OldRoads.com

This is an archive of Vintage Bicycle Information.
For current Discussions, go to our main site: OldRoads.com

If you are trying to determine the genealogy of your bicycle by it's features, go to our Vintage Bicycle Price Guide
which details bicycle features, wheel sizes, brake types, etc., as well as showing a price estimate for your old bicycle.

If you are trying to determine the make and model of your bicycle, go to our Vintage Bicycle Picture Database
which details bicycle features, wheel sizes, etc., as well as showing a price estimate for your vintage bicycle.

Archived: Hi-Wheeler, Boneshaker and Safety







AGE / VALUE:   Wanted parts for Massey Harris Bicycle 1899 Model D posted by: Dave on 2/3/2003 at 8:41:03 PM
Wanted Parts for a Massey Harris Model D 1899 bicycle Made in Toronto Ont. I need some better crank parts than I have I will have them made if I can't fine better ones but that is rather expenive. I could also use pedal end caps and a rear hub. Any help would be most appreicated. Dave







FOR SALE:   1897 Woman's Klondike Mead posted by: Stephen on 1/24/2003 at 1:10:37 PM
1897 Klondike Mead, from the Schwinn collection, Jim Herd. Beautiful Restoration. 269-781-7535, Michigan







FOR SALE:   1885 Columbia Expert posted by: Stephen on 1/24/2003 at 1:08:58 PM
For Sale 1885 Columbia Expert 52" older restoration. This is a complete bike. 269-781-7535, Michigan


   RE:FOR SALE:??885 Columbia Expert posted by fat cat on 2/18/2003 at 4:00:16 PM
I want to check the price . And want to see some photo of this bike. thanks






FOR SALE:   c1888 Victor Kight Roadster High Bicycle posted by: Tim Gunn on 1/23/2003 at 7:30:32 PM
I have the following for sale:
50" c1888 Victor Light Roadster High Bicycle, For more info, email Tim Gunn at Gunngrafton@aol.com


   RE:FOR SALE:   c1888 Victor Kight Roadster High Bicycle posted by Tim on 2/3/2003 at 9:05:04 AM
This bicycle is sold

   RE:FOR SALE:   c1888 Victor Kight Roadster High Bicycle posted by Tim on 2/6/2003 at 9:37:46 AM
(" SOLD ")






FOR SALE:   1897 Clipper tandem -- $2,000 posted by: Kevin C. on 1/17/2003 at 11:53:12 PM
Rare Clipper Tandem, all original, $2,000. Steers from front or rear. Original paint and saddles. Made in Grand Rapids, Michigan and dated on head badge 1897. Rideable with new tires.







WANTED:   FLYING MERKEL posted by: Brian on 1/16/2003 at 3:57:39 AM
Wanted to Buy: FLYING MERKEL bicycle or headbadge.







WANTED:   Solid Tire Safety posted by: Mike Patterson on 1/12/2003 at 10:54:14 PM
Where would I find a complete or almost complete but in need of restoration, solid tire safety before diamond frames were in use, or early diamond? What should I expect to pay for it (ballpark) I am looking ofr one of the more common varieties, no one offs or rare birds. Thanks for any help you can offer.....Mike


   RE:WANTED:   Solid Tire Safety posted by Tim Gunn on 1/14/2003 at 7:51:19 PM
Hi there,
I Have just had a Solid tyred Safety come into my Showroom to sell. It is Diamond framed machine and Dates from around c.1889/90.
Is is ridable and has an oily rag finish over the bare metal.
You could either leave it like this and just use it, or you could nickel and paint it.
The price is £1,550, which is about $2,500 US.
Le tme know if It's what you are after, and I can get some pic's done to send to you.
Tim Gunn, The Old Bicycle Company, England.

   RE:RE:WANTED:   Solid Tire Safety posted by Mike Patterson on 1/21/2003 at 3:44:08 PM
Thanks for the notice Tim, but I think what I have in mind is a rusty, maybe bent frameset with a few scraps of parts hanging off it and, presumably, a lower price tag. Your bike sounds great but I'm looking for much more of a project. Maybe I'm just barking at the moon, thanks again....Mike

   RE:RE:RE:WANTED:   Solid Tire Safety posted by Tim Gunn on 1/21/2003 at 7:04:52 PM
Thanks Mike,
A shame you never wanted one about 3 months back, as I had just the machine for you.
It was found under a hedge in Herefordshire/England.
And was pretty hidious, I sorted it though and it is now back on the road.
Good Luck with your search.
Tim Gunn






WANTED:   Wanted Small Bugle for HiWheel meets posted by: larry black on 1/12/2003 at 3:51:32 AM
Would like antique bugles (buglet) in good shape








FOR SALE:   c 1876' 48" High Bicycle posted by: Tim Gunn on 12/30/2002 at 6:40:55 PM
I have for sale a c1876 48" high bicycle.
The make is unknown, but is very beautifully made.
It has been overhauled and is totally original and has remanants of the original paint and Lining on the frame and rims.
The machine is ready to ride with new leather and horse hair covered saddle and new rubber tyres on the wheels.
It a superbe machine and I've covered many miles on her since I found her in a barn not far from me in Essex/England.
Comes with photo's of the her layed up in the barn when she was found.
Please log you interest to Gunngrafton@aol.com.







MISC:   1894 - 1898 Macy's rear steer tandem posted by: John on 12/22/2002 at 7:08:29 PM
I have a ( Cyclone 80" Tandem ) made for macy's department stores in the late 1900's. This tandem is complete and in working order. The bike has been painted with house paint some time ago. Can the 28" wood rims be stripped down to wood safely without harming the rim ? What type of glue is used to mount the tire to the rim ? Any info would be welcome about this great old bicycle. Thanks John


   RE:MISC:   1894 - 1898 Macy's rear steer tandem posted by Brian on 12/25/2002 at 4:00:48 AM
I would use paint remover with caution, not to heavy and a small area at a time. You dont want to soften the glue in the dove tail joints of the wheel. I have had good results using a single edge razor blade and small amounts of lacquer thinner. Then varnish to complete the wheel. I like to strip my wood wheels down to bare wood to show people that they really are made of wood. Tires originally were cemented on with shellac, I would use the same type of cement available for 10 speed sew up tires or use regular rubber cement.






AGE / VALUE:   license plate posted by: marcello on 12/20/2002 at 2:57:24 AM
I am looking for a place to make me a nice license plate for my hiwheel , anybody knows where i can contact? thanks marcello


   RE:AGE / VALUE:   license plate posted by JimW. on 1/5/2003 at 10:58:58 AM
Marcello,
There is at least one company which makes stamped aluminum license plates in bicycle sizes. Unfortunately they are only available in large quantities of the same design. This is not a process which lends itself to one-offs, due to the setup processes involved. If you would be satisfied with a flat metal plate with printed-on letters, numbers, etc. a silk-screen printing shop is your best bet. If you must have raised letters, but don't mind plastic, a vacuum-forming shop can take care of it. A solid metal plate with raised letters can be obtained by using a photo-engraving shop. You can also get a rubber stamp shop to make a rubber plate with raised letters. A mold can be made from this, and used to cast the plate in plastic or metal. None of these processes will be cheap, however. Figure between $50-$100. The cheapest solution is to cut sheet aluminum to size, print out your computer graphic on glossy photo paper, and glue it to the metal. When the graphic fades from sunlight, print out another and replace it.

   RE:AGE / VALUE:   license plate posted by Robert on 1/30/2003 at 3:25:33 PM
Might give this place a try.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2704101655&category=7298






AGE / VALUE:   1890's fairy saftey tricycle, have one need info posted by: Dave, Skip on 12/15/2002 at 11:24:41 PM
I found an original 1890-s fairy adult saftey tri/cycle by the worthington company, #99. The frame and slide peddals are in working order and all original. The wheels are new. What is somthing like this worth more or less, please help.







MISC:   Head Badges on eBay posted by: Roy on 12/12/2002 at 7:04:00 AM
I mostly only play with balloon tire bikes, but a note of interest, I found on eBay while searching "head badge", a number of older name plates that might be of interest to someone here.







AGE / VALUE:   Looking for Info on High Wheeler... posted by: karl on 12/2/2002 at 5:33:32 PM
I bought this bike a whie back and have been trying to find information on it. Any ifo appreciated. You can view pics by typing the address in your address window.
www.geocities.com/opossum007/hiwheel1.jpg
www.geocities.com/opossum007/hiwheel2.jpg
www.geocities.com/opossum007/hiwheel3.jpg
Thank you, Karl


   RE:AGE / VALUE:   Looking for Info on High Wheeler... posted by Greg Barron on 12/21/2002 at 5:23:23 AM
Kinda hard to see any detail but it looks to be an early Columbia or maybe Victor.

Greg

   RE:AGE / VALUE:   Looking for Info on High Wheeler... posted by Bill on 12/25/2002 at 2:06:18 AM
It is clearly not a Columbia or Victor. I appears to be English.

   RE:RE:AGE / VALUE:   Looking for Info on High Wheeler... posted by gbarron@hiwheel.com on 12/27/2002 at 8:45:41 PM
Hi Bill,
I'm wondering if you can tell me why you think the bike is English? There is a pretty good chance it is, but to look at the bearing case and lower fork end it has the Columbia/Victor style bearing. I was looking through all my english catalogs and couldn't come up with one that did the lower fork in the style so I figured the Col/Vic. The saddle spring isn't anything I could pick out either, too bad the pics weren't more clear. I'd like to hear your thoughts on this guys bike a little more.

Greg

   RE:AGE / VALUE:   Looking for Info on High Wheeler... posted by karl on 12/31/2002 at 2:42:59 AM
I will try to take some better pics. The guy I bought it from brought it over from England in the 1940's. The bearing case is the only thing marked and has "Rapid" stamped into it. Thanks Karl

   RE:AGE / VALUE:   Looking for Info on High Wheeler... posted by Bill on 1/7/2003 at 4:11:42 AM
Greg,
The reasons I feel it is neither a Columbia nor Victor are as followed: To the best of my knowledge neither Columbia nor Victor used brass hubs or bearing cases. This is typical of many English makes. In addition, the bike has radial spokes, which were used on some Columbia models but never on a Victor. The cranks are similar to Columbia in that they are adjustable by sliding up and down in an elongated slot, whereas the Victor has adjustment in only two separate wholes. The handlebars also appear to be a one-piece bar that runs through a bore in the top of the head and is brazed in place. Victors first used two bolts to hold the handlebar to the head, similar to the current “Victory” reproductions. They later used a clamp that slid over the top of the head to secure the bars. Columbia used two-piece bars that screwed into the head from each side and also a one-piece bar that used a wedge to secure the bar. Neither manufacturer used “T” grips as are found on this bike. Victors also used different versions of their “swing saddle” which was a hammock style saddle. The bike in question has a pan saddle on a spring. This again is more like some Columbia styles; however, the spring is shaped differently. While I feel the bike is most certainly English, there were so many manufactures in England that it may be difficult to identify the specific manufacturer. The bearings being stamped “Rapid” may be the best clue and someone more versed on English bikes may be able to help.

   RE:AGE / VALUE:   Looking for Info on High Wheeler... posted by teun on 8/4/2003 at 3:07:23 PM
Late - and you'll probably will have found out by now yourself - but non the less:
The "Rapid" stamp stands for 'New Rapid'. An english make producing very elegant Highwheelers.
The bike is a sporting model (new roadster or equivalent), dating at about 1888 - 1889. Most likely bought slightly too big because the spring has been altred to reduce saddle height.
Very neat head by the way... Look at 'Bicycles and tricycles of the year 1888' (can't remember the writer right now) for more info.
bye.






AGE / VALUE:   One time sale posted by: Greg Barron on 11/28/2002 at 8:46:23 PM
Ok,
I never ever do this but since I need some money for the years end I am going to have a one time, short time sale. I am going to discount all the bike and part prices except the pedicabs, total custom work and lowrider by 10%, $300 dollar plus orders of lowrider will get the 10%. That means, until Dec 15th, 2002 anyone that orders something and cuts and pastes this notice to their order/email will get a 10% discount. This is just another wild air, maybe it'll work. Go look at the website and see if there is anything you need. www.hiwheel.com

Greg Barron
RBR Inc.