Wanted information about this bolt on chain ring.

[bicyclerNY]

This is an bolt on chain ring, it increases the diameter of a 5 inches ring to a 7 inches ring.

 

[The Carolina Rambler]

This bike is awesome. If a rider back in the day carried a wrench and a little toolbag with them on a ride, I spose they could use that chainring mechanism almost like some sort of primitive 2 speed. It looks relatively easy to remove or replace as needed, but it would take at least 10 minutes to switch it, so it would probably be more of a permanent addition, and makes the bike faster of course. Definitely unique!

 

[locomotion]

pretty cool

almost looks like an universal accessory that was invented to "upgrade" any bike to make it faster and more modern (from early 90's design to late 90's design)

IMO, if it really was supplied by the manufacturer, it might of been easier to simply make a larger sprocket that uses the original 4 bolts of the drive right crank, it would be faster to make the switch and more stable (looks like you could have possible play while pedaling with that sprocket)

BTW great bike, any guesses on the brand?
how is the bottom bracket set-up? are all 3 tubes just welded to the bottom?

 

[gkeep]

That bikes has some really interesting construction details. That fork and headset seem very unique. As said above, really great bike!

 

[Blue Streak]

Your bolt on chain ring is similar to Young's Rim Sprocket:

Ca. 1895/6 Factory Orange Mystery Machine | Antique Bicycles Pre-1933

Here’s a bike I have been cleaning up for a week or so, I think it’s ready to show off a little. Dated on the crankset 1895 but who knows. Beautiful original paint & pins, it was covered in bird scat when I bought it so I was worried it would be completely corroded but overall it cleaned up...

thecabe.com

1896:

1898:

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Looks like it goes from 17-tooth to 23-tooth; (but not sure of the scale?).
Is the pitch of the sprocket greater than 1-inch?

 

[bicyclerNY]

Thank you all for your comments and Blue Streak for the identification.
The pitch is 1 inch.
The joints appear to be doubled or they used tubing as a spacer to use smaller tubing. The top tube is 7/8 and the down tubes are 1 inch.
There are several photo's of the bottom bracket, joints and the chain adjusters. It appears to have been paint maroon. There are no holes for a head badge. I was hoping someone might recognize the fork crown and that would identify the manufacturer.

 

[locomotion]

Do you have a picture of the rear of the seat clamp bolt?

When did EC Stearns start making bikes?

 

[Mr. Monkeyarms]

What an interesting bike! So cool...

 

[bicyclerNY]

From the Wheelmen list Stearns was producing bicycles from 1893 to 1899