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1894/5? Fowler Truss Frame Bicycle

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Starting to dig into history of Fowler Bicycles. A lot of information to sort through. I don't have Fowler catalogs so thought would try the serial number approach to narrow down year of your Fowler. Not exactly sure yet on serial number ranges for each year but this is a start. Anyone with additional information please comment or if you have a Fowler bicycle please post some photos and serial number to add to the list. Have only made it up to 1897 so need to keep looking. Total production numbers for 1894, 1896, 1897 and 1899 came from period references.

My conclusion is your Fowler (SN 14461) is most likely a 1896 since SN 15355 was specifically listed as a 1896 model.

Jeff

1893-1902 +/- Fowler Bicycle Serial Numbers (as of 07/19/2021)
Years shown in bold below are the specified model year in that reference. Italicized model years are a best guess.

1893 Fowler (1000? made) SN 0-1000


1894 Fowler (2,500 made) SN 1000-3500


2950 1894 Stolen 06/23/1894


1895 Fowler (4,500? made) SN 3500-8000

4092 1895 Stolen 03/23/1895

4512 1895 Stolen 03/23/1895

5157 1895 Stolen 01/08/1897 (Black)

6424 1895 Stolen 07/1896

7020 1895 Stolen 09/21/1895 (26”, maroon frame, green rims)


1896 Fowler (30,000 made) SN 8000-38000

8011 1896 Stolen 12/22/1897

8678 1896 Stolen 07/1896

9607 1896 Stolen 04/19/1897 (Nickel plated)

12095 1896 Stolen 05/06/1898

13069 1896 Stolen 03/18/1898

14215 1896 Stolen 07/1896

14461 1896 CABE Lester 07/2021

15355 1896 Stolen 05/14/1897 (Truss frame, 24”, maroon )

15748 1896 Stolen 07/1896

17027 1896 Stolen 01/22/1897 (Truss frame, maroon)

17392 1896 Stolen 06/09/1896 (C)

19863 1896 Stolen 07/1896

20694 1896 Stolen 09/26/1896 (Green frame)

22951 1896 Stolen 09/19/1896

27073 1896 Stolen 06/13/1897

29951 1896 Stolen 09/16/1896


1897 Fowler (27,000 made) SN 38000-55000

51751 1897 Stolen 05/19/1899

52540 1897 Stolen 10/14/1897

53175 1897 Stolen 11/21/1897 (Black 22” frame)


1898 Fowler (? made) SN 55000-?

1899 Fowler (5000 estimated made)

1900 Fowler (? made)

1901 Fowler (? made)

1902 Fowler (? made)
 
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Here are a couple references about Fowler Bicycles. More to come.

The Beginning:
From November 4, 1892 issue of The Wheel:
1448997

1448998


From November 11, 1892 issue of The Bearings:
1448999



Near the End of Frank Fowler's involvment with Fowler Bicycles:
From May 19, 1901 issue of The Inter Ocean (Chicago IL)
1448993

1448994

1448995

1448996
 
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My conclusion is your Fowler (SN 14461) is most likely a 1896 since SN 15355 was specifically listed as a 1896 model.
Thanks a million as always Jeff. @gtdohn was kind enough to share a picture of his old 1896 and it certainly all tracks. I saw an illustration online referenced as an 1896 Fowler that possessed a different fork crown (I'm now assuming it to be from 1897), which led me to believe 96 wasn't an option, but the evidence rightly points to 1896. Regarding finding a badge, I believe I've at least gone from the fire to the frying pan so to speak. Finding an 1894 badge seemed like a significant improbability. The other parts will be a challenge but to a lesser degree, I'm hoping.
 
Starting to dig into history of Fowler Bicycles. A lot of information to sort through. I don't have Fowler catalogs so thought would try the serial number approach to narrow down year of your Fowler. Not exactly sure yet on serial number ranges for each year but this is a start. Anyone with additional information please comment or if you have a Fowler bicycle please post some photos and serial number to add to the list. Have only made it up to 1897 so need to keep looking. Total production numbers for 1894, 1896, 1897 and 1899 came from period references.

My conclusion is your Fowler (SN 14461) is most likely a 1896 since SN 15355 was specifically listed as a 1896 model.

Jeff

1893-1902 +/- Fowler Bicycle Serial Numbers (as of 07/19/2021)
Years shown in bold below are the specified model year in that reference. Italicized model years are a best guess.

1893 Fowler (1000? made) SN 0-1000


1894 Fowler (2,500 made) SN 1000-3500


2950 1894 Stolen 06/23/1894


1895 Fowler (4,500? made) SN 3500-8000

4092 1895 Stolen 03/23/1895

4512 1895 Stolen 03/23/1895

5157 1895 Stolen 01/08/1897 (Black)

6424 1895 Stolen 07/1896

7020 1895 Stolen 09/21/1895 (26”, maroon frame, green rims)


1896 Fowler (30,000 made) SN 8000-38000

8011 1896 Stolen 12/22/1897

8678 1896 Stolen 07/1896

9607 1896 Stolen 04/19/1897 (Nickel plated)

12095 1896 Stolen 05/06/1898

13069 1896 Stolen 03/18/1898

14215 1896 Stolen 07/1896

14461 1896 CABE Lester 07/2021

15355 1896 Stolen 05/14/1897 (Truss frame, 24”, maroon )

15748 1896 Stolen 07/1896

17027 1896 Stolen 01/22/1897 (Truss frame, maroon)

17392 1896 Stolen 06/09/1896 (C)

19863 1896 Stolen 07/1896

20694 1896 Stolen 09/26/1896 (Green frame)

22951 1896 Stolen 09/19/1896

27073 1896 Stolen 06/13/1897

29951 1896 Stolen 09/16/1896


1897 Fowler (27,000 made) SN 38000-55000

51751 1897 Stolen 05/19/1899

52540 1897 Stolen 10/14/1897

53175 1897 Stolen 11/21/1897 (Black 22” frame)


1898 Fowler (? made) SN 55000-?

1899 Fowler (5000 estimated made)

1900 Fowler (? made)

1901 Fowler (? made)

1902 Fowler (? made)
Some added info, sales receipt from 1896 with serial number

20230201_222831.jpg
 
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