1889/1890 Coventry Machinists Co ‘Swift’ Crossframe Safety
‘Model D’
21″ Frame
30″ Equal Wheels
Frame No 7534
(Now sold)
Some features on this Swift date from 1889 – the rear chain adjusters point forward, and the chain stays are narrow screw-in adjustable rods, rather than part of the frame as on the 1891 illustration below. The 1889 catalogue I’ve seen does not show a top stay linking the seat tube to the open steering boss. As you can see half a dozen photographs down the page, this is a removable rod that loops over the seat tube and bolts to the front.
It could be an 1890 model, though I do not have an 1890 catalogue to check. But equally it could be a late 1889 model – the company mentioned 5 versions of their yearly catalogue …such were the modifications made during the year to their wide variety of models.
Though it appears in the 1891 catalogue, the model was by then an outdated design and the assumption is that they were using up old stock built earlier.
The Swift was recently stripped, cleaned and serviced in our workshops and is ready to ride.
1889 – 1891 SWIFT CATALOGUE ILLUSTRATIONS
REMOVABLE HORIZONTAL TOP STAY
SWIFT CHAIN ADJUSTMENT
The chain adjusting bolts at the rear dropouts are forward facing, a design unique to the Coventry Machinists’ Co (and also used on the 1890 Swift Model C).
COVENTRY MACHINISTS’ Co SWIFT:
1889 Model D Crossframe v 1890 Model C Diamond frame with duplex seat tube.