OK, who collects early racing bikes?

[dnc1]

Any chance of a photo of the 'unreadable stamp'?
You never know, someone may have seen something similar.

 

[Craig Allen]

It is probably a Rudge. The backbone is of unique construction. On most highwheel bicycles the rear forks have a lug that is fitted into the lower end of the backbone tube which normally was seamless tubing and swaged to form the taper. It was then brazed together with a pin running through it. On the Rudge racer, to cut down on weight, the backbone and rear forks were all one piece of sheet metal that was stamped and rolled to shape. I can't imagine the dies that were required to do this work. Incredible.

 

[Hobo Bill]

1897 eldredge special.......note...the pinch bolt is hollow ...a hole clean through......

 

[corbettclassics]

It is probably a Rudge. The backbone is of unique construction. On most highwheel bicycles the rear forks have a lug that is fitted into the lower end of the backbone tube which normally was seamless tubing and swaged to form the taper. It was then brazed together with a pin running through it. On the Rudge racer, to cut down on weight, the backbone and rear forks were all one piece of sheet metal that was stamped and rolled to shape. I can't imagine the dies that were required to do this work. Incredible.

Here's a couple of pics of a rear fork from a Rudge Board Track Racer :

 

[pelletman]

Rudge was good about marking their bikes, I doubt it is a Rudge. I would imagine a Rudge would have Rudge bearings too. I agree on English, and there were tons of little English manufacturers who made a few bikes with parts sourced from others. It's a beautiful bike

 

[kccomet]

great this threads up and going again, heres one with a pretty cool paint scheme

 

[oldspoke]

Rudge was good about marking their bikes, I doubt it is a Rudge. I would imagine a Rudge would have Rudge bearings too. I agree on English, and there were tons of little English manufacturers who made a few bikes with parts sourced from others. It's a beautiful bike

Hello All, This Ordinary Racer is not a Rudge. It has radial spoked wheels. Rudge built with tangent front and some with radial rear. The later bikes had both tangent wheels. Hendee's Rudge is on display in Springfield Mass and is double radial where the image of rear wheel and fork, posted by Corbett Classics, is radial spoke. Pelletman is correct that Rudge had their own hub bearings, and the neck was stamped Rudge, Coventry with a serial number etc. This machine's front hub bearing is Bown's Aeolus and is brazed to the fork end .

The stamp on the neck is barely visible with a magnifying glass and slopes at an odd angle. It doesn't appear as a factory stamp like the Rudge. It may have been the racer/owner's name. Very hard to capture and share here with a photo. I would say a small maker and possibly custom using English parts . Many of the high wheel racers were built to order.

Some folks have asked why a step - many racing machines didn't have these. They were stripped down - no brake, leg guard, light weight saddle/peddles etc and narrow rims/tires for track work. The minor weight addition of a step would allow a rider an easier mount. Also he wouldn't need a "starter" .

Thanks all for comments and compliments !

 

[oldspoke]

great this threads up and going again, heres one with a pretty cool paint scheme

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This stayer is beautiful ! I love the playing card scheme . Do you know its history ? The builder ?

 

[kccomet]

This stayer is beautiful ! I love the playing card scheme . Do you know its history ? The builder ?

thanks, glad you like it, just noticed your avatar shows a stayer. i dont know much history, it was purchased and raced in france back in the day, i bought it from a french collector, who bought it from the owners family. i have a few of these old motor pacers. you have to think these bikes were raced and paced. you didnt buy something like this to get groceries or tool around the neighborhood

 

[corbettclassics]

1898 BARNES "White Flyer" Racer ... nearing completion. Pin-striping next..