dick power

[FBMarshall]

With the exception of John Power's father, John Sr., I probably know more about Dick Power than anyone still alive. Over many years I interviewed scores of ex bike racers who knew him, hung out at his various stores, rode his bikes, and were in one or another of the clubs he was either affiliated with or started. He was a very complicated man who loved bikes and, unfortunately, I never had the opportunity of meeting him. A manuscript I wrote about Dick remains unpublished. The pair of black DP bikes shown in one of the posts were sold to me by their original owner John Frey who passed away several years ago. A member of the Unione Sportiva Italiana, he was club champion on several occasions. I have attached a Picture of him on one of the black bikes.

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I was hoping you might help me identify this barn find track bike I inherited.
Someone from one of the forums helped me narrow it down to a Dick Powers Pista based on what was left of the headtube logo.
When I received the bike it was rust covered and the original paint was flaking off.
I may have made a mistake in doing an initial cleaning and rust removal. Can’t go back now. I’ve done what I’ve done. I wish I could have saved the original paint but I am happy I was able to remove much of the rust. I am attaching photos pre and post cleaning. I hope you might be able to help me identify the year and model.
It is clearly a fixed gear track bike.
The limited information I have been able to find has me believing the frame itself is similar if not identical to the bike Tommy Smeriglio road to several victories in the 1940’s.
Please let me know your thoughts.
Thank you

 

[ccdc.1]

FWIW, if the frame is structurally sound this might be a case where full restoration is warranted, if that's in your budget. The amount of rust in its as-found state was likely to continue deteriorating the frame tubes, while the amount of paint loss in its current state makes it not satisfying as a patina queen. If it rides straight and true, it could be a wonderful bike to give a new life. There may be someone re-popping Dick Power (sorry, no 's') decals...get a good set of new wood rims (Ghisallo, maybe) and a BSA hub for to match the one you have, and most importantly have fun with it.

I cleaned up an Alvin Drysdale track bike of similar vintage a few years ago, but it was several degrees less deteriorated than your Dick Power so it responded well to a careful clean up and polish. You have to work with what you've got, and what you started with looked to be in an alarming state of deterioration. https://www.flickr.com/photos/51061132@N08/albums/72157719653508536/

 

[vintagebikelife]

I just saw these posts. The recently posted DP bike is a quandary. Some aspects like the drop out treatment and seat lug looks like Dick's. However the head and BB lugs are, to my eye at lease, strange. Dick almost always Nervex lugs and these don't look like Nervex to me. I know of one or two instances were he may have used a different style lug. One of those I used to own, and I have come to believe that Dick had repaired an Italian track bike and simply put his decals on the bike. Not an uncommon practice in the day. If it is indeed a DP I would not use wood rims. Dick never did. He did not start building bikes until post WWII. Probably not before 1947 at the earliest. Before that, during the war and immediately after, he was in the Army. And, on his return was taking a course in brazing; I believe at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. By this time wood rims were no longer popular among racers (maybe they still did on the wood boards). Jeff Groman would be the one to ask about this. BTW I looked at the Smeriglio bike on Groman's site and it does not seem to have this bikes head lugs or its fork crown. At least, again, to my eye.

 

[FBMarshall]

Thank you very much for your input. I truly appreciate your words of encouragement.

 

[birdzgarage]

Dudes parents didn't think that one out.could you imagine growing up with that name.

 

[cyclingday]

Yeah,
I worked with a guy named Dick Cox.
He had a son that started working with us, who was named Dick Jr.
We called them, Big Dick & Little Dick.
Dick senior eventually bought a Kenworth and they went into the long haul business, so I thought they should call their business,
Two Dick’s Trucking.
They didn’t take me up on it, but I thought they’d get a ton of business just on the name alone.

 

[OZ1972]

Very cool looking bikes

 

[jbrnd2]

cool pair of dick power racers. good story behind these bikes, one was the riders trainer the other his race day bike. originally owed by the union sportiva italiana new york club champion in the late 50s. dick power of new york built some great bikes, i would put these up against paramounts of the day. these bikes have chater lea componets and airlite hubs

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Interested in selling one of them - let me know price if interested

cool pair of dick power racers. good story behind these bikes, one was the riders trainer the other his race day bike. originally owed by the union sportiva italiana new york club champion in the late 50s. dick power of new york built some great bikes, i would put these up against paramounts of the day. these bikes have chater lea componets and airlite hubs

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Interested in selling? Let
Me know price?