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Columbia Model 40

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ColinT

On Training Wheels
Hello I just got a new bike and I am looking for some advise. I am reasonably familiar with it but info seems scarce, I believe it to be from 1895 but would love to confirm it. I am also planning to clean it up to make it ride able again. Is there any value to keeping it as is? I do not think the wheels and hubs are original due the rims being metal but I really don't know. There is a rear coaster brake I do not think they existed yet. Would it originally be fixed gear? I am thinking of modernizing the rim size and lacing maybe a 26 inch rim to it for some better tire choices. I will be keeping the drivetrain and cockpit and be making new wooden grips for it.

I would also like to clean it and remove some surface rust to start off. What would be some good first steps to start it?

Thanks for any advise.

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Wow that frame is huge !! Is it your size ? I would just clean and oil it like it was a gun. Looks like it was updated with newer components . What you do to it totally depends on the depth of your pockets and the width of your imagination
 
Luckily I am 6 3 and can hop on it pretty well. I will not have much seat post on it though haha. My plan of now is to get it riding again by making some periodish looking hubs and lacing some modern rims on it. Then just cruise it around town. Looks like it will be fun.
After wheeling it home a couple of blocks I got 5 people wanting to ask about it.
 
I would have Stutzman make new rims, then stain them a dark honey color, then paint with milk paint, then scuff off some of the paint with steel wool. They will look original and you can install a set of Robert Dean 28”x1-3/4” smooth white singletube tires. Best ride! I would use an early TOC Corbin/New Departure coaster brake.
Any bare metal spots on the frame can be touched up with stove black, similar to gun blueing.
Here is my 1896 Columbia 40

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Last edited:
Thank you for all the photos. It is unfortunate it does not have the original drive train and pedals because this look great. I did do a initial rinse to see if I could see anything else. There is a set of New Depature hubs laced to unknown rims as of now. Hubs are not as pretty as an older set but still nice enough. Is there anymore info out there about the hubs? I’m going to rebuild them and hope the races are not to pitted.

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Nice bike. In order to put the coaster brake on the bike they would have had to draw the rear tubes in about 5/8 inch. The original rear hub was about 5 1/8 wide. Most coaster brake hubs are around 4 1/2 or so wide. I also see that to original crank has been replaced. All in all a nice start. Should be able to get it rideable pretty easy.
 
The Morrow rear coaster brake is a great hub. It was made in that form from the very early 20th century until mid-century. The New Departure front hub is a common one, and yours is a newer style. Both of your hubs may be WWII "black out" hubs from when chromium was rationed for the war.
 
Hi,

Yes, WW2 blackout New Departure hubs. It's possible that the rims are the same date also.

Interesting, because it means it was rebuilt previously when it was at least 50 years old!

It's possible it was rebuilt during WW2 when there was a national shortage of bicycles.

Best Regards,

Adrian
 
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