1894 Speeder 2 speed Schwinn Collection

[Mark Mattei]

Got this 30 years ago on a trade with the Schwinn Collection, the round brass inventory tag and red paper tag are from them. Finally opened it up this month and found the planetary gears are missing among other bits and and disc that the chainring attaches to has been brazed to the bottom bracket shaft. Any thoughts on this one or should I just throw it in Lake Michigan? Thanks, Mark.

 

[cyclingday]

That's a tough one.
If there aren't any examples of what the internals looked like, it would be hard to find someone with both the motivation and the skills to fabricate the missing parts.
I know a guy in San Diego who could do it, but I'm sure his plate is already pretty full.
That one may be destined to remain a relic from the American bicycle industrial past.
Super cool relic though, and I think it makes a very interesting display piece just as it is.
So, please don't throw it in Lake Michigan. Lol!

 

[GiovanniLiCalsi]

You could find newer gears and modify them to fit. It’s not that difficult for a machinist to solve.
It looks to be circa 1895.
It looks like it was made by Waverley....

 

[Oilit]

Fascinating bicycle! The problem is we've spent the last 20 years exporting those jobs and the skills that went with them. But there are still people who can do that kind of work. If you have a model engineering exposition near you, it's worth checking out. I like the Cabin Fever show, I saw it in York PA but it looks like the next one is scheduled to be in Lebanon PA.
http://www.cabinfeverexpo.com/