1903 Singer ‘Modele de Luxe’ Ladies
21.5″ Frame
28″ Front wheel
26″ Rear wheel
New Departure coaster brake (supplied by Brown Bros Ltd)
Frame no 16853
This grand old dame is a wonderful survivor from the early 1900s. 122 years ago, when it left the factory, it would have provided independent transportation for a lady to escape the restrictions of family and explore the countryside with friends. An identical model is featured in the colourful illustration below (part of a Singer advertisement). You can see that it has the same front plunger brake, which was a feature of pre-1900 cycles.
This Singer, however, also has a New Departure coaster brake, the latest braking technology from America which had created a lot of interest in Britain. Brown Brothers Ltd of Great Eastern St, London, was the sole English agent, and they started marketing it in 1903. You can see their ‘BBL’ stamp on the side of the coaster arm.
Another interesting feature of this Singer is the pedals. Though they are threaded, they do not screw in. They have a slot on the side which fits into a groove in the pedal crank, and the thread is there so that they can be held in place with a nut. Like the front plunger brake, it’s a feature from pre-1900 models, so I think the company must have been using up old stock parts.
The saddle is a rare patterned ladies model from the Coventry Gear Case Co, which subsequently moved into the accessory market for motorcycles and, in the 1920s, sold saddles under the ‘Atlas’ brand.
The Singer Modele De Luxe was a top selling bicycle in the late Victorian and early Edwardian era, and owners were as interested in its unique features then as they are now. The curves of the swan-like frame were admired by patrons then just as enthusiasts now might take delight at the design of a sleek sportscar. This aristocratic Singer is in excellent all round condition and is ready to ride and display …and if you are booked for a protest to campaign for the Female Vote, this would be the ideal machine with which to attend.
COVENTRY GEAR CASE Co PATTERNED SADDLE
NEW DEPARTURE HISTORY
The New Departure Bell Company was formed in 1888 by brothers Albert and Edward Rockwell in Bristol, Connecticut as a manufacturer of doorbells. They began operations at one end of a clock factory, manufacturing doorbells. Soon after, they branched out manufacturing various other products. New Departure introduced the bicycle coaster brake in 1898, and in 1903 they also began making brakes for belt and chain-driven motorcycles. Large quantities of bicycle front and rear wheel hubs were produced.
In 1904, the Rockwells produced an automobile, followed by the Rockwell Taxi Cab in 1907. Automobile production ceased four years later. In 1912, Albert organized the Yellow Cab Company, which went into receivership after only one year.
In 1908, New Departure developed the double row bearing capable of handling both radial and thrust loads from either direction and in 1909 obtained a patent for it. In 1910, the company developed the angular contact or Radax single row bearing that took radial loads, as well as thrust loads from one direction.
In 1916, New Departure, Hyatt Roller Bearing, Westom-Mott Axle, Remy Electric Company, Perriman Rim Company and Dayton Engineering Laboratories were purchased by William Durant, president of General Motors, in 1916, and put under the United Motors Corporation name with Alfred Sloan as President. In 1918, General Motors acquired United Motors outright with Sloan becoming a GM Vice President, and President of General Motors five years later.
During World War II, New Departure produced ultra precision instrument bearings that were used in the Norden bomb-sight, one of the U.S. Air Forces most powerful weapons.
The New Departure coaster brake went on sale in Britain in 1903, with Brown Brothers Ltd the sole English agent.
1903 NEW DEPARTURE CATALOGUE EXTRACTS
