1931 - 1940 Monarch Rocket

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1931 - 1940 Monarch Rocket

1941 - 1945 Delta Rocket Ray

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1941 - 1945 Delta Rocket Ray Fender Light

1967 Raleigh Rodeo

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1967 Raleigh Rodeo Twinshift 5-speed shifter

1967 Raleigh Rodeo

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1967 Raleigh Rodeo

1968 Raleigh Rodeo

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1968 Raleigh Rodeo Closeup of rear fender decal.

1967 Raleigh Rodeo 3+2

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1967 Raleigh Rodeo 3+2 5-speed with internal rear hub

1949 Coca Cola Rollfast delivery bike

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1949 Coca Cola Rollfast delivery bike Original Rollfast Coca Cola delivery bike

1987 Schwinn Rolling Rock

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1987 Schwinn Rolling Rock 1990s Schwinn-built Rolling Rock

1949 Legnano Roma

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1949 Legnano Roma A Legnano Roma, probably about 1948-9, with Campagnolo Corsa 4 speed gear. RIPE FOR RESTORATION.

1911 - 1920 Century Cycle Co Royal Roadster

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1911 - 1920 Century Cycle Co Royal Roadster This is a teens or 1920~s Century Cycle Co "Royal Roadster." It has a truss frame, metal-lined 28" wood clincher rims, a leather Troxel saddle, and stitched leather grips. Rear hub is a New Departure Model A, front is a New Departure Model M. I suspect this bike was manufactured by the Mead Cycle Co, or possibly by Schwinn. Craig cleit273@aol.com

1921 - 1930 Sunbeam Royal Sunbeam

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1921 - 1930 Sunbeam Royal Sunbeam 1923 Royal Sunbeam
Frame no. 141812.
(according to Pinkerton et al - "Sunbeam Cycles, the story from the catalogues, 1887-1957" - no.140107 was sold on 25.5.1923 and 142400 0n 23.3.23 so it probably dates from that year)

Proportion in bicycles is a subtle matter, generated by lengths and angles: to my eye, this is the epitome of the roadster bicycle, with its 26" frame and 28" wheels - it is certainly handsomer than another bike I have, with 28" wheels but only a 24" frame. I think the length of the head-tube is critical.

The bike is fitted with the "standard" Sunbeam 3-speed hub introduced in 1913 to supersede the Newill "stepped" hub pictured elsewhere on this site. It is effectively a clone of the BSA 3 speed, which was itself a version of the Sturmey-Archer X type made under licence.

This hub has two notable virtues compared to the usual Sturmey-Archer article: first, it is always in some gear, so no risk of groin-crippling pedal slip; second, the wire is slack in low gear rather than top, so that if it fails, it is easier to get home. Why Raleigh (who effectively owned S-A) did not use it on their bikes is a great mystery.

It also has "Roman rims", first made in 1897 and fitted to Sunbeams at least as early as 1902 . These were made of a patent alloy of aluminium invented by Dr Reinhard Isidore Roman, and called "Romanium"
The relevant patents can be viewed at
ep.espacenet.com/numberSearch?locale=en_ep
by keying in GB189907786 (which relates to the making of the rims)
GB189806730 (relating to the use of alloys in bicycles generally)
and GB189806729 (the actual composition of Romanium)

1870 - 1900 Sunbeam Royal Sunbeam oilbath filler

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1870 - 1900 Sunbeam Royal Sunbeam oilbath filler Royal Sunbeam oilbath filler (patent 1896)
Another view of Sunbeam patent GB189623149, this time as fitted to my 1923 Royal Sunbeam. The removable quadrant looks a bit out of shape on the r.h. join.

see full details of this patent by keying in the number at ep.espacenet.com/numberSearch?locale=en_ep
or go straight to the patent here:
v3.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=GB189623149&am...