&, PRODUCED BY.

,R&'ICh"",1 "'11,0\, fY""'I1~ •

L&'ISkOwski • G>'fS'y •

to the family of A.D. Farrow, including Jane Farrow-Langley, LaII11411i:'JI, Dorothy Farrow, Donna Farrow and Bob Farrow for their i also to Jim Williams, whose foresight has preserved many of images that might otherwise have been 100st.

, iation to the untold photographers who have documented and the eighty-five year history of the A.D. Farrow Co.,

friends and customers, as well as employees past and present, who have lived it.

This book is not an official publication of The Harley-Davidson Motor Co.

Any mention of Harley-Davidson or any of its registered trademarks is used merely as a point of reference. 1997 A.D. Farrow Co. Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

Demver III i.e - T'urke:y Run winner; late 80s.

Bob Armstrong, one of A.~. [Farrow's liI1echan~cs. preparing for a race - ci rca 1940.

Offiels' IJrogram '25 Centis

"6;cUQ,. ++ Y)n··S"h~ Mid-5'D5 - e.h&.irry 'NQ,..I,.V)'~S"

"Jim", part of the Farrow's rae; nQ effort.

C~ rca early 50s.

_ _ Steve Re'.lllie

L\l96 Old Time Newsies Ra~!

Jrd PI.llce, 750 EJ!Ilert

;(0:

l'or loyal support of the' Haf'Jey .. Da,,;dson Racing Te'aml

Gene Church on Lucifer's

Hamme-r

,

1984.

Jim Davis won his first race in Lancaster, Ohio at age 14. The year before his father, whoraced bicycles as a young boy, took Jim to see a road race while in Savannah, Georgia on a business trip. That sparked

his interest and set his mind on becoming a

champion racer, He showed talent in his early

races at country fairs and eventually traded the Yale motorcycle his father had bought for him for an Indian. A Columbus Indian dealer was able to get a 1916 factory model for him and entered him in a 100-mile race in Detroit. Davis won the race. In an interview with author Daniel Statnekov, Davis recalled, III won a hundred dollars and thought I was millionaire,"

While attending the University of Southern California in Los Angeles he continued to race. In 1920, Harley-Davidson hired him and he became part Oof the famous "wrecking crew," He was a well-known professional by the time he won the first American Motorcyclist Association-sanctioned race. He continued to be part of the Columbus racing scene throughout the 1930s and 1940s and was well known at Farrow's. In 1998, Davis was inducted into. the Al\1A Hall of Fame.

Harold Bertan Klnnel, (1905-1957) came to work at Farrow's shortly after A.D. Farrow's death. He was a Columbus native and graduated from Commerce High School in 1923. His previous job with Lazarus taught him skills, such as how to create window displays, which were immediately put to use. He also organized events for the Buckeye Motorcycle Club and began writing a motorcycle column, called the "Throttletwisters' that was printed in the Columbus Star. He married Lillie Farrow in 1940.

Kinnel was a champion hillclimber and loved races. He became a fixture at the Daytona races in Florida and could usually be spotted sitting at the south turn. He fired the starting bombs every year from 1947 until 1955, when he retired. It was a short retirement. When the new man almost blew himself up - Kinnel got his job back

Upon his death in 1957, Kinnel's friend, John F. "Red" Phillips, wrote a tribute to him in the Threttletwisters column. "Kinnel had a great sense of humor and whenever he and his friends gathered it was a constant kidding party."

On ape. rsonal level, this was a time of joy and sorrow for the Farrows.

In 1939 the oldest son, Robert, was killed in a motorcycle accident. Jane Farrow Langley vividly remembers the tragedy.

It was also during the 193:{ls that Lillian hired a former Lazarus Irepartment Store window dresser and. accountant, Harold B. Kinnel. Longtime racer, Jim [)avis, remembers it was ]940 when Lillian and H.B. Kinnel had a spontaneous wedding ceremony at a Covington, Kentucky courthouse on their way to Dastona.

The motorcycle dealership also began a new era. One of farrow's mechanics, Orville Cassady, opened Cassady's .Motors on West Broad in the late 19305. In 1941 Cassady was ready to move to another location. Lillian Farrow bought the Broad Street store and the dealership moved. to its current home at 49] W. Broad Street

Newspaper ad for Cassady's motorcycle dealership next to the :Farrow's dealersbip ad.

Rea t:>ryOl.'1 0 ... 01. HOI.y\ey=i)OI.v~.J\so ... ~i\1 di'Mbe .. C'liF<"Ivvows.,

"I remember a party at the Do IDrop Inn-s-a very neat time," Bill Bryan added.

By the time Don and his bride" Dorothy, took over the dealership, some of the local racers had space in the repair shop to work on their bikes. Bobby Hill, of Grove City, Ohio, an AMA Dirt Track National leader and. AMA Grand.

National Champion in 1951 and. 1952, was a regular at the dealership. Irick Klamfoth, of Groveport, Ohio, AMA Dirt Track National Leader, also spent a lot time with the Farrows.

ARLEY DAVIDS

Jim Davis, who began racing on board. tracks in 1918, recalls Columbus as the big racing hub in the 1I.9'30s and 19405. Don Farrow and one of his employees, Red Bryan, were national champion hill climbers. Bryan's son, Bill Bryan, recalls Farrow's seemed like the "hill climbing: center of the U.S." because nearly every employee was a hill climber. Bill Bryan noted that in 1950 Don Farrow and Farrow's employee Paul Allen won a National 45 B Championship, while Red Bryan captured the 74 A events.

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Don and IOorothy F aifrOW on f he,ir wedding day - JalnLlary 2'-,9-,4-18'

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j!l,l smi._ t'n on 0 1941 HarleYOavidson .,

Ar+ Sp~,r+ wi.f;h hiS' IN 0 tt6-rb.-y- Dt..,Jids-~J\.

Long-time customer" Art Spied, a regu lar since the 1940s remembers racer Jimmy Charm, AMA Grand National Champion in ]9'47, :t948 , and 1949 and AMA Dirt Track National Leader, hanging out at the motorcycle shop. Spiert also 'recalls his brother buying his first bike, a used orange and black 19'34-74 flathead, from the Farrows for under $100.

Christmas postcard from the earliest years of motorcycling.

J\. lfred D. Farrow (1889-1927), the founder and name.ftsake behind A.D. Farrow's Harley-Davidson, was among the pioneering men who helped establish the Harley-Davidson Motor Company (founded 1903:). He put his faith into selling exclusively Harley-Davidson motorcycles at a time when automobiles were a new idea.

In David Wright's hook, The Harley-Davidson Motor Company, he suggests the 1908 New York endurance run "put the motorcycle on the map" when \;\!alter Davidson Sr. finished with a perfect score-riding a HarleyDavidson motorcycle.

By 1912, Harley-Davidson 1\10tor Co. offered seven different models. Meanwhile, Arthur Davidson, the company's

secretary and general sales manager, was traveling the country actively recruiting dealers. "More than 2JlO dealerships were thriving by 1912," Wright explains. A.D. Farrow's Harley-Davidson of Nelsonville, Ohio, which

opened in 1912, was among them.

Farrow was born near Nelsonville to Robert Farrow and Susan Hoch on May ]Ii, ]8SH. He worked as a coal operator and telephone company employee in Nelsonville before starting his dealership at the age of twenty-three.

A .D. Farrow's Harley-Davidson celebrated its 38th fianni'Versary in 1950. The company also operated several sub-dealers. Paul Fast managed a dealership in Newark, Ohio and Jane Farrow-langley with her

husband Bill , opened Langley's Harley-Davidson on Parsons Avenue.

[Jon Farrow,

Bill A\thoff

ond BiH Pempertoll selling t'ickets to the Chari.ty Newsi.es Race i.n front of Farrow's H(1rley-

After meeting Detroit dealership owners, Earl and Dot Robinson, Jane Langley joined the Motor Maids, an organization that promoted female riders. Dot Robinson was president of the newly established national organization.

By the 1950s, the Charity Newsies Race, held at the Ohio State Fairgrounds, was the biggest annual event. The dealership sold tickets, held open houses with refreshments and souvenirs, made repairs on racer's bikes, and hosted autof-town fans for a weekend of entertainment. Langley held annual breakfasts for the

hundreds of Mowr Maids, who assembled to complete a parade lap around the track before the race.

Yet, for long-time Farrow's customer, Club

Chuck Brockman, the dealership was more ~t TI

than a motorcycle shop. He also bought 'Season

his wedding rings from the Farrows. "A guy gave them to Red (Bryan, former service manager) as credit for repairs,

then he sold them

to me for $50," Brockman explained.

Eleven-year-old Donna Farrow, daughter of Don and Dorothy, at an Ohi.o state Fairgrounds motorcycle exposition.

Do,," ",'IJ. Doyo\,[i;.'/s SO'l, ];,0""1 F",,.,.ow l'ic,\-"",.eJi. !.<OLH" ["'is H"",.ley 1-11.1",,10<£,., ci,.c .... I "I'S1.

Tom Reiser ana. Newt Thoma,s (both Farr'ow I s employee,s at the time) pictured with a "1-:8 pew- , ered dragster i:the o,ther a Knuoklehee.CIl dra!l!ster - Spri,ng 196,1.

]:" so, T (JlM ~!$"~ 'wi+-h ~wiJ\ Spor+S~r ~~ - ~ I}J pcwiu-rU1

dr~+Q.f$".

Tom lRei ser iceraced a 1960 FILIH with Dreyer sidecar at Buckeye Lake f n 1968. "H'salways a good da.y to

ride .•. !Jut some days are def initely better than others."

loR_.

Racing continued to be a major part of the Farrows' Interests throughout the 1960s and 19705. The dealership sponsored drag racers and created custom bikes to display in annual custom car shows at Franklin County Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Don Farrow traveled to hill climbs all over the country on weekends.

D'orotlhy end 10'on Fall'll'ow dlscunhng bustness 11'1 rhe sume office Pdf and AI [loermdn use todd,,..

In 1963, the Farr~ws also beg~ selling HarIeY-Davi~son gelf cart~ a~ the West Broad location, The business was moved te Millersport, Ohio m 19'65. It grew rapidly and, in ]9750, a 41,5506-square-f()ot facility was built in Millersport to support operations for 1500 golf carts, which were leased at that time. The golf cart company continued to operate successfully until 19'8] when it was sold.

At Harley-Davidson Motor Co., negotiations for a merger with American Machine Foundry ~AMF) were completed in 1968.

The company was listed with the New York Stock Exchange in 1965. William H. Davidson said he thought the merger would help both companies' stock prices. Instead, the turbulent merger lasted until 19S1, when executives of Harley-Davidson bought the company back. During that time, imported motorcycles were steadily gaining in popularity and threatening the only major American company still producing motorcycles, Harley- Davidson.

By 1970, Bobby Farrow, son of Don and Dorothy, had taken over the family dealership. He recalls when the Japanese motorcycles first became popular. "They won a lot of races and were cheaper than Harley-Davidsons," Farrow explained.

Eob F,arrow & Ra;ndy Ga;briel at Fa;I'row'l s parts counter" :mid~70s.

~~

The increasing number of imported motorcycles for sale, combined with national gas shortages, rising gas prices, and high interest rates for those wanting to purchase a motorcycle created tough times for Harley-Davidson dealers, according to Bobby Farrow.

COlumbus Police Department riding HarleY-Davidsons featured on the cover of

the COlumbus DispatCh Sunday Maga.zine _ October 22, 1961.

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_ 10 MILE GRAND NATIONAL

Sunday, June 22, 1980

In ]9831 current owners Pat and Al Deerman, purchased the dealership from the Farrow family. Their love of history, specifically motorcycling history, made the traditions surrounding the 71-year:'Qld company an important part of the dealership to preserve.

AD. Farrow's Harley-Davidson has doubled in size and become a state-of-the-art facility after the Doermans purchased the building next door, at 479 W. Broad Street, and refurbished the original shop at 491 W. Broad Street. Yet, the traditional atmosphere has been maintained by bringing back old events such as the annual Thanksgiving Ride (Endurance Run), Polar Bear ride on January I, and visits from Santa Claus every holiday season. The newly created Harley Owners Group, sponsored by the Harley-Davidson Motor Co., has revived many of the ideas behind the Buckeye Motorcycle Club-- except the uniform.

co Iumbus Ohio Chapter H.O.G. Club

I Bill Weimer

di s pIa.y s ill en years of Polar B,ear Ride pins - 1.997.

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HOf,'ey Do I est

VJOson Dealer: h

the S I{J

Jacqueline MicCue Miss .Ha.rley-lJavidson :l!.987 r

Willie G. lJavidson, Al & Pat Doe rman , Gary Scott and Gene church.

Pat and AI Do e rman , along with Mindy 'T'ate (Miss Farrow's HarleyDavidson) celebrate A.D. Farrow's 80th

New traditions, su~h .as th~ Muscular Dystrophy Association Ride and Harleys & Hotrod Cruise-In raise thousands of dollars for MDA and bring motorcycle enthusiasts together:

The Doermans have also become active in neighborhood charity events. Pat Deerman, who has served as president of the local business association, has also become deeply involved with preserving and celebrating the rich history of the West Broad Street area of Franklinton.

11 That began out of a storefront in Nelsonville, Ohio as an ambitious "'" young man's vision has endured the great depression, two world wars, and the invasion of countless imported motorcycles. Three dedicated generations have given countless hours and the kind of personal sacrifice needed to nurtu.re an original dream though endless challenges. _ ...... ---TI' 'l71;;;,:r', the [)oermans are continumg that vision. With the inspiration from Frank Laskowski, an artist and instructor at the Columbus College of Art and Design, the original Nelsonville shop has been reproduced as a life-size walk-through museum with an old-fashioned ice-cream parlor nearby.

."

In 1997, A.D. Farrow's is now the oldest continuously operated HarleyDavidson dealership in America and celebrating its 85th Anniversary. Only the Harley-Davidson Motor Company has sold Harley-Davidsons longer than Farrow's Harley-Davidson ..

A.D. Farrow would be proud.

A.D. Farrow married a woman from Nelsonville, Lillian Matheny (189'2-]984). They operated the dealership together, then in 19'24-J took advantage of an opportunity to take over the Columbus, OWo HarleyDavidson dealership.

P. I. Haynes and Co. had been distributing Harley-Davidson motorcycles to central Ohio out of his Fourth Street bicycle shop since 1913.To accommodate his expanding business in electrical appliances, including ice-boxes and generators, he opened an additional storefront at 699 N. High Street. Haynes sold Farrow his High Street store and went exclusively into the electrical appliance business.

Farrow and partner R.B. Secaur operated a shop for one year together, offering HarleyDavidson motorcycles, repairs, and parts. The following year, Farrow became the sale owner. 1'0 promote the motorcycle lifesty le, the Farrows, who didn't own a car, created the Buckeye Motorcycle Club. Motorcycle enthusiasts would meet for weekend trips to the countryside and used the dealership to sponsor club activities such as dances and table tennis. Their uniform, which had to be neat and in good repair at all times, was a red shirt with gray trim and the members' names embroidered above the left pocket. Gray pants with a red pinstripe completed the riding outfit. The dealership promoted annual Thanksgiving Runs, hill climbs, and Charity Newsies Races through the club, which was nicknamed the "Throttletwisters" in the local newspaper,

"lle Cassady Orv]_

ldingthe

ho ' .. ' '" 's

19.28 w mne.r

.' " at the trophy

Buckeye Club

Motorcycle

Annual

kS'1iving Than ""

J\ .0. Farrow and his wife continued to operate the dealership until i"'I.Mr. Farrow's untimely death. October 11,1927. He left behind a widow and three children - Jane, Donald. and Robert.

Farrow's daughter remembers the struggle her mother went through to keep the dealership. Harley-Davidson didn't have female dealers at that time. "It just wasn't done," says Jane Farrow Langley. However; Lillian worked with her husband for many years and knew the business

( well. "The factory just sort of looked the other way and it became her dealership"

Langley recalls Emma and Charles Matheny, her grandparents, moving to Columbus to watch after her and her two brothers, while her mother spent 12-hour days operating the motorcycle dealership.

In 1925 Farrow's Harley-Davidson was moved again to a storefront on East Main Street. Long-time Farrow's

( customer, Al Smith • says his boyhood fascination with motorcycles started by hanging out at the motorcycle shop, located near the Hollywood theater at 18th Street and Main, next to his mother's restaurant.

"Mrs. Farrow was a swell lady, sharp as a tack:' Smith says, "She'd let me watch (the mechanics) work on motorcycles through the back door." He still vividlv remembers the day he found a motorcy( cle left out back with no one around. He jumped

up on it and it actually started I Smith recalls getting the suprise of his life.

Al Sili th a- -_ d

_ _n

cous in oJ). -

194-1 Earl C

w't'" ey

~ £.II! large

hll''')->''''a- '0' -

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o~~""e ~('" ST'~eT s\.\o\" w""id'-~$ \OC(7I:I:-eJ. ",eJ<1:- 1:-0

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---

During the Depression, Farrow's eustomers-eyoung, able-bodied men-were penniless. Then, in the early ]_940s most young men were drafted to fight in the war. Harley-Davidson Motor Co. shifted its production to military motorcycles and dealers couldn't buy any. In addition, the depression and the war created tire, battery, and gas shortages.

Service contracts with the Columbus Police department's motorcycle unit, funeral escort services, and other businesses using motorcycles for deliveries, created steady parts and repair orders which kept the dealership going.