Jesse McCauley
McCauley Cycle Works
Hay & Willits built "Outing" of Indianapolis, Indiana
Phenomenal detail throughout this machine. I'm working on fitting a chainguard to it but otherwise complete and original late 19th century machine with a number of unique traits. A surviving and legible decal badge is always a thing of beauty, in this case the 'Outing' decal is almost an exact match to the traditional badge form which @Jon Olson has posted, I have not seen many examples of complete machines though.
The stem and handlebar arrangement is very interesting, the reversible bars mount in a variation of the modern 'threadless' style with a plug that threads into the inside of the steer tube to secure the head. Lovely matched "Outing" ferrules survive as well.
Hay & Willits have been deemed responsible for 'Major' Marshall Taylor getting his nickname at the early age of 13 while working as a trick cyclist out side their shop. Reportedly he wore his father's civil war jacket which led to the title. One has to assume he was riding an Outing machine during these acts.
Worth noting that following the success of Hay & Willits as a bicycle shop Tom Hay went on to be very influential in the fledgling automotive industry and even had the honor of flag man at an early Indianapolis 500 race.
Phenomenal detail throughout this machine. I'm working on fitting a chainguard to it but otherwise complete and original late 19th century machine with a number of unique traits. A surviving and legible decal badge is always a thing of beauty, in this case the 'Outing' decal is almost an exact match to the traditional badge form which @Jon Olson has posted, I have not seen many examples of complete machines though.
The stem and handlebar arrangement is very interesting, the reversible bars mount in a variation of the modern 'threadless' style with a plug that threads into the inside of the steer tube to secure the head. Lovely matched "Outing" ferrules survive as well.
Hay & Willits have been deemed responsible for 'Major' Marshall Taylor getting his nickname at the early age of 13 while working as a trick cyclist out side their shop. Reportedly he wore his father's civil war jacket which led to the title. One has to assume he was riding an Outing machine during these acts.
Worth noting that following the success of Hay & Willits as a bicycle shop Tom Hay went on to be very influential in the fledgling automotive industry and even had the honor of flag man at an early Indianapolis 500 race.
