A few years back VCC published articles on the company history. It was formed about 1920 and existed as an independent concern until ‘43. I may be off a year or two. They were in Birmingham, a center of cycle and components manufacturing at the time. This allowed easy access to components. Armstrong built high quality cycles at reasonable prices. This company is not to be confused with later Armstrongs. I’m currently working on a preservation restoration of ‘37 X-frame Armstrong. What you have there is quite unusual, please care for it! Where are you located?
I'm in Des Moines, IA. But I found it and did most of the restoration in AZ.
Yes, this one has turned out to be quite rare. The Armstrong ME is intensely knowledgeable, has many of his own and has never seen one with rear facing dropouts. He leans to it being an early 30s version. And how it got to the American desert is a pleasant mystery.
There is another update... Tic..Tic
After intense finigalling, both here and abroad, the universe has answered the call.
The correct reflection apparatus'sszz have been located.
Over the past year I have gone through a few maybees, and realizing that there are very few vintage fork lamps left available in good shape to suit me, I had given up looking for awhile.
These two popped up within a week of each other from sheds and dusty garage shelves, not dealers. Whereas I was hoping to pay less than an arm, I paid only a knee.
Both in unused condition. The rear glass reflector came screwed to a clamp but as soon as I find the 26p nuts, or re-thread this one, it will be good to go. The blind clip does work well tho.
The headlamp is a 2-1/4 diameter by 2 inch deep with a working 3v Miller "gas" brass bulb. It has no Markings but considering the the bulb, probably a 30s Miller. It's the perfect lamp for this bike. I'm not going to put a permanent battery box on the bike but it does work off the little 2-AAA (3v) battery box with on / off switch I've pictured. It Velcro straps between the lamp and the bracket and can hardly bee seen. It gives out a murky yellow light at 3v.
The Bluemels pump is the correct era, works and is near perfect, so I'm able to put the gold "Tour de France" version on my 50s MacLean where it belongs.
