Help identifying barn finds - Iver Johnson & Unknown

[PatTheSlat]

American bicycle history

View attachment 139443

File name "1889ColumbiaTinType.jpg". That looks exactly like the OP's bike to me, looks like we have a winner. OP, the guy who runs vintagecolumbiabikes.com may be interested in seeing some pictures of your bike. He has catalogs all the way back to 1879 (though not posted online), he may be able to find the original catalog page for yours.

 

[walter branche]

1889 columbia it is not

not a 1889 columbia , ,i know the correct i d , columbia did not use that sprocket , columbia did not use rollar block chain, columbia never had a frame like what is shown ,, [email protected]

 

[oldspoke]

The "Chicago" Safety

Hello All,
The odd framed HTS is the "Chicago" sold by Von Lengerke and Antione, 246 Wabash Ave. Chicago Ill. 1891. V.L. and A. were sporting goods dealers on par and competing with Abercrombe and Fitch .V.L. and A. sold the New Mail as well. Another of their models was the "Courier" also a mens HTS. If anyone happened to see a fine cycle offered at the flea market at Copake this past Spring by Via it may have been the "Courier". V.L. and A. were also gun dealers. They are said to have indirectly supplied many depression era gangsters with guns like the Thompson Sub-machine Gun. One customer was Alphonse Capone and in one article the weapons used in the St, Valentines Day Massacre were said to have come from Von Lengerke and Antioine. I don't think that they manufactured bikes but may have bought these as frames/parts and private labeled them. Just speculation on my part though.
The I.J. looks like a 1910's to mid teens machine but I am not sure. Both are nice original bikes.
Cool tin type !
Glenn

 

[dfa242]

Hey Glenn,
Thanks for this great info - can always count on you.
See you in Copake,
Dean

 

[willswares1220]

Oldspoke,

Thanks for sharing the information on what brand "HTS bicycle" that barn find is..
That's whats nice about The Cabe forum. The wealth of information from the members!

 

[dave the wave]

I thought Walter knew what it was,it just goes to show that there are all kinds of nice people willing to HELP OUT FOR FREE ON THE CABE.

 

[walter branche]

yes,

yes we have messages about the bikes , i am trying to find an original ad for her ,, i have been looking through a bunch of books and such , . these type bikes represent an era of transportation , and they are difficult to ride or should i say uncomfortable , .. The company that sold these bikes also were selling bikes like I ride ,,my 1891 new mail hard tired safety ,, thanks .. whoever gets the bike should get in touch with me ,, i can help with the tires and the brake system , .. the reason this bike does not show much wear ,, is because they are not easy to ride , ,and whoever bought it back in 91 found out ,.. walter branche when i say uncomfortable or difficult to ride , i was not trying to manipulate the final sale price , ,my offer of 2,000 ,was a fare price in my thinking , as always there will be someone who will offer more , i was giving a fare amount ,so other would not be offering 500.00 or 1,000 so forth so on , good luck to the new owner ,.. wpb

 

[oldspoke]

Chicago - Images

Hello All,
Here are some images from the 1891 V.L. and A. catalog. I was wrong about the possibility of the Copake swap bike being the Courier model. They were different but here is the "Chicago".

 

[willswares1220]

oldspoke,

Thanks for sharing the catalog information on that 1891 Chicago HTS.
Interesting stuff!!

 

[walter branche]

thank you

Thanks to Glenn for revealing the information,. looking forward to hearing how this machine rides ,, walter branche