The Online Bicycle Museum

ORIGINS: AMERICAN BICYCLES

Online Bicycle Museum safety bicycles 2

There have been American invasions of this country by makers of agricultural machinery, boots, domestic machinery, typewriters, motor cars, and, of course, bicycles.

Of those articles enumerated all have come to stay except bicycles. Various opinions have been expressed as to the reason why American bicycles did not attract popular favour in this country. They were largely advertised, important firms rented expensive shops for retail purposes, and at one time it looked as though the American bicycle would catch on. The attempted invasion failed; a small army reached our shores but it got swallowed up and the officers retired with discomfiture.

The reason may be explained as follows. American makers produce one pattern of any article in large quantities and expect all purchasers at home and abroad to buy what they make. The American bicycles that reached this country were no exception to the general rule. They were made for American boulevards and asphalte roads of cities and were totally unsuited for touring and general riding conditions in this country. The mudguards and rims were of wood, the tyres were single tubes that could only be repaired with rubber plugs (a method not understood in England), the brakes were inadequate for our hilly roads, and the only redeeming feature of these machines was lightness. They arrived at a time when home manufacturers were at their wits end to supply the demand or practically none would have been sold, and those that were disposed of mostly caused trouble and loss of custom to the retailers.

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Items in this Collection

Pope-Air-Rifle-Pistol-1

1876 Pope Brothers Rifle Air Pistol

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1880s-Propellor-Tricycle-05

1880 Juvenile Propellor Tricycle

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1886-Overman-Victor-54-inch-05

1887 Overman Victor Light Roadster 54″ Ordinary

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1886-Overman-Victor-56-inch-05

1887 Overman Victor Light Roadster 56″ Ordinary

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1887 Victor Safety Crossframe Springfork 61

1887 The Victor Safety (Cross frame Springfork)

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1891-American-Ideal-Rambler-60-1

1889 G&J American Ideal Rambler (for Girls)

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1889 Victor Spring-fork Safety 05

1889/1890 Overman Victor Spring-fork Safety

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1890 Iver Johnson No 1 Diamond Safety 05

1890 Iver Johnson ‘No 1’ Diamond Safety

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1890-Mascotte-Crossframe-Safety-03

1890 Mascotte ‘Safety No 4’ Cross-frame (George Townsend & Co)

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1890-Union-Cycle-Mfg-Co-Convertible-04-1

1890 Union Cycle Mfg Co ‘Convertible’ Safety

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men_vintage_bicycle_museum_1899

1890s RACING SCRAPBOOK (USA)

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1891_Columbia_05

1891 Columbia Light Roadster Safety

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1891-Victor-Spring-fork-Safety-05

1891 Overman Victor Spring-fork Safety

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1892-Century-Columbia-77

1892 Century Columbia (Duplex frame)

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1891_Hickory_01

1892 Elliott Hickory ‘A’ Safety Bicycle

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1891_Hickory_40

1892 Kirkpatrick Saddle

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1892_Old_Hickory_Almanac_01

1892 OLD HICKORY ALMANAC

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1893-Columbia-Model-32-1-

1893 Columbia ‘Century’ Model 32 …with Ellipictal Gear

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1893 Columbia 32 05

1893 Columbia ‘Century’ Model 32 (For Restoration)

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1891_Columbia_Light_Roadster_01

1893 Columbia Century Roadster

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1893-COLUMBIA-Elliptical-Chainwheel-07

1893 Columbia Model 32 Road Racer with Elliptical Chainwheel

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1893_Elliott_Hickory_Catalogue_02

1893 HICKORY WHEEL Co CATALOGUE

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1893_Overman_Victor_01

1893 Overman Victor Flyer

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1893_Overman_Victoria_01

1893 Overman Victoria Single Tube Ladies’ Bicycle

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1893_Overman_Victor_05-copy

1893: OVERMAN VICTOR DISPLAY at the WORLD’S FAIR

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1894 Columbia Model 34 Duplex Frame 69

1894 Columbia ‘Model 34’ (Duplex frame)

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1894-ELLIOTT-HICKORY-64

1894 Elliott Hickory Ladies Safety

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mens_rambler_01

1894 Men’s Rambler Model 16

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1894-Yost-Mfg-Co-Falcon-1-641×410

1894 Yost Mfg Co Falcon ‘No 1’

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1895-Electric-05

1895 ‘Electric’ Lightweight Road Racer

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1894-ARIEL-Goshen-USA-64

1895 Ariel Roadster (Goshen, Indiana, USA)

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1895 Gormully & Jeffery ‘The Rambler Tandem’ 5

1895 Gormully & Jeffery ‘The Rambler Tandem’

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1895_rambler_ladies_01

1895 Gormully & Jeffery ‘Model D’ Ladies Rambler

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FOR SALE 1895 Lovell Diamond Iver Johnson 5

1895 Lovell Diamond (Iver Johnson)

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1895 Maywood Double Diamond (Cash Buyers’ Union) 0

1895 Maywood Double Diamond (Cash Buyers’ Union)

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1 1895 New Mail

1895 New Mail Safety (Wm Read & Sons, Boston, USA)

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1894 Overman Victor 05

1895 Overman Victor Safety

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1896 Columbia Model 40 with Colt Machine Gun 05

1896 Columbia Model 40 Military Model with Colt Machine Gun

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1896-Eagle

1896 Eagle ‘Model B’ New York Police Bicycle

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1898_University_242

1896 Fowler Truss Frame

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yellow_fellow_yearbook_01

1896 Stearns: The Yellow Fellow Yearbook

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1898 Premier Helical American 05

1896-1898 American Premier Helical (Bridgeport, Conn, USA)

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1899_Humber_01-copy

1896-1898 Humber Standard-Grade Special Light Roadster (American Export Model)

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1 copy

1897 ‘THE AMERICA’ Truss Frame Tandem

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1897-columbia-tandem-06

1897 Columbia Racing Tandem

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1897-Fowler-Straight-Frame-04

1897 Fowler Straight Frame Bicycle

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fowler cycle catalogue

1897 Fowler Truss Frame – Catalogue

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1898_Geneva_Tandem_01

1897 Geneva Rear-Steering Tandem

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1897 ‘THE AMERICA’ 28 Tall Truss Frame 5

1897 THE AMERICA Tall Truss Frame

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columbia_66

1898 Columbia Ladies Chainless

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1898 Columbia Model 50 Chainless 05

1898 Columbia Model 50 Chainless

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1898 Crescent No3 Boys 05

1898 Crescent ‘No 3’ Boy’s Bicycle

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1898 Rambler Rear Steering Tandem 05

1898 Gormully & Jeffery ‘Rambler’ Rear-Steering Tandem

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1898 Iver Johnson Fitchburg Gentlemen’s Roadster 5

1898 Iver Johnson Fitchburg Gentlemen’s Roadster

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1898 Knolls Spring Frame Bicycle 1

1898 Knoll’s Spring Frame Bicycle (with Pierce spring fork)

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1898 Monarch Defiance 05

1898 Monarch Defiance

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1899 Orient Rear-steering Tandem 0

1898 Orient Rear-steering Tandem

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1898_Yellow_Fellow_20

1898 Stearns ‘Yellow Fellow’ Rear-Steering Combination Tandem

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1898_Union_Jack_05

1898 Union Supply Co ‘Union Jack’

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1899-Oxford-1

1899 ‘Oxford’ (Goodby Rankin Co, Providence, RI)

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1899_Cleveland_Bicycle_10

1899 Cleveland Model 47 Men’s Bicycle

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FOR SALE 1899 CRESCENT CHAINLESS Ladies 5

1899 Crescent Ladies’ Bevel-gear Chainless

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1899 Gormully Jeffery Rambler 05

1899 Gormully & Jeffery Men’s Medium Weight Rambler Roadster

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1899-Rambler-Princess-Thyra-Denmark-66

1899 Gormully & Jeffery Rambler (Denmark)

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1899 Fairy King 05

1899 Luthy & Co Fairy King

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1899-Stearns-Ladies-Bicycle-56-1

1899 Stearns Special Model C for Ladies

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1900_Barnes_03-copy

1900 Barnes ‘The White Flyer’ Cushion Frame

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1900 Mead ‘Kennebec’ Road Racer 05

1900 Mead ‘Kennebec’ Road Racer

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1900-Pierce-Chainless-05-1

1900 Pierce Men’s Chainless

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1900 Tribune Chainless 0

1900 Tribune Chainless ‘Model 56’

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IMG_4980-copy

1900 Velo de Course E. Collesson (Great Western Mfg Co American Export)

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1900_Western_Union_Bicycle_05

1900 WESTERN UNION Messenger’s Bike

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SUBMERSIBLE WATER BICYCLE

1900s SEMI-SUBMERSIBLE WATER BICYCLE VIDEO

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1901-Victor-Road-Racer-05

1901 Albaugh Dover ‘Victor’

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1901 IMPERIAL 05

1901 Ames & Frost ‘Imperial’

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1901-Rambler-Chainless-05

1901 Gormully & Jeffery Rambler Model 38 Chainless

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1901-Monarch-Chainless-05

1901 Monarch Men’s Chainless

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1902 Gendron Men’s Bicycle 11

1902 Gendron Men’s Bicycle (Canadian)

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1902 National Chainless 05

1902 National Chainless

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1902-Tribune-BLUE-STREAK-04

1902 Tribune BLUE STREAK

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1902-Tribune-Track-Racer-35

1902 Tribune Model 750 Track Racer

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1902_Columbia_20

1903 Columbia Model 106 Cushion Chainless

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chainless_trussframe_02

1904 Columbia 28″ Cushion Arch-bar Chainless Roadster with Hartford Tire Coaster Brake

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1904-Pope-Rambler-04

1904 Pope Men’s Rambler Chainless ‘Model 451C’ with Hygienic Cushion Frame

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1903 Racycle Pacemaker Springfork 05

1908 Racycle Cushion Frame Pacemaker with Safety Cushion Tri-Spring Fork

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1910-Elgin-King-05

1910 Sears & Roebuck ‘Red Head Elgin King’

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1910s_iver_johnson_03

1910s Iver Johnson Truss-Bridge Roadster

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1912 Lovell Diamond Iver Johnson 05

1912 Lovell Diamond Truss Frame Roadster

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1912-Racycle-Model-174-05

1912 Racycle ‘Model 174’

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1914 Swedish Rambler Gormulley & Jeffery Husqvarna 05

1914 Swedish Rambler (Gormully & Jeffery / Husqvarna)

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1915-Dayton-Spring-Fork-04-1

1915 Dayton Spring-Fork Roadster (with Kelly Adjustable Handlebar)

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1915 Miami Hudson Arch bar 12 copy

1915 Miami Hudson Arch bar

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Oldbike_Bicycle_Museum_Smith_Motorwheel_11

1915-1919 Smith Motorwheel

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1916-COLUMBIA-CHAINLESS-1

1916 Columbia Men’s Chainless ‘Model 604’

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1917_Iver_Johnson_Cushion_Truss_02

1917 Iver Johnson Cushion Truss Frame Track Racer

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1917-Red-Wing-Arch-Bar-Truss-Bridge-Bicycle-1

1917 Red Wing Truss Bridge (Archbar) Bicycle (Westfield Columbia)

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WW1 Columbia Military Model 05

1917/1918 WW1 Columbia Military Model U.S Army Issue #USA748

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1918_Harley_Davidson_201

1918 Harley Davidson Men’s Single Bar Roadster

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1918 Harley-Davidson 05

1918 Harley-Davidson Model 318

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1918 Pope Daily Service Commercial Bicycle 5 copy

1918 Pope Daily Service

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1918_Western_Union_Bicycle_05

1918 Western Union Messenger Delivery Bicycle

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1918-Columbia-Military-Model-05

1918 WW1 Columbia Military Model (Black)

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1-front-cover-copy2

1918 WW1 Columbia Military Model (US Army Issue Green)

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1918-1923 Indian Girls Hendee Mfg Co 05

1918-1923 Hendee Mfg Co – Indian Girls Roadster Model 154

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1919_Columbia_01

1919 Columbia Model 912 Roadster

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1919 Emblem Mfg Co 05

1919 Emblem Women’s Roadster Model 35

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1919_Evans_01

1919 Evans Power-Cycle 119cc

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1919 Harley Davidson Motorcyke 05

1919 Harley Davidson ‘Motorcyke’

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1919-Haverford-Black-Beauty-Pacer-10

1919 Haverford Black Beauty ‘Pacer’ Arch bar

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1918 HARLEY DAVIDSON Model 120 Diamond Frame 4 copy

1920 HARLEY DAVIDSON Model 120 Diamond Frame (3 speed)

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1920-1922 Johnson Motor Wheel 1930s Iver Johnson bicycle 0

1920-1922 Johnson Motor Wheel on a 1930s Iver Johnson bicycle

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1920s Columbia Archbar 05

1920s Columbia Archbar

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1920 Emblem Greyhound 05

1920s Emblem ‘Greyhound’ Young Girls’ Bicycle

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1921_Evans_Powercycle_20

1921 Evans PowerCycle ‘Modèle Luxe Ecclésiastique’ 119cc

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1922_excelsior_02

1922 Excelsior ‘Motorbike’ with 119cc Cyclemotor Engine

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1924 Indian Junior Model 150 Bicycle 1

1924 Indian Junior Roadster Model 150-H

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1924 Hendee Indian Mens Bicycle 35

1924 Indian Motocycle Co – Motobike Model 151

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FOR SALE 1926 Columbia Junior Roadster 05

1926 Columbia ‘Junior Roadster’ 50th Anniversary Model

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1928-Columbia-Bicyclet-05-1

1928/1929 Columbia Bicyclet

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1929_Elgin_00

1929 Elgin Cardinal ‘Motobike’ (Sears & Roebuck)

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1929 Shelby Lindy Girls Bicycle 34 copy

1929 Shelby Lindy Girls Bicycle

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1930_Triumph_Excelsior_07

1930 Excelsior Triumph ‘Motorbike’

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1930s-Western-Union-Messenger-Special-05

1930 Western Union ‘Messenger Special’ Bicycle

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1932 Presto Speed-O-Byke 05

1932 Presto Speed-O-Byke

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1936_Silverking_Flocycle_01

1936 Monark Silver King Flocycle Model No. M037

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1937 Mercury Men’s Semi de Luxe Bicycle

1937 Mercury Men’s Semi De Luxe Bicycle

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1938_Elgin_Twin_20_02

1938 Elgin Twin 20 ‘Model 502’

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1938-Colson-Looptail-05

1939 Colson ‘Looptail’ Double Bar Juvenile

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1939_Mercury_Wolrds_Fair_Tricycle_10-copy

1939 Mercury World’s Fair Velocipede Tricycle

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1939 Silver King 26X Custom 05

1939 Monark Silver King 26X Custom (Restored)

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1939 Monark Silver King Flocycle 26X 46

1939 Monark Silver King Flocycle 26X

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FOR SALE Screenshot

1939 Motorola B150 Bicycle Radio

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1939mercury

1939 Murray Mercury Pacemaker – New York Worlds Fair Model

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1940s Western Union 05

1940s Western Union Messenger Bicycle

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1946_BSA_ACP_30

1946 BSA Paratroop Model 904ACP – American Export Model

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FOR SALE 1946 Columbia Compax ‘Paratrooper’ Sports Traveler 1

1946 Columbia Compax ‘Paratrooper’ Sports Traveler

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1946_Hextube_00

1946 Monark Silver King ‘Hextube’ Motorised Custom

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1947 Columbia Compax Paratrooper 05

1947 Columbia ‘Compax Paratrooper’ Folding Bicycle

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1947-Saginaw-Powerbike-05

1947 Saginaw Powerbike

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FOR SALE 1949 Shelby Donald Duck 2

1949 Shelby DONALD DUCK Bike

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donald_duck_02

1949 Shelby Donald Duck Girls Bike

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dial-your-ride-4

1950 Huffman ‘Dayton’ Dial-Your-Ride

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1948 INDIAN SCOUT 3 speed 01

1951 Indian Scout 22″ Three-Speed

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1951-Monark-Gene-Autry-Boys 05

1951 Monark ‘Gene Autry’ Boys’ Bicycle

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1951 Gene Autry Girls Bicycle with accessories 05

1951 Monark ‘Gene Autry’ Girls’ Bicycle

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1951-Monark-Gene-Autry-052

1951 Monark Silver King ‘Gene Autry’ Girls’ Bicycle

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1

1952 Hopalong Cassidy …Finished and on the Road!

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1952-Hopalong-Cassidy-Girls-04

1952 Rollfast Hopalong Cassidy Girls Bicycle

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1952-Hopalong-Cassidy-Young-Girls-Bike-05

1952 Rollfast Hopalong Cassidy Young Girls Bicycle

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1955 Huffy Radiobike 07

1955 Huffy Radiobike

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1980s MURRAY 5

1980s Murray

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1980s SCHWINN 40

1980s Schwinn

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united-states-bicycles-souvenir

AMERICAN BICYCLES

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1892_century Columbia

Columbia & 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair Museum

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LAUREN STEADMAN RIDES VINTAGE 1896 Raleigh Road Racer v 1918 Harley Davidson

LAUREN STEADMAN RIDES VINTAGE: 1896 Raleigh Road Racer v 1918 Harley Davidson VIDEO

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18991

RAMBLER BICYCLE MUSEUM

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