"New England" wood wheel motobike.

[lobsterboyx]

Picked this up a few weeks ago. found very small ad on cl, collector owned,

"knives edge" cranks

ive never seen a seat this nice before.

I have limited knowlage of early bikes, i thought moto-bikes had standard balloon tires.

this bike had wooden wheels and brick color button tread semi-pnumatics - the rear was laced up to a ND model A, in my haste, a friend and i split the bike up. i got this, he got the wheels, we were both happy. i came home and went to install a wheelset i had and realized that this may be a bit older than i thought.


"New England" JW Grady & co.
Worchester Mass

havent checked the numbers yet, but any guesses?

im looking for a good, ridable Model A hub - the bolt on drop stand and of course a nice set of lobdell hoops...

 

[ericbaker]

Thats My hometown, or at least my current residence. I love it, shame about the wheels

 

[lobsterboyx]

its not so much a shame - i was able to get this old rare bike for a great deal, wheel choices have to come next.

 

[bricycle]

Did it have 28" wheels or 26". Did Lobdells come in 28"?

 

[bricycle]

What does it say above New England on the headbadge? J.W. ?
great find. Try getting the original wheels back from your friend....somehow

 

[Oldbikes]

Beautiful orig paint bike! Congrats!

 

[lobsterboyx]

bricycle- it does say "J.W." above.

they were 28s - here is what it looked like when we got it...

my theory about bicycles, no matter how collectable, they have to be ridden, thats what sparked my love for this hobby in the first place!

the wheels had rather alarming cracks in them, they looked great, but i know that i couldent ride the bike safely with the wheels on it. he needed the wheels for a project that is most likely more historically signifigant than my bike.

if i do wind up finding wooden wheels, i would put them on for display, but i have a few ideas about building a ridable set that would be on it when i didnt want to show it.

any ideas on the year/maker? anyone ever seen anything like this?

 

[IJamEcono]

my theory about bicycles, no matter how collectable, they have to be ridden

I agree. I would rather ride a bike and be a part of it's history than just look at it and think about it's history.

 

[dave the wave]

did you buy the bike? or did both you and your friend buy the bike? in any event,the bike looks 1918-1920 circa.its worth more complete all original with original wood wheels.it almost looks like it was built by excelsior cycle michigan city, indiana.the last one that sold on ebay went close to $900.that bike you have is rare museum quality.that frame is rare,it looks like the same frame that davis sewing mach.co. made for harley davidson to accomondate a tank.

 

[dave the wave]

but it could of been built by westfield who built indian and columbia bikes.if you could post a pic of the top of the fork crown please.