The Barwest Coaster Brake Company

[Mercian]

Hi All,

@New Mexico Brant @mcdillis

Brant is selling a fantastic Century Cycle Co. "Century" New York, Bicycle here:

https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/1899-1901-century-cycle-co-century-new-york-bicycle.160731/

I became interested in the Barwest rear braking hub, and rather than crayon all over his sale advert, I thought I'd put my findings here for discussion.

The Barwest Coaster Brake Company was founded on February 26th 1902 by Franklin Farrell Weston.

It had a good reputation as a brake, see post 243 on an April 4th 1903 review here:

https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/c...yones-help-pre-1933.34160/page-13#post-189426

He was working with Alexander Patterson Morrow, of Morrow Brake fame in 1897, when they issued a joint patent for " Improvements in and relating to Hub and Spoke Fastening Devices for Vehicle-wheels".

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/pub...P&FT=D&date=18971030&CC=GB&NR=189715514A&KC=A

His own patent for the Barwest brake was issued on 21st November 1901. I can only find the Danish application from 1903 here:

https://worldwide.espacenet.com/pub...T=D&ND=3&date=19030202&DB=EPODOC&locale=en_EP

The company still exists, if in name only, located at 83 Chambers Str, NY, NY.

Best Regards,

Adrian

 

[New Mexico Brant]

Thank you Adrian for all the research and information. It seems the braking hub may have been in production before the Feb. 1902 date you cite. At that time in the USA when a new investor or partner came into a business often a formal re-organization occurred. The primary reason I raise the question is because the brake arm on my bike states "patent applied for." It would seem if the hub was manufactured after the Nov. 21, 1901 patent date the brake arm would be stamped with the patent number or related script.