Hi all, I have a RS bicycle I have had for many years. I know a bit about the Reading Standard company, and saw a copy of the 1897 catalog. I believe that this may be an 1897 production bicycle. General input is welcome - one question is whether anyone has research or knowledge as to production timeframes for this company by serial number? This bicycle has a serial # 3,118. Thanks for any info! Saddle is likely a replacement. The model is “Reliable Reading”.
When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Reading Standard - original early production bicycle
- Thread starter MDave
- Start date
#eBayPartner Most Recent BUY IT NOW Items Listed on eBay
Blue Streak
I live for the CABE
Reliable Readings are 1897 only (the first year of Reading Standard Mfg. Company production). For 1897 they manufactured and sold the Reading Standard for $100.00, Royal Reading for $80.00 and the Reliable Reading for $60.00. Serial number 3118 makes sense with stolen serial numbers 1796 and 3385 referenced below. Reliable Readings were not manufactured 1898 and beyond. There are newspaper ads January through June 1898 listing new Reliable Readings for sale but probably just selling left over 1897's.
May 8, 1896 - The Wheel:
August 21, 1896 - The Wheel:
November 26, 1896 - The Iron Age:
January 21, 1897 - The Referee & Cycle Trade Journal:
March 25, 1897 - The Iron Age:
May 7, 1897 - The Wheel:
May 12, 1897 - The Daily Register (Red Bank NJ)
May 15, 1897 - The Courier Post (Camden NJ)
June 20, 1897 - The Times (Washington DC)
November 4, 1897 - The Times (Trenton NJ)
May 8, 1896 - The Wheel:
August 21, 1896 - The Wheel:
November 26, 1896 - The Iron Age:
January 21, 1897 - The Referee & Cycle Trade Journal:
March 25, 1897 - The Iron Age:
May 7, 1897 - The Wheel:
May 12, 1897 - The Daily Register (Red Bank NJ)
May 15, 1897 - The Courier Post (Camden NJ)
June 20, 1897 - The Times (Washington DC)
November 4, 1897 - The Times (Trenton NJ)
Blue Streak
I live for the CABE
1897 Reading Standard catalog from Hagley Digital Archives:
Does anyone know whether the original saddles for the 1897 models were made by / labeled as Reading? They show top views of two saddles in the catalog, but it does not say they were made by the company versus furnished by others? I would like to find an original saddle for the bike that would have been appropriate for it.
Blue Streak
I live for the CABE
The Reliable specifications list Sager and P & F saddles. The right top view saddle in the 1897 Reading catalog is this 1897 Mesinger Saddle:
Blue Streak
I live for the CABE
1897 Sager Saddle Catalog:
Similar threads
