Need Help!! Early folding handlebar grip guards??

[New Mexico Brant]

I found these this past week; "patented August 11, 1896." Could these be early folding handlebar grip guards? The seller thought they maybe skirt guards for a girls bike but the tube clamp section is too big for a frame I would think; they seem more appropriate for handlebar tube radius. Anyone know about these and what they are? They actually fold up and are nickel plated; missing a couple of the rivets.
Many thanks, kindly, Brant

 

[rustjunkie]

neat, can you show them folded closed?

 

[dnc1]

I found these this past week; "patented August 11, 1896." Could these be early folding handlebar grip guards? The seller thought they maybe skirt guards for a girls bike but the tube clamp section is too big for a frame I would think; they seem more appropriate for handlebar tube radius. Anyone know about these and what they are? They actually fold up and are nickel plated; missing a couple of the rivets.
Many thanks, kindly, Brant

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Very unusual, could you mount them on a bike to show how they might look?
I can't imagine how they may have been of use, mountain biking being only a twinkle in most early cyclists eyes at that time!

 

[David Brown]

Might be wrong but I think this is a early basket carrier. I have seen this on a bike at sometime but can,t really be sure.

 

[hellobuddy]

I would also say it's a bike basket,

 

[New Mexico Brant]

neat, can you show them folded closed?

Might be wrong but I think this is a early basket carrier. I have seen this on a bike at sometime but can,t really be sure.

I will post more images when I return to Pennsylvania later this week. Thank you to David Brown and hello buddy for their input about use as a basket. I never considered that option but it totally makes sense. It would be cool to find the patent drawing on this.

 

[hellobuddy]

here is a bike that sold at Copake with this basket on, for $23400
http://copakeauction.hibid.com/lot/...-pneumatic-safety/?q=comet&cat=0&ref=lot-list

 

[New Mexico Brant]

[QUOTE
="hello buddy, post: 728604, member: 77079"]here is a bike that sold at Copake with this basket on, for $23400[/QUOTE]

I was able to find the patent information after going through approx. 338 numbers issued on August 11, 1896. See below:

 

[catfish]

Baskets

 

[David Brown]

That is the bike I saw the Basket on. Bike is a Toronto Canada Comet I have a 1896 Comet but not the wood frame one. Way out of my price range.