New Mexico Brant
Riding a '38 Autocycle Deluxe
Lets talk tires! This thread is dedicated to pre-1933 non-black tires. If it solid black or black whitewalls please start another thread. If it is black with a secondary color (not white!) please feel free to post. If it is beige, gray, solid white, red, green, blue, cochineal crimson, or purple please post it up! Any leather tires out there still in existence? Let us please see those too!
Add your special tires, pairs or singles; maybe we can join some singles to form happy couples! Literature is very welcome.
The intent is to advance all our knowledge and hopefully be able to create a solid timeline for individual manufacturers and models.
Regarding black ties; carbon and other elemental chemical additives were being experimented with by tire makers for decades improve durability. Officially it wasn't until around 1917 that carbon was being used in production tires but only then in small amounts so the rubber still did not appear fully black. Tires with carbon first appear off white in color, then varying shades of gray. This doesn’t mean ever tire with the previous mentioned shades have carbon black added; earlier tires in these shades have different additives or may have oxidized over time. There are some internet posts that state B.F. Goodrich the first to starting adding carbon in 1910. (This is unverified and more research needs to be done. In 1910 Goodrich is the first U.S. manufacturer credited with the significant innovation of adding cords to automotive tires; although Goodrich is cited at the first U.S. company to add carbon black, the 1910 date for the additive is in my opinion likely false.) It wasn't until the mid-1920's that these formularies were perfected. Superior to non-carbon tires, black tires became ubiquitous for automobiles and motorcycles. White and white/color combination tires were still be offered for bicycles into the early 1930's.
As often these tires get hard and still there has been a previous trend for collectors to cut these away and discard them. Please stop this practice! No matter how hard, petrified, and flat they seem they have collector value and often can be softened (sometimes just temporarily) and reshaped. Please reach out to Jesse McCauley @Jesse McCauley or myself if you need assistance and consultation regarding hardened tires and how to remove them. DO NOT CUT THEM OFF UNTIL YOU AT LEAST HAVE HAD A CONSULTATION! Even if you think they are ugly they may have value and could pay for a set of tires you find pleasing for your bicycle.
Kind thanks,
Brant
Add your special tires, pairs or singles; maybe we can join some singles to form happy couples! Literature is very welcome.
The intent is to advance all our knowledge and hopefully be able to create a solid timeline for individual manufacturers and models.
Regarding black ties; carbon and other elemental chemical additives were being experimented with by tire makers for decades improve durability. Officially it wasn't until around 1917 that carbon was being used in production tires but only then in small amounts so the rubber still did not appear fully black. Tires with carbon first appear off white in color, then varying shades of gray. This doesn’t mean ever tire with the previous mentioned shades have carbon black added; earlier tires in these shades have different additives or may have oxidized over time. There are some internet posts that state B.F. Goodrich the first to starting adding carbon in 1910. (This is unverified and more research needs to be done. In 1910 Goodrich is the first U.S. manufacturer credited with the significant innovation of adding cords to automotive tires; although Goodrich is cited at the first U.S. company to add carbon black, the 1910 date for the additive is in my opinion likely false.) It wasn't until the mid-1920's that these formularies were perfected. Superior to non-carbon tires, black tires became ubiquitous for automobiles and motorcycles. White and white/color combination tires were still be offered for bicycles into the early 1930's.
As often these tires get hard and still there has been a previous trend for collectors to cut these away and discard them. Please stop this practice! No matter how hard, petrified, and flat they seem they have collector value and often can be softened (sometimes just temporarily) and reshaped. Please reach out to Jesse McCauley @Jesse McCauley or myself if you need assistance and consultation regarding hardened tires and how to remove them. DO NOT CUT THEM OFF UNTIL YOU AT LEAST HAVE HAD A CONSULTATION! Even if you think they are ugly they may have value and could pay for a set of tires you find pleasing for your bicycle.
Kind thanks,
Brant
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