Believed to be a New Rapid, built by St George’s Engineering Co
20″ Frame
28″ Wheels
Standover height: 32″
The 1888 New Rapid was illustrated in a catalogue issued by Samuel T. Clark of Baltimore, who were the American agents for St George’s Engineering Co. The model shown (below) had a ball-bearing steering head and a solid (narrow diameter) top tube that was advanced for its age. But it had a straight fork, and its chain adjustment was primitive, involving adjustable chain stays plus a stay to the bottom bracket that could be loosened or tightened by a nut at the top.
Logically, one would assume that they updated that model. This example is very similar, but has chain adjustment at the rear dropouts, and the front fork is curved. Also, its top tube is removable, making it suitable for either a male or female rider: this was known as a ‘Convertible’ and was the fashion around 1889-1890 in Britain and until 1893 in America. So I believe this to be an 1890 New Rapid.
It’s an older restoration and, apart from scratched paint here and there, is in excellent all round condition and ready to ride.
VIDEO OF ME RIDING THE CROSSFRAME SAFETY
ST. GEORGE’S ENGINEERING CO
This firm was previously known as Newton, Wilson & Co who were sewing machine manufacturers. James Starley and Josiah Turner worked there in 1859 before they both moved in May 1861 to Coventry to set up the European Sewing Machine Co and later the Coventry Sewing Machine Co …which subsequently became the Coventry Machinists’ Co.
As St George’s Foundry Co, the company built and sold ordinaries. The name was changed to St George’s Engineering Co in 1885. and machines were exported to the USA for sale through their agents Samuel T. Clark of Baltimore, USA.
The New Rapid Ordinary was a well-publicized model, and the company won a gold medal at the 1885 International Inventions Exhibition in London for the New Rapid tangent wheel. In the mid-1880s the firm produced the Rapid Hill Gear, using spur gears, operated by a lever, to gear up and down. Presumably this influenced the company’s choice of new name when it changed to New Rapid Cycle Co around 1893.
The first New Rapid Safety was introduced in 1886. The model featured here superseded their first pattern safety, presumably being introduced in 1888 as it appears in Clark of Baltimore’s catalogue of that date.
New Rapid Cycle Co were in financial difficulties by 1898. By 1907, Armstrong Triplex gears were being made at the St. George’s Engineering factory. New Hudson Cycle Manufacturing Co were major customers for the Armstrong Triplex gears, and it is believed that they took over the New Rapid Cycle Co in 1915.
