Head badge ID

[slcurts]

Hey all,

Probably a long shot, but does this head badge ring any bells? The bike is a pretty generic-looking TOC ladies' bike with wood rims, handlebars, and rear fender. I'm sure there would have been an insert in there.

 

[slcurts]

Bump?

 

[Iverider]

Post some pics of the rest of the bike. Jointery details etc. might help in figuring out the manufacturer or marque.

 

[Iverider]

A clue for you. 1896 Bellis Ad featuring their badge shape which is very similar to the badge you posted sans some of the engraving.

 

[Iverider]

Here's the Clincher. 1897

 

[Blue Streak]

Partial 1897 Bellis Cycle Company catalog with reference to Model F in last photo below:

 

[Blue Streak]

From January 28, 1897 issue of The Referee

 

[slcurts]

Partial 1897 Bellis Cycle Company catalog with reference to Model F in last photo below:

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This is great! So what I have is a Bellis Model F, probably 1897, made in Indianapolis which is where I live. That group photo in the catalog is in front of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Monument Circle. It was under construction from 1888-1902 and is very much unfinished in this photo.

 

[Blue Streak]

The same Bellis group photo from November 27, 1896 issue of The Wheel.

 

[slcurts]

According to The Wheel, Bellis was organized in 1895 and may have started production by late in that year. They ran a lot of ads in 1896, but sometime in 1897 the ads stopped and by '98 the only news from them was that they were trying to collect money owed from their dealers.