Iroquois Women's Bicycle 1896 ?

[oldspoke]

Hello All,

Here is early women's Iroquois . I would assume that this bike, made by The Iroquois Cycle Works Chicago U.S.A., dates to the time prior to Iroquois being bought up by the Mead Cycle Co. in 1897. My guess is that this bike would be a model year 1896. Would anyone know who built bicycles for Iroquois ? I don't believe that they were in business for very long.

Thanks,
Glenn

 

[Blue Streak]

Looks like a 1897 Iroquois. Here is timeline of the company.

October 1895 - Iroquois Cycle Company organized in Chicago to make high grade bicycles. Located at 39 West Washington Street.
Not to be confused with Iroquois Cycle Manufacturing Company in Buffalo who made Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida and Tuscarora bicycles.

January 1896 - Leadership of company reorganized. Had booths at Chicago and New York Bicycle Shows. Showed 2 men's, 1 women, 2 tandems and its special wheel the Rex.
May 7, 1896 - Iroquois Cycle Company assigned to creditors due to friction among officials of the company.
May 14, 1896 - Iroquois Cycle Company allowed to run factory for 6 months to fill orders.
May 29, 1896 - Iroquois Cycle Company sold plant to CS Nessler.
November 1896 - Charles Jenkins joins Iroquois Cycle Company. Jenkins formerly of Jenkins Cycle Works and past involvement with Czar and Napoleon bicycles. Plan to build 3000 Iroquois for 1897.

1897 Iroquois - Have rounded fork crown with D-shaped forks.
January 1897 have booths at Chicago and New York Bicycle Shows. Show 6 singles, 2 tandems and 1 triple drop frame for three women.
February 1897 - Move facilities to 331-335 Wabash Avenue in Chicago.

1898 Iroquois - Retains rounded fork crown with D-shaped forks. Added new D-shaped seat post and handlebar stem.
May 1898 - Iroquois Cycle Company closes and goes into hands of mortgagee. Failure attributed to bicycles too high grade and too expensive to build.
June-September 1898 - Sold off inventory.
October 1898 - Iroquois Cycle Company to continue under new leadership.

January 1899 - Mead Cycle Company reports recently purchasing Iroquois Cycle Company factory and stock.
1899 - Mead runs ad for Iroquois bicycles over 750 times in newspapers across country. Over 250 times just in Kansas alone.
1900 - Mead runs same Iroquois ad at least 90 times.
1901 - Mead runs same Iroquois ad at least 11 times.
1902 - Mead runs same Iroquois ad at least 3 times.
1903 - No Mead ads for Iroquois found.

October 31, 1895 issue of The Bearings. First Iroquois ad:

November 7, 1895 issue of The Referee:

January 1, 1896 issue of The Referee:

June 4, 1896 issue of The Referee:

December 24, 1896 issue of The Referee:

January 14, 1897 issue of The Referee:

January 29, 1897 issue of The Cycle Age:

March 25, 1897 issue of The Referee:

October 15, 1897 issue of The Wheel:

December 30, 1897 issue of The Cycle Age:

March 1898 issue of The Outing:

May 26, 1898 issue of The Cycle Age:

September 8, 1898 issue of The Cycle Age:

January 12, 1899 issue of The Cycle Age:

1899-1902 Mead Cycle Co. ad:

 

[catfish]

Beautiful

 

[locomotion]

good looking bicycle

 

[oldspoke]

Looks like a 1897 Iroquois. Here is timeline of the company.

October 1895 - Iroquois Cycle Company organized in Chicago to make high grade bicycles. Located at 39 West Washington Street.
Not to be confused with Iroquois Cycle Manufacturing Company in Buffalo who made Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida and Tuscarora bicycles.

January 1896 - Leadership of company reorganized. Had booths at Chicago and New York Bicycle Shows. Showed 2 men's, 1 women, 2 tandems and its special wheel the Rex.
May 7, 1896 - Iroquois Cycle Company assigned to creditors due to friction among officials of the company.
May 14, 1896 - Iroquois Cycle Company allowed to run factory for 6 months to fill orders.
May 29, 1896 - Iroquois Cycle Company sold plant to CS Nessler.
November 1896 - Charles Jenkins joins Iroquois Cycle Company. Jenkins formerly of Jenkins Cycle Works and past involvement with Czar and Napoleon bicycles. Plan to build 3000 Iroquois for 1897.

1897 Iroquois - Have rounded fork crown with D-shaped forks.
January 1897 have booths at Chicago and New York Bicycle Shows. Show 6 singles, 2 tandems and 1 triple drop frame for three women.
February 1897 - Move facilities to 331-335 Wabash Avenue in Chicago.

1898 Iroquois - Retains rounded fork crown with D-shaped forks. Added new D-shaped seat post and handlebar stem.
May 1898 - Iroquois Cycle Company closes and goes into hands of mortgagee. Failure attributed to bicycles too high grade and too expensive to build.
June-September 1898 - Sold off inventory.
October 1898 - Iroquois Cycle Company to continue under new leadership.

January 1899 - Mead Cycle Company reports recently purchasing Iroquois Cycle Company factory and stock.
1899 - Mead runs ad for Iroquois bicycles over 750 times in newspapers across country. Over 250 times just in Kansas alone.
1900 - Mead runs same Iroquois ad at least 90 times.
1901 - Mead runs same Iroquois ad at least 11 times.
1902 - Mead runs same Iroquois ad at least 3 times.
1903 - No Mead ads for Iroquois found.

October 31, 1895 issue of The Bearings. First Iroquois ad:
View attachment 1205417

November 7, 1895 issue of The Referee:
View attachment 1205418

January 1, 1896 issue of The Referee:
View attachment 1205419
View attachment 1205420

View attachment 1205421

June 4, 1896 issue of The Referee:
View attachment 1205422

December 24, 1896 issue of The Referee:
View attachment 1205423
View attachment 1205424
View attachment 1205425
View attachment 1205426
View attachment 1205427
View attachment 1205428

January 14, 1897 issue of The Referee:
View attachment 1205429

January 29, 1897 issue of The Cycle Age:
View attachment 1205430

March 25, 1897 issue of The Referee:
View attachment 1205431

October 15, 1897 issue of The Wheel:
View attachment 1205432

December 30, 1897 issue of The Cycle Age:
View attachment 1205433

March 1898 issue of The Outing:
View attachment 1205434
View attachment 1205435

May 26, 1898 issue of The Cycle Age:
View attachment 1205436

September 8, 1898 issue of The Cycle Age:
View attachment 1205437

January 12, 1899 issue of The Cycle Age:
View attachment 1205438

1899-1902 Mead Cycle Co. ad:
View attachment 1205440

THANK YOU once again "Bluestreak". Great detective work !!