Reproduction Troxel Toolbox Saddle?

[catfish]

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This right here is why we need to have a "Love" button on the CABE. Like just wont cut it for this. John - You rock!

Catfish

 

[Schwinn lover]

Here is a Silverking with that toolbox seat

I

 

[Brian R.]

Here is a follow-up to my original post and photo of my Flocycle. I unexpectedly found myself owning an original toolbox seat. It arrived attached to a 1937 CCM Flyte that I bought. The bike, minus wheels, handlebar, grips, pump, and reflector, was found by a home buyer in the attic above his garage. It had probably been lying there for 60+ years. It's a nice companion piece to my Flocycle as they are both '37s and both have the curved seat stays - American & Canadian cousins!

Since taking the toolbox seat off the Flyte and putting it on the Flocycle would be like "robbing Peter to pay Paul", my original problem remains. The Flocycle is suspended, seatless, from the rafters of my garage (this preserves the tires). Once in a while I get messages asking about it, but it's not for sale. The toolbox seat quest continues!

 

[Brian R.]

I'm not familiar with John and his talents, but from a brief search of the forums I gather that John is very good at making stuff. And now he is making toolbox seats, is that right? Which seat is on Schwinn lover's Flocycle - has John made some already? Please forgive my slowness!

 

[Schwinn lover]

A better pic of the seat. FYI guys,,, not my bike,,, but a good friend Hugh who has a Awesome. collection of old bikes here in in Cincinnati, Ohio

 

[GiovanniLiCalsi]

It would be a real amazing dream to reproduce the Flocycle in polished titanium tubing and aluminum Cnc machined frame parts.

 

[rustjunkie]

The stars must be aligned, Aaron Ethridge @ratrodz ... Were any of these ever made with leather in the period?

here’s one in leather

 

[Charl]

Don’t think they were ever made with leather, 7 layers of cloth material

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I know this thread is quite old but did you ever restore this saddle? I have the same one on a Hawthorne I just acquired.

 

[DonChristie]

I got mine! The seat was expensive, the reupholstering was almost more! Please do not reproduce these!

 

[NBHAA]

I know this thread is quite old but did you ever restore this saddle? I have the same one on a Hawthorne I just acquired.

Something the hobby clearly does not understand to this day is that there were two major generations/versions of Troxel "Toolbox" saddles:
• VERSION #1... (early) Different length springs; "toolbox' clamshell used fabric to hinge; offered in different-colors of piping; covered in either multi-layer coated fabrics OR leather.
• VERSION #2... (late) Different length of springs; "toolbox" clamshell used actual metal floor and hinge; outer covering usually genuine leather.

There were other versions that branched out from here, depending on what bicycle makers and wholesale-distributors requested. And there were smaller juvenile versions– most of which were not upholstered in genuine leather.

While shown in patent illustrations with a ruby-cut glass reflector on the leather tail clasp for the clamshell, this is not accurate. The actual reflector normally used was what myself and Jim Bailey named (in the 1970s when I had him restore one of mine) as the "raspberry" due to its texture and appearance (yes this is where the name used today came from).

There were other versions of "Toolbox" saddles custom-ordered for various bicycles. D.P. Harris had their own rather awkward version that featured what I call "deep springs." Of course the mated look totally negated the streamlined theme, but DPH didn't care.

There were also what I call the "Fantail" streamlined Troxels of the same period. These looked like Toolbox saddles but had no clamshell compartment.

• The "Toolbox" saddle on my 1938 Silver King M-138 (what I named "Wingbar") is genuine leather. (see attached photo from 40 years ago)

• The "Toolbox" saddle on my 1936 Silver King M-1 is genuine leather.

• The "Toolbox" saddle on my 1930s CCM Flyte (see attached photo from 35 years ago) is genuine leather (somewhat shriveled).

• And... one final bicycle that again, the hobby does not know about even after all these years:
The "Toolbox" saddle was equipped on the 1936 (YESsssss, 1936) Schwinn Aerocycle. I once had one so equipped and there is imagery of the 1936 model. But don't look for it in the normal Schwinn catalogues. Wanna see it? Look back through old original issues of Classic Bicycle & Whizzer News newsletter– the hobby's first and original newsletter.

As for the Troxel company, whatever remains today is descended from what Richard Timms (who I met and spoke with many times) rescued and moved to San Diego when the original company sold out.

I corresponded with Troxel on an on-going basis from the 1960s until the end of production in Tennessee. I managed to save many of our letters (see attachments)

National Bicycle History Archive of America has most of the original Troxel information and brochures/literature from the early beginnings up until the end of the manufacturing operation in TN.

At one time, we also had the most parts. Troxel sent me most of their outdated old stock back in the 1970s. Until we were robbed about 22 years ago, we had the world's largest collection of Toolbox saddles and other NOS obsolete Troxel parts.

Leon Dixon
National Bicycle History Archive of America
NBHAA.com