Show your Davis built bicycles

[chitown]

Thank you Ivo for the comparisons on the Excelsior to Chiefs. This is the kind of info we need... and love!

Again, I have no examples of a 1912-1916 Excelsior so I am relying on trade drawings of the period to compare style of the different manufacturer.

Here is a 1914 Dayton ad to compare lines.

I am still of the belief that Dayton only features are all Davis offered, not this wide range of building styles that meant changing tooling, jigs, lugs, etc... The Dayton flood in 1913 could have been the start of Sears looking for other makers to fill there orders. The Sears Tiger is one frame I say looks like a Davis built bike. Davis built racer bikes were well know in the teens and used by some top racers of the day. So they would have been know for that more than their Motobike frame designs.

I am currently theorizing Sears and Mead both were using multiple frame builders to offer a wide range of style of bikes.

Mead may have ordered racer frames from Horace Huffman just like Sears.

Davis built Mead???

As Patric has stated, more research is needed to draw conclusive statements on who built what for whom and when.

 

[Wing Your Heel]

HD chainring

 

[mike j]

Picked up at Copake, not much left but I like it. Is this a Davis built frame? Headbadge missing & chain ring looks to be recently changed. Serial # F46122. Any info. as to year & make, etc. would be appreciated.

 

[Balloontyre]

Thank you Ivo for the comparisons on the Excelsior to Chiefs. This is the kind of info we need... and love!

Again, I have no examples of a 1912-1916 Excelsior so I am relying on trade drawings of the period to compare style of the different manufacturer.

I'm not doubting the possibility of multiple sources for the Sears bikes, although Excelsior building the Chief is wild, and would be a new discovery if true. It is possible that the 1916 and earlier Excelsior bikes did not have the volcano joint, let's take the serial number stamping for bit of evidence, are there other manufacturers that stamped numbers in line with the rotation of the BB bearings? Someone reading this thread must have a confirmed 1915 or 16 Chief, can you please share your serial number stamping????


I am still of the belief that Dayton only features are all Davis offered, not this wide range of building styles that meant changing tooling, jigs, lugs, etc... The Dayton flood in 1913 could have been the start of Sears looking for other makers to fill there orders. The Sears Tiger is one frame I say looks like a Davis built bike. Davis built racer bikes were well know in the teens and used by some top racers of the day. So they would have been know for that more than their Motobike frame designs.

Harley VS other Davis motorbike frames are evidently different in the joint construction. Looking at the Chief frame construction , all smooth joints, yet another style of frame.

I am currently theorizing Sears and Mead both were using multiple frame builders to offer a wide range of style of bikes.

I agree, this is very evident in the ballooner era especially.





As Patric has stated, more research is needed to draw conclusive statements on who built what for whom and when.

Happy Sunday,

 

[hoofhearted]

mike j ............ you've got yourself a Westfield-Built motorbike with trussed, multi-plate fork crown.

A tell for Westfields is the sleeve-lug helping to retain the aft portion of the undertank bar.
Davis did not use a sleeve-lug in their construction of motorbike frames.

Very interesting environment for your foto-shoot -- a quarry ??

............. patric cafaro

 

[mike j]

Patric, Thanks for the info. & quick response, This forum is a treasure trove of expertise. Not a quarry, just twenty something years of stone collecting. Now my wife want's to move!

 

[Gary Mc]

1912 Dayton Info

The Bicycling World & Motorcycle Review December 2, 1911

1912 G.W. Shroyer & Co. - Dayton

 

[hoofhearted]

Gary ... Scott Mc has a three-arch Dayton ... maybe he'll post some pics .

Never have seen these images you just posted, Gary !!! WOW !!!

Thank You !!! ............. patric

 

[Gary Mc]

1912 Dayton Info Continued......

and with the Lester Clutch Coaster Brake!!!!!!!!!

The Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review December 30, 1911

 

[Gary Mc]

Gary ... Scott Mc has a three-arch Dayton ... maybe he'll post some pics .

Never have seen these images you just posted, Gary !!! WOW !!!

Thank You !!! ............. patric

Knew you'd like this & the Lester ad just as much.