Royce Union

[SteveB1953]

Can anyone tell me anything about this Royce Union Bicycle. I’m sure that I can get it “rideable” but don’t want to sink much money into it if it’s not anything special. I would like to get a head badge and new tires and I’m not sure if that is the correct chain guard or saddle.

Any input will be greatly appreciate........

 

[SteveB1953]

Serial Number

 

[SirMike1983]

Royce Union was a brand name for a variety of bikes and parts that were made by other firms and marketed under the "Royce Union" name. RU imported heavily from West Germany, Austria, and England for a time, and later from Japan and Hong Kong (and maybe mainland China toward the end). Yours looks like a European bike, maybe West German or Austrian? It's post-war, probably late 1950s or early 60s would be my guess. Its main value would be as a rider. There's not much of a collector market for RU middleweights, at least from what I have seen.

The one thing it does have going for it is an interesting frame design with multibar lay out.

 

[SteveB1953]

Royce Union was a brand name for a variety of bikes and parts that were made by other firms and marketed under the "Royce Union" name. RU imported heavily from West Germany, Austria, and England for a time, and later from Japan and Hong Kong (and maybe mainland China toward the end). Yours looks like a European bike, maybe West German or Austrian? It's post-war, probably late 1950s or early 60s would be my guess. Its main value would be as a rider. There's not much of a collector market for RU middleweights, at least from what I have seen.

The one thing it does have going for it is an interesting frame design with multibar lay out.

The frame design is what caught my eye, I kinda like it. The rear hub is a Centrix, made in Germany, so you may be spot on about its origin.
Thank you for the information.....

 

[bloo]

What's the tire size?

 

[SteveB1953]

26 x 1.75

 

[juvela]

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Hello SteveB,

The Union Bicycle Co. was based in Brooklyn N.Y. and did no manufacturing of its own.

They had several house brands which included Royce Union and Sutton, among others.

As posted above the bicycles were produced all over the world at one time or another.

Your example appears 1950's era Germany. There was a period in the immediate postwar time when exchange rates were such that the Union Bicycle Co. found it economic to have some of their cycles done in the then West Germany.

The same German produced 1950's era Royce Union juvenile machine has had two separate threads here on the forum in the past two years.

Centrix branded hubs were a product of Fichtel & Sachs.
There is also an unrelated Centrix cycle parts marque in France. The french company was a maker of stems & bars in both steel and alloy. They operated from 1927 to 1962.

The cycle's front hub and pedals are likely to be either WECO or Union brand. The pedals should have a marking on their endcaps (if yet legible!). They are 9/16" X 20F thread. The front hub's barrel may show a marking as well. From what can be seen in the photos provided the bottom bracket assembly appears it may be of Thompson pattern. Here is an image of the bearings arrangement on a Thompson pattern cottered bottom bracket -

The machine's steeerer and headset will be threaded 1" X 24TPI.


Fork blades appear they may be D-section.

Drive chain is likely to be Union brand from the Union Frondenberg company.

Royce Union branded bicycles were sold mostly in chain department stores and discount houses. Not usually offered by bike shops.

Your missing head emblem is something which comes up regularly in online auction listings.

Ex-works there would have been a small rectangular transfer on the bicycle's head tube reading in block letters about 4mm in height "PRECISION ENGINEERED IN WESTERN GERMANY."


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[SteveB1953]

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Hello SteveB,

The Union Bicycle Co. was based in Brooklyn N.Y. and did no manufacturing of its own.

They had several house brands which included Royce Union and Sutton, among others.

As posted above the bicycles were produced all over the world at one time or another.

Your example appears 1950's era Germany. There was a period in the immediate postwar time when exchange rates were such that the Union Bicycle Co. found it economic to have some of their cycles done in the then West Germany.

The same German produced 1950's era Royce Union juvenile machine has had two separate threads here on the forum in the past two years.

Centrix branded hubs were a product of Fichtel & Sachs.
There is also an unrelated Centrix cycle parts marque in France. The french company was a maker of stems & bars in both steel and alloy. They operated from 1927 to 1962.

The cycle's front hub and pedals are likely to be either WECO or Union brand. The pedals should have a marking on their endcaps (if yet legible!). They are 9/16" X 20F thread. The front hub's barrel may show a marking as well. From what can be seen in the photos provided the bottom bracket assembly appears it may be of Thompson pattern. Here is an image of the bearings arrangement on a Thompson pattern cottered bottom bracket -

View attachment 1349046


The machine's steeerer and headset will be threaded 1" X 24TPI.


Fork blades appear they may be D-section.

Drive chain is likely to be Union brand from the Union Frondenberg company.

Royce Union branded bicycles were sold mostly in chain department stores and discount houses. Not usually offered by bike shops.

Your missing head emblem is something which comes up regularly in online auction listings.


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Thanks a lot for the reply and for all of the information.....

 

[juvela]

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Hello again SteveB,

wrt dating -

suspect your example comes from the 1955-56 time

you may discover a date/date code marking on the shell of the Centrix rear hub

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in case you wish to rebuild the rear hub there is a step-by-step procedure given here with excellent drawings and parts numbers as well -

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/sutherland/CB-IGH-2-sachs.pdf

[Centrix is nearly identical fo Sachs Torpedo]

for a photographic account of the procedure this forum thread is excellent -

viewtopic.php

hope this assists you a bit; all best wishes with the cycle!

---

BTW -

is the big red T on the jersey in your avatar photo for Tulane University? "Go Pelicans!"

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[SteveB1953]

Actually that’s for LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY, my alma mater....”GO BULLDOGS”

Thank you for the information, it’s extremely helpful. I’m into the rear hub now. Thanks Again.