Wheeled Relics
Cruisin' on my Bluebird
Since i started collecting bicycles I've always thought it would be neat to find what could be considered an "authentic" messenger bicycle. Recently ran across an 80% original Pope "Daily Service" (advertised as 1918) on Long Island that is now making the long trip out west to me.
The bike has some character. The top half of the head badge has been torn off, leaving only "Daily Service" and the factory identification below. The drive train is intact, early motobike pedals (which yes multiple people have contacted me about), original crankset / chain and what looks to be original 28" wood clad wheels that were painted white, (messaging / telegram service or police?) older era handlebars/grips and is missing the saddle and post.
1913 Pope Catalog Ref:
Here is a reference to the Pope's daily service in the book "Bicycle: The History" :
(fourth paragraph)
To get a general impression of non-catalog specific saddle and handlebar combinations in use at the time I've been pouring over thousands of old messenger photographs specifically looking for those taken after 1909 (library of congress) while keeping a lookout for this distinct Pope chainring. Messengers were the same back then as they are now, and this doesn't just mean customizing their machines, but in general I'm finding a lot of custom saddle and handlebar combinations. I finally found a photo dated 1912 that shows this distinct chainring, and yes, another instance of non-catalog saddle / handlebar combination:
The bike has some character. The top half of the head badge has been torn off, leaving only "Daily Service" and the factory identification below. The drive train is intact, early motobike pedals (which yes multiple people have contacted me about), original crankset / chain and what looks to be original 28" wood clad wheels that were painted white, (messaging / telegram service or police?) older era handlebars/grips and is missing the saddle and post.
1913 Pope Catalog Ref:
Here is a reference to the Pope's daily service in the book "Bicycle: The History" :
(fourth paragraph)
To get a general impression of non-catalog specific saddle and handlebar combinations in use at the time I've been pouring over thousands of old messenger photographs specifically looking for those taken after 1909 (library of congress) while keeping a lookout for this distinct Pope chainring. Messengers were the same back then as they are now, and this doesn't just mean customizing their machines, but in general I'm finding a lot of custom saddle and handlebar combinations. I finally found a photo dated 1912 that shows this distinct chainring, and yes, another instance of non-catalog saddle / handlebar combination:
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