Originally Posted by
T-Mar
Products included the Cosmopolitan bicycle, platform pedals, the dropped cage pedal, hubs, rims, aluminum spoke nipples, saddle frames and bottle cages. I believe the products were manufactured in Nashville, Tennessee and I vaguely recall reading that the "factory" was a 2 story machine shop and warehouse on his log cabin property. Hopefully someone else can add to and/or confirm the above, as I'm pushing the memory banks on the manufacturing facility.
Your memory serves you well.
The MOMBAT website has some additional info along with a bunch of pictures.
Some other components in those pictures are a prototype handlebar-actuated brake system, a later attempt at a clam-shell handlebar stem, and a seat post.
I've never seen evidence that he worked on or prototyped any gear systems. The Cosmopolitans are designed to use center-pull brakes (the rear at least).
Harlan started (albeit a bit late) reinforcing his bike joints with epoxy so they were not just riveted together.
One of the early ones was raced...by Steve Dayton of Indianapolis/ Speedway Wheelmen, in the 1971 Senior Road champion jersey...Harlan is wrenching.
