1920 Flying Merkel Motorbike

In the early part of the 20^th century motorcycle manufacturers used bicycles to introduce their brand to a younger audience in the hopes that when they graduated to a motorized machine they bought one of their motorcycles.

The Flying Merkel was produced by the Miami Manufacturing Company of Middleton, Ohio. The Miami Manufacturing Company produced motorcycles under both the Racycle and Miami brand and bicycles under those names as well as several others. In late 1911 Miami bought the Merkel Company in order to add prestige to their line due to the track success of the Flying Merkel motorcycle. Beginning in 1912 Miami began making the Flying Merkel bicycle in a variety of models.

The “Motorbike” model was styled after the motorcycles and was their top-of-the-line road model. The last Flying Merkel motorcycles were produced in 1917 and by 1923 the bicycle side of the business was sold to Westfield Manufacturing. This original, unrestored, bicycle was found by a plumber in Hanover, Pennsylvania in the late 1990s while on a house call. Formerly owned by Shawn Sweeney

1898 Schwinn Model 22 Standard Roadster

Ignaz Schwinn, with financial backing from Adolf Arnold, founded Arnold, Schwinn & Co. Oct 22, 1895 and began producing bicycles. Their line-up for 1898 included both mens and ladies bikes as well as a racer and tandems for two, three, and four riders. This Model 22 Standard Roadster has a “World” head badge and featured an improved one piece crank and highest grade tires, saddle, and chain.

Amazingly very few early Schwinns have survived. This is one of only a handful of pre-1900 Schwinns known to exist and, so far, the only known Standard Roadster. Only the tires, hand grips, and badge are not original to this bike. The handgrips and badge are correct replacements and the tires date from about 1925. Formerly owned by Shawn Sweeney

1924 Indian

George M. Hendee was a world class high wheel bicycle racer who parlayed his success in racing to making and selling bicycles. In 1899 he bought the remains of a previous partnership and established the Hendee Manufacturing Co. in Springfield, Mass. Hendee then began producing the American Indian bicycle, quickly shortened to just “Indian”, which he marketed with great success. In 1901 he partnered with Oscar Hedstrom, a talented mechanical engineer, to produce the first Indian motorcycle. In 1904 Indian produced its last in-house bicycle and concentrated on its motorcycle business.  It wouldn’t be until 1916 when Hendee contracted with the Westfield Manufacturing Co. of Westfield Mass. to produce Indian bicycles again. Like the motorcycles the bicycles, generally, were painted Indian red and were marketed to youth in hopes that they would graduate to the Indian motorcycle. The early motorcycle badged bicycles such as this Indian are highly coveted by both bicycle and motorcycle collectors. This bike was covered in three coats of paint which were painstakingly removed to reveal the original paint and decals. Owner: Shawn Sweeney

1902 Pierce Full Cushion

The George N. Pierce Co. first started producing bicycles in 1891. Pierce bicycles were known for quality and innovation. The ‘cushion’ frame was introduced in 1898 which consisted of a small shock absorber on the seat stays.  The spring fork was introduced in 1902 and they also offered shaft drive models in addition to the traditional chain drive bicycles. The first Pierce motor car (became Pierce Arrow in 1908) was introduced in 1901 and in 1907 the Pierce Cycle Co. was formed and began producing motorcycles.

Pierce bicycles were produced in Buffalo, NY until 1918 when they were bought by Emblem Manufacturing Co, of Angola, NY. Motorcycle production only lasted until 1914 while car production continued until 1938. This bike can be exactly dated to 1902 due to the flat spring located between the crank hangar and chain stays along with the spring fork. In 1903 the bottom bracket was changed to an articulated design replacing the flat spring. Formerly owned by Shawn Sweeney

1925 Columbia Motorbike

The style of frame on this bike is referred to as a “Motorbike” or sometimes as “Motobike”. This is due to the similarity to motorcycle frames of the day. These bikes were sometimes equipped with tool boxes that invoked the look of a gas tank on a motorcycle. The motorbike was usually the top-of-the-line offering of a manufacturer during this time period. The tires on these bikes were 28” x 1 ½” and the rims are wood.

Looking at the ‘before’ picture of this bike you would think there was no original paint left. This bike was treated to an oxalic acid (wood bleach) bath which restored the original paint without damage to the decals. The bike was then thoroughly dried and a coat of paste wax was applied. Formerly owned by Shawn Sweeney

1897 Gormully and Jeffery Rambler Model 16

Gormully & Jeffery was an American bicycle company, founded in Chicago by Thomas B. Jeffery and R. Phillip Gormully in. It marketed bicycles under the Rambler brand, was at one time the second largest bicycle manufacturer in the US, and was sold to the American Bicycle Company in 1900. Jeffery sold the company to focus on producing the Rambler automobile. This Model 16 Mens Light Roadster is a largely original bicycle except for the tires which are from about 1920. The bike is equipped with a lamp, Bridgeport #12 pump, and optional G&J frame mounted tool bag. Notice the front brake over the tire which is foot operated.

1897 Gormully and Jeffery Rambler Model G

The G&J Rambler Model G Ladies Roadster sold new for $100 which was quite a sum in 1897. This bike is equipped with an optional tool bag, lamp, and wooden handlebars. The bike is missing the lever mechanism for the front spoon brake, bent wood chainguard, and bent wood rear fender. Still an exceptional example of these popular bikes.

ca. 1898 Reading Standard Reliable Ladies Roadster

The Reading Standard Manufacturing Co. was formed in 1896 in Reading, PA. They made bicycles until about 1900 at which time they sold the bicycle portion of the business to Great Western Manufacturing Co. of Laporte, IN. In 1903 they focused on building motorcycles for which they are best known. Great Western continued to use the Reading Standard brand on its bicycles until about 1918. This ladies model Reliable probably dates from either 1897 or 1898. The bike is largely original and retains its original spoon brake and front coaster pegs but is likely missing the wooden rear fender and chainguard commonly found on ladies bikes of this era.

1917 Sears Chief

1887 Victor Light Roadster

The Victor Light Roadster is considered one of the best ordinary (high wheel) bicycles ever built. The Overman Wheel Company of Boston, MA manufactured the Light Roadster from 1887 until 1891.  The Victor machine was made to compete with the Columbia Light Roadster manufactured by the Pope Mfg. Co. also of Boston. By the late 1880s the ordinary had fallen out of favor and was being replaced with the safety bicycle much as we know today.

The Light Roadsters were offered in wheel sizes from 48” to 60” to accommodate different height riders. This is a 50” bicycle and cost $125 when new. This bicycle retains the original tires but the seat and pedals are incorrect. The bike was repainted at some point in the past as well as having the nickel plating redone. Owner: Shawn Sweeney