New Departure Bell Company "First" 1901 Model - "The Modern Witch"
OK, tonight I am starting to post the "motherload" of information I found on New Departure & Corbin coaster brakes.
New Departure, Bristol Conn., U.S.A. (on machined brake arm)
"First 1901 Model" - Dec. 1900 to May 1901
also known in 1901 as "The Modern Witch"
For the first post we are starting with New Departure Bell Company's "First" 1901 Model. What I have found is there were two different "1901 Models". In 1901 New Departure Bell Company made the following changes to their coaster brakes with the "First" 1901 Model.:
- Straight-pull spokes were out, the 1901 Model sported side-pull spokes
- The "Security Coaster Cyclometer" was discontinued, it was a one year only "1900 Model"
- The large machined coaster brake arm covering the entire side of the hub was continued for the "First" 1901 Model; note it is inset into the side of the hub whereas the P.&F.Corbin New Departure model overlaps the entire side of the hub
- The machined coaster brake arm read as follows: (Line 1) NEW DEPARTURE (Line 2) BRISTOL CONN. (Line 3) U.S.A.
New Departure Bell Company claimed their coaster was "the smoothest ever applied to a bicycle; no pawl, cams, spring, fiber or soft material parts, but a plain, simple, secure arrangement of six parts, accurately made and properly hardened, easy to assemble or take down, finished in the finest possible manner - in fact the only coaster hub on the market which is mechanically correct."
Note in the first picture below is
Albert F. Rockwell, the father of New Departure Bell Company and really the father of the modern coaster brake as he developed the New Departure Controller and worked with Harry Pond Townsend to patent the first true coaster brake in 1898. Albert F. Rockwell also holds the patent for the New Departure Model A, a real work horse and truly the stalwart of coaster brakes from late 1902 to 1928.
January 7, 1901 edition of "The Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review"
March 14, 1901 edition of "The Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review"
March 28, 1901 edition of "The Bicycling World and Motorcycle Review"