In the 1890s, during the first great sales surge in the bicycle industry, quality was the most important aspect of a British bicycle’s manufacture. It was the standard of a cycle’s construction that created the manufacturers’ reputations. By the turn of the century, so many companies had been attracted by the profit of the business that the industry started to suffer. Cheap imitation bicycles made by unscrupulous builders affected the reputation of the top manufacturers. Prices fell, and many companies disappeared.
The companies that remained in business decided to change their business strategy. Instead of fitting components made by third-party suppliers, so that all cycle parts were interchangeable, they each started making their own parts, and those parts were different from every other cycle manufacturer. This stopped counterfeit builders making bikes that looked similar.
As a result, the top manufacturers could charge higher prices for their bikes, and offer service facilities in their own factories and agencies around the country. Customers soon discovered that the advertising slogans used by the manufacturers were correct – a well-made bicycle may be more expensive at the outset, but because it was more reliable it required less maintenance; and, because it was so pleasurable to ride, it always had a good second-hand resale value.
Even nine decades on, many Sunbeam bicycles survive. They’ve been handed down through families rather than being sold for scrap metal. Golden Sunbeams are cosseted and cherished by collectors, just as Rolls Royce cars and Vincent motorcycles are put away as a hedge against inflation. And, as the ultimate testament to their quality, the Golden Sunbeams ride as well now as they did when they first left the factory.
1924 All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Ladies
23″ Frame
28″ Wheels
Aluminium ‘Roman’ Rims
Frame No 147644
This All-Black Golden Sunbeam for Ladies is in very good unrestored cosmetic condition. Its original paintwork is well preserved, with most of its box lining intact. The original transfers (decals) have also survived.
Only the Golden Sunbeam was fitted with handlebar grip caps that unscrew to reveal a tyre repair outfit inside. This machine has this feature: the grip cap on the right is the original, while the one on the left is a replacement (which does not fit as well as the original). It was mssing its glass tube inside the grip, which would have contained a tyre repair patch. I’ve supplied a replacement one, which you can see in one of the photos.
Though this Sunbeam was fitted with the two speed epicyclic gear inside the chaincase, the internal gear parts were missing when I bought it. So it is now set up as a single speed, and it rides fine like this. It has recently been serviced, with new tyres and tubes fitted and is ready to be ridden and enjoyed.
SUNBEAM REPAIR OUTFIT HANDLE
THE HISTORY OF ALUMINIUM ‘ROMAN’ RIMS
Dr Reinhard Isidore Romanoff was a pioneer in the application of aluminium, and experimented with the production of aluminium-tubed BIcycles. His company was the ‘Roman Cycle Co’ of 31 Lombard Street, London. He perfected a jointless rim made from a new alloy – aluminium, tungsten and nickel – which he patented in 1897 and displayed at the National Cycle Show. He named his unique alloy ‘Romanium’, and his new lightweight wheels were called ‘Roman’ rims. A manufacture date appears inside all rims, eg 0813 for August 1913.
Bicycle ‘novelties’ such as aluminium wheels were welcomed by the cycle industry, cycling press and public alike. In 1904, the Marston Cycle Co decided to adopt Dr. Romanoff’s famous ‘Roman’ rims and offer them as an optional extra when a customer bought a Sunbeam.
‘BAD TEETH NO BAR: A HISTORY OF MILITARY BICYCLES IN THE GREAT WAR’
As you can see in the extract below, from chapter 40 of the new book ‘BAD TEETH NO BAR: A HISTORY OF MILITARY BICYCLES IN THE GREAT WAR’ which is out next month (author Colin Kirsch, published by Unicorn, ISBN 978-1-910500-52-1), in their advertisements, Sunbeam capitalised on an unfortunate event that occurred immediately post-war – the influenza epidemic of 1918/1919 actually killed more people than the World War itself. It was spread by the close proximity of commuters on buses and trains. Demand for bicycles outstripped supply with some cycle manufacturers as they adapted once more to peacetime production.
