Belknap Bicycle Manufacturers
Hi! I was googling Belknap and this thread popped up. I realize it's an old thread but I can add one thing to it. I recently purchased a Belknap bicycle and PMed Phil Marshall (rms37) to get any information I could. My particular Belknap was built by Snyder as were a lot of "Zep" style frames from 1936 to 1940. He told me the "collet lock on the seat pillar is a 1936 only feature on these frames. Snyder sold a lot of these frames, the most popular badges being Hawthorne and Rollfast. 1936 is the first year for the frame but it was produced with a standard seat clamp in 1937/38/39 and 1940. Everyone calls these the "Zep" frames because they used a version of the frame on the top of the line steel Hawthorne in 1937 but it was probably less than .01 per cent of the frames that were originally sold as a Zep and they will have a locking fork."
While searching for Belknap info I copied all pics I came across of any bicycle w/ a Belknap Headbadge. Apparently they sold a little bit of everything - Ballooners, Light Weights, 10 Speeds, Muscle Bikes, Middleweights, Tandems, full size Trikes and Tricyles for kids. I also read that Schwinn was also thought to have produced some of the bikes that were badged Belknap and I did recognize a Schwinn "style" chain ring on a number of them. I haven't been able to find a source for the information that we are looking for yet, and may not. But it is another interesting source of bicycles to study.
I am overly satisfied with my purchase - it was on Craigs List at a very reasonable price. Looking at the pages from the Belknap 1940 100th Anniversary Catalog the one I have looks the same as the Model BX which does not have a chain guard, rear carrier or head light. From what I can see it is missing the drop stand, clip, reflector and grips. Mine is also the version that comes with the Steerhorn Bars instead of the Scout Handlebars also listed in the Catalog. From the pics I would guess about 75 - 80 per cent original paint is still intact - all in all a great find.
I hope the information I provided added at least a tidbit to what you already knew. Just knowing they opened for business in the 1800s leaves a lot to be discovered yet. Happy Hunting All! Robert