Two New Hoosier Great Western Bikes

[decotriumph]

This has been a good week! I picked up this 1921-ish Reading Standard from Crown King in Indianapolis last Sunday morning...

and then I got this 1915 or so curly frame Crown locally from Smoopy. I've been after the Crown for 6 or 7 years and it finally came available.



The Reading Standard seems to be all correct except the saddle. The Crown has the wrong handlebar & stem but the rest seems to be right and original. It even has traces of the original paint on the rims.

 

[cr250mark]

Great looking bikes
These frames were ahead of their times !
Cool finds

Mark

 

[oldspoke]

Two great bikes.
The Crown is really unusual.
Thanks for showing these.
Congratz !

Glenn

 

[Archie Sturmer]

The curly frame has a 1913 design patent, (although drawn with a taller than 4" head tube); number 44,249 with 3 truss pieces and 4 curls.

EJ Lonn sure was busy drawing curves in 1913. Do the 2 serial numbers confirm that GWM’s system has yet to be deciphered?
Do the few curly-frame examples usually sport a "Crown" head badge?

 

[cr250mark]

The curly frame has a 1913 design patent, (although drawn with a taller than 4" head tube); number 44,249 with 3 truss pieces and 4 curls.
View attachment 1058819
EJ Lonn sure was busy drawing curves in 1913. Do the 2 serial numbers confirm that GWM’s system has yet to be deciphered?
Do the few curly-frame examples usually sport a "Crown" head badge?

Excellent reference

 

[New Mexico Brant]

Congrats! Both are fantastic.

 

[cyclingday]

Wow!
Amazing bikes.
The Crown frame reminds me of a leaded/stained glass window.

 

[Mr. Monkeyarms]

I would be pleased with either wheel in my stable. Congrats!!

 

[decotriumph]

The curly frame has a 1913 design patent, (although drawn with a taller than 4" head tube); number 44,249 with 3 truss pieces and 4 curls.

EJ Lonn sure was busy drawing curves in 1913. Do the 2 serial numbers confirm that GWM’s system has yet to be deciphered?
Do the few curly-frame examples usually sport a "Crown" head badge?

"Crown King" told me that GWM used this frame design from 1913 through 1916 only. I have not seen or heard of their being used on any brand but Crown but I am certainly not an authority. Thanks for that patent drawing!

 

[fordmike65]

I saw that Reading sitting on eBay for a bit...teasing me. If it had been a larger frame, I woulda jumped on it. That Crown is unreal. I've seen a couple pop up and they always seem to be smaller frames. Hoping to come across a taller one if they even made one. Congrats!