1920 Trilby Trussbridge Road Racer (Labor patent)

 

1920s Trilby Trussbridge Road Racer

(Labor patent)

23.5″ Frame (60cm)

28″ Wheels

Perry coaster brake

Iver Johnson introduced the distinctive Truss Bridge frame in America in 1901. World champion racing cyclist Major Taylor rode Iver Johnson bicycles. When he raced in France in the early 1900s, he used an Iver Johnson Truss Bridge, and the style caught on there. Labor became the French license holder for this design, and various French companies made their own versions until the late 1920s. Many of the French firms built versions with slight variations, suggesting that they were unlicensed copies (as suggested in the Labor advertisement below). However, this example looks the same as the Labor (except that it has a larger frame than that shown in the advertisement), so I assume that it was licensed by Labor.

This post-WW1 French road racer has blind (enclosed) front fork ends which is more common on earlier cycles, so it may be earlier than 1920. It’s in good all round condition, it is set up for long distance cycling, and is ready to ride.

 

 

 

 

TRILBY HEADBADGE

I bought the headbadge below on French ebay, and will add it to the steering head after it arrives.

 

IVER JOHNSON TRUSSBRIDGE PATENT