Did you know bicycles can actually be ridden in street clothes? How much is your bicycle worth? What is the history of your bike?
(Click for full photo)
1977 Schwinn Sting-Ray Junior Built May of 1977 Schwinn Stingray Junior. This bike is 100% original and unrestored. Has just been recently cleaned up and polished for the "new" appearance. Luckily bought at a yard sale for $20--what a steal. Also has a cool SEARS speedometer and a chrome bell w/ american flag on it. Awesome bike. photo cred: cool-cat
(Click for full photo)
1973 Schwinn Sting-Ray Junior
(Click for full photo)
1953 Monarch Rocket This is a Monarch Rocket, complete except for the chainguard. Tank with horn, Delta Winner headlight, Lobdell-Emery saddle, and New Departure Model "D" coaster brake. Handlebar grips are "Coke Bottle" style, and have holes in the ends for colored jewels, which are missing.
(Click for full photo)
1931 - 1940 Monarch Rocket
(Click for full photo)
1941 - 1945 Delta Rocket Ray Fender Light
(Click for full photo)
1968 Raleigh Rodeo Closeup of rear fender decal.
(Click for full photo)
1967 Raleigh Rodeo 3+2 5-speed with internal rear hub
(Click for full photo)
1949 Coca Cola Rollfast delivery bike Original Rollfast Coca Cola delivery bike
(Click for full photo)
1987 Schwinn Rolling Rock 1990s Schwinn-built Rolling Rock
(Click for full photo)
1949 Legnano Roma A Legnano Roma, probably about 1948-9, with Campagnolo Corsa 4 speed gear. RIPE FOR RESTORATION.
(Click for full photo)
1921 - 1930 Sunbeam Royal Sunbeam Hello there,
I felt as a Sunbeam owner I really ought to do something about your
current Sunbeam entry, which suggests that the famous Sunbeam "Little
Oilbath" was "a really bad idea that only lasted a few years" whereas
it was an excellent idea that was introduced in 1892 and remained the
hallmark of Sunbeams through the remaining 65 years of their 70-year
history. I can testify to the fact that having a constantly lubricated
chain that is fully protected from dirt and grit makes a significant
difference to riding, particularly up hills. My 3 speed has a bottom
gear of 56" and will go up hills that my other bikes will not look at except in much lower gears.
The significance of the Sunbeam in bicycle history is well expressed by
Robert Cordon Champ in his Illustrated History of Sunbeam bicycles and
motorcycles:
"An example of a product made deliberately to the highest standards, the pre-1918 Sunbeam is undoubtedly the finest production cycle ever made."
One hundred years ago, in 1908, you could buy a six speed Golden Sunbeam
(two speeds in the front bracket married to Sunbeam~s own 3 speed hub)
with "Romanium" aluminium alloy rims for the princely sum of 19 guineas
(£19-19s-0d) the equivalent of around £1060/$2120 at today~s prices.
My own machine falls just outside that golden age of 1887-1918 when the
firm was owned and run by the Marston family. However, the quality was
maintained under the ownership of Nobel industries (later ICI) for at
least a decade, and it was only from 1928 onwards that there were
significant attempts at cost-cutting, though even as late as 1934 an
internal memo complained that "one of Marston~s problems is that they
make too good a product". The bicycle and motorcycle operation was sold
to AMC (Associated Motor Cycles) around 1936-7 and manufacture was
gradually transferred from Wolverhampton to London. However, it moved back to the Midlands when the firm was taken over by BSA in 1943 who
continued manufacture until Raleigh took over and effectively killed off
the Sunbeam name in 1957. (For a fine online history of Sunbeam, see
http://www.localhistory.scit.wlv.ac.uk/Museum/Transport/bicycles/Sunbeam.htm)
My bike dates from around 1923 and is a Royal Sunbeam, frame no 141812,
fitted with a three-speed hub. (from 1913 Sunbeam used a version of the
BSA hub that was in turn the Sturmey Archer X-type made under licence.
This hub has several distinct advantages over the standard S-A hub,
being in constant mesh so it does not have the groin-threatening no-gear
positions that bedevil the standard S-A article. In addition, it is
designed to fail in bottom gear rather than top - with the lever full
forward and the wire slack, it is in low gear, the reverse of the
standard S-A hub. (for the low-down on this, see Tony Hadland~s excellent site at http://www.hadland.me.uk/ ).
You can see more of my machine at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7595435@N02/2327063512/ and you are welcome
to use the picture. I hope to post others soon.
All the best and thanks for a great site.
(Click for full photo)
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
