Dick Rath
Look Ma, No Hands!
This is the final restoration project completed by Time Machines, Ltd. on May 15th, of this year just prior to the closing down of the business due to health issues. The final 4 month project reflects the highest standards to which every one of Time Machine, Limited's previous 89 restoration projects, over the past 38 years, have been completed. A sampling of a handful of these restorations can be seen in pictures posted on the website: timemachineslimited.com.
The attached pictures of this 1896 Ladies Crawford evidence the care and attention to detail taken on the project. ( Notice, in the attached pictures the bicycle's rare left-side drive system with its sprocket and pedals fixed on the bicycles left side. It appears that the Crawford Company made the decision to build their bikes with left side drive systems rather than the well established right side choice to set their products apart from other builders in the very crowded and highly competitive bicycle marketplace that marked the 1890's - there does not seem to be any recorded evidence that the difference helped the company to gain any sales advantage that might be of note). The bikes frame and fork were carefully bead blasted before being hand sanded and smoothed in preparation to priming and the final sprayed 5 coats of high gloss black enamel with each coat wet sanded and finally, hand rubbed to flawless finish prior to protective coats of hard wax. The finished frame and fork were then finely hand pin striped in gold enamel. The frames bright components were triple nickel plated and highly polished. Note the rare curved Ash handle bar which was stripped to bare wood, lightly stained, and refinished with multiple coats of gloss varnish. The same work and finish was applied to the Maple rims ( fabricated by Stutzman's Wheel Shop ) before each was pin striped in black enamel. The rims are each fit with aluminum inserts fabricated to accept the beading of modern tube-type tires. Chosen for the restorations tires were creme colored models ( without the usual neon-colored manufacturers logo embossed on almost all modern bike tire. The choice to fit the modern tube-type tires was made so the bicycle could be ridden, as might be any modern bike, without the concerns over having to repair any possible tire puncture with tools and methods long forgotten and hardly even understood today. The varnished Maple fenders and chain guard are correctly laced with fine beige colored parachute cordage to keep the ladies Victorian skirts out of rolling spokes and drive chain. The co- hide leather Sager saddle has been beautifully restored and is embossed on both sides with the correct "Sager" logo.
The bicycle, as it was originally produced, has it's original direct / fixed-gear drive with no coaster feature or coaster brake. Wheels are laced with stainless steel - double-butted spokes w/nickel plated 1" nipples. The cork handgrips, produced by the legendary Charlie Matteo, are an exact match to the bikes originals with nickel-plated ferrules ( the remains of the original grips will go with the sale of the bike.) Included are a number of period-correct accessories: there is a front-fork mounted Nickel plated "Neverout" brand oil head lamp, there is also a polished brass frame mounted tire inflation pump, a set of front fork mounted coaster pegs, and a rear axel mounted mounting peg. Included in the sale is a modified foldable steel display stand.
Partial disassembly of the bike and its careful packaging for shipping are included in the selling price but, of course, the bike may be picked up here in Florida. World wide shipping is available at the purchasers expense. For this I highly recommend using Bikeflights.com - they are very price competitive and highly experienced in the nuances of shipping bicycles of all types and sizes. To calculate shipping charges I'm providing the following information: Dimensions and weight of the required shipping carton and its weight when packed and sealed: Length: 52" x 32" x 10" / weight: approximately 50lbs. The ship-from Zip Code is 33958. Buyer will need only to supply their Zip Code to Bikeflights.com for a price quotation and shipping instructions.
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The attached pictures of this 1896 Ladies Crawford evidence the care and attention to detail taken on the project. ( Notice, in the attached pictures the bicycle's rare left-side drive system with its sprocket and pedals fixed on the bicycles left side. It appears that the Crawford Company made the decision to build their bikes with left side drive systems rather than the well established right side choice to set their products apart from other builders in the very crowded and highly competitive bicycle marketplace that marked the 1890's - there does not seem to be any recorded evidence that the difference helped the company to gain any sales advantage that might be of note). The bikes frame and fork were carefully bead blasted before being hand sanded and smoothed in preparation to priming and the final sprayed 5 coats of high gloss black enamel with each coat wet sanded and finally, hand rubbed to flawless finish prior to protective coats of hard wax. The finished frame and fork were then finely hand pin striped in gold enamel. The frames bright components were triple nickel plated and highly polished. Note the rare curved Ash handle bar which was stripped to bare wood, lightly stained, and refinished with multiple coats of gloss varnish. The same work and finish was applied to the Maple rims ( fabricated by Stutzman's Wheel Shop ) before each was pin striped in black enamel. The rims are each fit with aluminum inserts fabricated to accept the beading of modern tube-type tires. Chosen for the restorations tires were creme colored models ( without the usual neon-colored manufacturers logo embossed on almost all modern bike tire. The choice to fit the modern tube-type tires was made so the bicycle could be ridden, as might be any modern bike, without the concerns over having to repair any possible tire puncture with tools and methods long forgotten and hardly even understood today. The varnished Maple fenders and chain guard are correctly laced with fine beige colored parachute cordage to keep the ladies Victorian skirts out of rolling spokes and drive chain. The co- hide leather Sager saddle has been beautifully restored and is embossed on both sides with the correct "Sager" logo.
The bicycle, as it was originally produced, has it's original direct / fixed-gear drive with no coaster feature or coaster brake. Wheels are laced with stainless steel - double-butted spokes w/nickel plated 1" nipples. The cork handgrips, produced by the legendary Charlie Matteo, are an exact match to the bikes originals with nickel-plated ferrules ( the remains of the original grips will go with the sale of the bike.) Included are a number of period-correct accessories: there is a front-fork mounted Nickel plated "Neverout" brand oil head lamp, there is also a polished brass frame mounted tire inflation pump, a set of front fork mounted coaster pegs, and a rear axel mounted mounting peg. Included in the sale is a modified foldable steel display stand.
Partial disassembly of the bike and its careful packaging for shipping are included in the selling price but, of course, the bike may be picked up here in Florida. World wide shipping is available at the purchasers expense. For this I highly recommend using Bikeflights.com - they are very price competitive and highly experienced in the nuances of shipping bicycles of all types and sizes. To calculate shipping charges I'm providing the following information: Dimensions and weight of the required shipping carton and its weight when packed and sealed: Length: 52" x 32" x 10" / weight: approximately 50lbs. The ship-from Zip Code is 33958. Buyer will need only to supply their Zip Code to Bikeflights.com for a price quotation and shipping instructions.
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