Manton and Smith bicycle

[ratina]

Hi,

I searched everywhere and can't find any history on this company. Does anyone know what years they produced bicycles? I'm trying to narrow down this girls bike I have. It is badged Mead Ranger.

 

[cds2323]

Manton and Smith produced bikes from the mid thirties through the mid fifties. Yours is post war from the late 40's or early 50's. If you google Manton ranger bicycle, you can view images of some. Although most lead back to the CABE. Here's a girls like yours,

And a boys posted by Scott M. ,

 

[ratina]

Thanks for the help and the pictures! I thought it was early 50s. Sure looks nice with a tank and rack.

 

[cds2323]

The rack is a fairly easy one to find. Made by Wald for many years.

 

[billm60133]

Manton and Smith was an ornamental iron company that started building bike frames for other companies in the early 20's. A mong their early accomplishments was the assembly and installation of Buckingham Fountain in Chicago and the facades of most of the buildings along Michigan Ave. They also had a little structural steel business called Chicago bridge and Iron which they sold off after the stock market crash. The interest in bicycles came from one of the owners ( there were three partners) JS Manton's interest in six day bicycle races which he was proficient at. He built his own bikes. The other partners were HP Manton and Mr Smith. Smith suffered a stroke long before the company started building bikes, but was kept on out of loyalty. It was his heirs who demanded the liquation of the company in 1953 because the company was unable tobuy them out after Smith's death. JS Manton died in the early 50's and HP went on to become a famous architect. He died in 1972. M&S bikes were all gas welded by hand. HP Manton was my grandfather, the welding shop foreman was my father HC Manton.

 

[Freqman1]

Bill,
Thanks for the short history lesson. Manton and Smith has always been something of an enigma to me. There seems to be very little literature concerning the models and years of production. If you have any literature you are willing to share I'm sure many here would appreciate it. V/r Shawn

 

[chitown]

M&S bikes were all gas welded by hand. HP Manton was my grandfather, the welding shop foreman was my father HC Manton.

My favorite feature on my M&S bike is the beautiful visible welds!!! Thanks for sharing the history! And I second Freqman1's statement about how appreciative the bike community would be if you had any other info or literature to share.

 

[Neanderthal77]

here is a link to a CL ad for a men's Seneca badged M&S. I just found out what this was yesterday when I posted it on this site. That was a very cool history lesson about the company, I found very little about them.

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/bik/5011336007.html

 

[JKT]

Manton and Smith was an ornamental iron company that started building bike frames for other companies in the early 20's. A mong their early accomplishments was the assembly and installation of Buckingham Fountain in Chicago and the facades of most of the buildings along Michigan Ave. They also had a little structural steel business called Chicago bridge and Iron which they sold off after the stock market crash. The interest in bicycles came from one of the owners ( there were three partners) JS Manton's interest in six day bicycle races which he was proficient at. He built his own bikes. The other partners were HP Manton and Mr Smith. Smith suffered a stroke long before the company started building bikes, but was kept on out of loyalty. It was his heirs who demanded the liquation of the company in 1953 because the company was unable tobuy them out after Smith's death. JS Manton died in the early 50's and HP went on to become a famous architect. He died in 1972. M&S bikes were all gas welded by hand. HP Manton was my grandfather, the welding shop foreman was my father HC Manton.

I too would like to know or see more about Manton & Smith bikes. I have a early 1937 dated crank Manton & Smith tank-less golden eagle with a unusual frame design that I've only seen a photo of one other like it .. and would like to find out more about...

 

[mrg]

Thanks Bill, that's more info than we have heard before and would love to see or hear more !