IBM has been one of the leaders in the computer and software industry since the beginning of that industry. Few companies have the track record they do, but here are 7 Things You Don’t Know About: IBM.

1. IBM was originally founded as Computing Tabulating Recording Company (CTR) in 1888.
2. There are more technology patents held by IBM than any other United States based company.
3. The IBM personal computer, the computer that started the home computer industry, was introduced in 1981.
4. In 1972, the IBM logo was changed to the now familiar version featuring horizontal stripes forming the letters “IBM”.
5. The IBM company headquarters are located in Armonk, New York.
6. IBM was the first major company in the world to commit to not using genetic information in any employment or employee decisions.
7. IBM first began being referred to with the “Big Blue” nickname in the mid 1960s.

IBM has long been one of the biggest and best suppliers of information technology and equipment, and it seems they will remain so for the foreseeable future too.

There are few companies that are more American than Harley-Davidson. But, here are 7 Things You Don’t Know About: Harley-Davidson.

1. Harley-Davidson considers 1903 as its first year in business.
2. The first Harley-Davidson made had trouble making it up hills without the assistance of the rider utilizing bicycle pedals.
3. In the 1970s, during a routine cleanup project at the factory, the original shed from the Davidson’s backyard where the first Harley-Davidson’s were built was inadvertently destroyed.
4. Founder William Harley graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1907, a full four years after founding the motorcycle company.
5. In 1921 a Harley-Davidson motorcycle was the first bike to win a race averaging over 100 miles per hour.
6. During World War II, Harley-Davidson produced over 90,000 military motorcycles.
7. Though it is an undeniably American company, the first British motorcycle riders club was the Harley-Davidson Riders Club of Great Britain.

Harley-Davidson has had good years and rough years but remains an American institution.