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Anyone have an idea where I might turn up the long spring for a 1930's Cyclo rear derailleur? I'll attach a photo of the spring I'm talking about. Thanks much! Joe

Recently came across a collection of 1896 German newspaper supplements that's overflowing with ads for bicycles. Gives you some idea of just how popular bikes must have been at the time. Thought it was also interesting that so many of the ads target female riders:

Great story! Thanks for posting!

Just finish putting on the new tires and grips. Thanks again for the help!

Yes, mine is steel.

Thanks very much for the help! Not sure of the exact age of the bike. The company went out of business in 1958, so the latest it could be would be late 50's. Unfortunately, it was just held on by some rusty wire.

Hey all, I'm wondering what the date of this San Jose license plate is. Guessing 1948. Any insights? Thanks, Joe

Thanks very much for the help, gkeep and thanks for the lead on the tires! Interesting that they're also used for women's bikes in Japan! Here are a few shots of the bike. Its seat tube is 40 cm c-c.

Hey all, I'm looking to buy tires for a 40's/50's English roadster. Tire size is 24 x 1 3/8". Question is, it's got English Dunlop rims and the old made in USA tires on the bike now say, "Made to fit British E.A. 5 Dunlop rims". Will a modern tire like a Kenda work with a Dunlop rim or do I need...

Thanks again!

Thanks again, Adrian! It does have the "two star" design like in the 1956 ad!

Thanks very much for the help, guys! Yes, it looks very similar to a Hercules. Amazing that you found that listing, Adrian! It's was set up in a confusing way. The bars were flipped and the stem is pulled out to max while the seat post was slammed. I was thinking of trying to set it up as a...

Just turned up a cool old bike at a swap meet. Has anybody ever heard of the "Mancunian Cycle Co."? A Google search turns up nothing. It has a newer saddle (made in Japan) and the crank has been welded back together at one time. The original seat post has been cut down, so if I want to ride it...

It's interesting that they listed many of the bike weights and how you paid a premium to get the pneumatic tires vs the elastic cushion tires.

Some pages from the M.F. Kennedy & Bros. Catalog 1893 in St. Paul Minnesota!

Akk, my mistake! These are the 700C.

Thanks much!

Yep, with this gearing, I'll be riding mostly in flat areas. These rims are the 700A. Stones does have some nice steel on display and that's a beautiful town you live in!

Amazing! Thanks for posting!

Rides pretty well for a forty-pound bike, but I still don't trust the hookless rims. :)

Looking at Iverider's catalogs, it's amazing that they made this exact model (model 86 with same seat and crank) all the way to 1941!

Double post

Nope, I haven't bought it. I'm still financially buried under a 1927 Hercules path racer restoration not to mention the fact I'm completely out of room for more bikes. They've already crept from the garage into the bedroom. They're just not gonna look right in the kitchen. :)

For sale near me here in California. It says original paint, but that paint looks awful good. I suppose it's possible: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/329353275722465/

Freaking amazing! Thanks for letting us know it survived!

The bike weighs in at 32 pounds, but feels heavier. :)

That seems to be the argument here. Is the single tube, or rather the lack of it, the reason Europeans embraced cycling while it eventually died off in the single tube dominated U.S. market after the first bike boom? https://onlinebicyclemuseum.co.uk/american-single-tube-tyres/

Wow, that crank is amazing! I wonder if that was just considered a "normal" sized crank for Racycle or if that was intended for motor pacing or something similar?

Thanks for posting the photo, Mac! That sure is a beautiful example of a Racycle! That's terrible that they put those bikes so far away up on those shelves! How are you supposed to get a good look at them?! The museum should at least supply a ladder! :)

Found a serial number stamped on the seat tube. It's stamped "R51" and "889". I was thinking that the "R51" might stand for "Regular 51cm" but why would American builders be using centimeters. Measured the frame and it is indeed 51cm center to center. Hmm. Even British builders wouldn't be using...

Nope, the white paint was behind the decal, and there are some very minor bits of the decal remaining. In "real life" nothing is bent (or appears bent) but it does look like that in the photos (doesn't it look like that in every photo of a bike?) :) My intention was to just give it a basic...

Flea market find today! No head badge, just an old Reynolds sticker on the seat tube. Gallows seat post and 28" single tube tires. Anyone recognize the maker? Also, I'd like to just gently clean the bike. What's the best way to go about doing that without removing some of the (barely) remaining...

A little more progress...

Sounds like an amazing project, Amwalt! Here's hoping you can locate those bars soon!

Wow! If that was the same crank, it sure would've been a shame if it survived all those years only to burn with Fabers. :(

Thanks, Locomotion! Still can't believe I (with the help of others) was able to find those decals! :)

And many thanks to David Brown for supplying the grips!

Great!

Did you ever find one? I'm looking for one as well, but no luck so far!

No problem!

OK, went through all the TOC cycling related photos in Gorham's album, and after some cropping, contrast adjustment and sharpening, here they are. There are a few that I didn't include in the original video that show Gorham's cycling club hanging about on their rides.

Unfortunately, no, I don't see any mention of Thom's Cyclery on 2nd, but I'd bet Gorham knew all about it. Just took some still photos from the album, so I'll post them on a new thread...

If someone has the capacity to do that, it’s fine with me. If I can find the time, I can take some photos.

Looking for a preferably used set.

Never thought about doing it with a bike this old, but let me know how it turns out if you give it a try! Yes, they still make Presta valved tubes, but I've never seen any new ones with the large iron ring at the base.

Yep, the original old tubes were short Presta valves with an iron ring at the base that would cover the large hole in the rims. I don't think they make anything like that anymore, but I could be wrong.

Yep, it's strange that folks didn't wrap up to and across the top of the bars in the old photos I've seen. The top of the bars is a natural place to put your hands.

Ahh! Yes, you're right! I guess they used the wood grips and wrapped! Thanks for the sharp eye!

One more question for today! The bike I'm building up is a 1915-1925 French race style bike (Delage). The bars show about 3 inches of pitting where wood grips would normally go, but in photos of these bikes in races around 1923, the bars are wrapped up to the brake levers. So what do you think...

Thanks very much for the help! They're Mephisto, so I believe French.