!

Almost 80 years ago, a gentleman named Tom Janda sat down to make a scrapbook and filled it with the adventures and enthusiasm that have come to define the Harley-Davidson brand. Tom was from Omaha, Nebraska, where he participated in activities with the Omaha Cavaliers Motorcycle Club and found work as a carpenter, firefighter and contractor. Although his did find some success competing in amateur classes for flat track racing, tourist trophies and hill climbs, what really shines through from the moments he captured is the sheer enjoyment to be found with a motorcycle. This is a look into the life of an ordinary motorcyclist and family man – an enthusiast from yesteryear – in which we may recognise a little of ourselves and marvel at how much we still have in common all this time later. Here are some highlights from the pages of this album.

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