Kevin Fitzke
On Training Wheels
Hello Everyone,
I'm new to the antique bicycle world and love these old motor bike styles. I have what I think is a early Mead Ranger Motorbike but perhaps may have some Pathfinder parts on it? I can see some two-tone red and white paint through the rust which makes it seem like more of a Ranger than Pathfinder. It never had a head badge when I got it and the badge mounting holes are straight across i.e. not offset to one side like the Crusader model badge is. I think the Ranger badge holes are straight across but I'm not sure about the Pathfinder badge holes. I recall seeing some information on Great Western Manufacturing built some versions of this bike early on?
The bottom bracket I think is a Fauber and the serial number is 6632. I havn't been able to find any serial number information but thought maybe it's a 1916 model year based off the "6" in the serial number and chain sprocket shown in some old brochure pictures I've seen?
It seems like there was a lot of interchangeable parts between the models but does anyone know the difference between a Ranger Motorbike and a Pathfinder Motorbike and Crusader Motorbike besides the paint color listed in the old brochures?
Any other information on this bicycle from you all would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
-Kevin
I'm new to the antique bicycle world and love these old motor bike styles. I have what I think is a early Mead Ranger Motorbike but perhaps may have some Pathfinder parts on it? I can see some two-tone red and white paint through the rust which makes it seem like more of a Ranger than Pathfinder. It never had a head badge when I got it and the badge mounting holes are straight across i.e. not offset to one side like the Crusader model badge is. I think the Ranger badge holes are straight across but I'm not sure about the Pathfinder badge holes. I recall seeing some information on Great Western Manufacturing built some versions of this bike early on?
The bottom bracket I think is a Fauber and the serial number is 6632. I havn't been able to find any serial number information but thought maybe it's a 1916 model year based off the "6" in the serial number and chain sprocket shown in some old brochure pictures I've seen?
It seems like there was a lot of interchangeable parts between the models but does anyone know the difference between a Ranger Motorbike and a Pathfinder Motorbike and Crusader Motorbike besides the paint color listed in the old brochures?
Any other information on this bicycle from you all would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
-Kevin