Classic & Vintage - Steyr 3-speed pics What is this thing??

Ok, am I an idiot for buying this bike? It’s a Steyr. Possibly related to the gun manufacturer?? Made in Austria. The Sturmey Archer hub is stamped ’56. It’s got red decals on the down tube that say “Tourist de Luxe”. I was real intrigued by all the little frame oddities that I have pictured. Like the little lube port on the bb. The bad news is the obvious green re-spray. It appears the original color is gold. So what do I have here? Oh, I paid $15.

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBeforeMedium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore2Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore1Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore14Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore13Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore12Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore11Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore10Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore9Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore8Medium.jpg

The rest of the pics:
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore7Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore6Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore5Medium-1.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore3Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore4Medium.jpg

Neat Bike!

You did great at $15

Looks like a fun project bike. Almost any bike that is nearly ridable is worth $15, and a 50 year old like that is a fine purchase.

Lesson #1-

Earl Scheib is not where you want to have your bike painted. Just like cars, they paint everything!


/sarcasm

Yep, same company that still makes guns. That looks like it might be an ignition port on the bottom bracket, but I'm pretty sure it's for lubrication.

That's also about the most industrial looking joinery I've ever seen on a bike. The suface texture of the paint leaves a lot to be desired, but John Deere green seems like a completely appropriate color.

Looks like someone dipped it in a vat of green paint.

I like the chainwheel. Cool design.

That is the bike Steyr rebadged for Sears in the late 60s-early 70s.

You got a cool, old, cheap bike with a hub worth more than you paid that desperately needs to be stripped of that rattlecan mistake.

How about a photo of the 3 speed hub shell? I wonder if it is the S-A knockoff they used on the Sears bikes.

I wouldn't mind betting it was a Styria hub on that thing. It looks like a three speed Waffenrad.
Incidentally, the company that made them was parcelled out upon privatisation. Puch bicycles was bough by Bianchi (later Cycleurope/Grimaldi). General Dynamics bought the military vehicles division. The automotive side of Steyr Daimler Puch because Magna-Steyr, an Austro-Canadian company owned by Franz Stronach, and which is rumoured to be interested in buying Chrysler. And the firearms side is independent.
So far as I know.
Guat gemocht!

Here are some mid project photos. I am really loving this bike more and more. I’m having a hard time getting the paint off the frame, so I am leaving it as is. I think it looks pretty sweet!!

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6056Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6060Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6050Medium.jpg

[QUOTE=acorn_user]I wouldn't mind betting it was a Styria hub on that thing. QUOTE]

The front hub is a Styria, as is the headlight. BTW, the headlight and generator work well.

oh yeah......there appears to be this really cool logo on the seat tube where the workstand is clamped onto the bike..........but no matter what i used to remove the green paint the image comes up. Any ideas???

I've searched online for info in this bike but haven't found anything!!! I'm curious to see what its supposed to look like without a mask of puke green paint. Both front and rear fender are chrome and had red pin striping. The fork has gold and red pin striping. the top tube has a red strip around the front and rear sections. There also appears to be a sticker near the top of the seat tube. I was hoping it might identify the tubing, but I cant make it out. I love the “Tourist de Luxe” logo!!!

Thats awesome, you got a steal of a deal. So, is it made by the infamous arms manufacturer?

The clean up is looking good! Try using some Goop off on it. I used it to get paint splatters off of my Superbe with good results.

Aaron:)

they even sprayed the spokes!

Have you tried mineral spirits? That should remove that green topcoat without taking off great gobs of what's underneath.

Neal

Here it is about 99% done. I still need some salmon kool stops for the front, a proper saddle, and a tail light. Front hub is also stamped 57. That makes this my oldest bike by 2 years!!! Rides real nice, and I love the look.

Does anybody have a old beat up brooks saddle they want to sell?

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/AfterMedium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/After9Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/After8Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/After7Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/After5Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/After4Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/After3Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/After2Medium.jpg

I am glad you were able to expose the downtube decals, head badge, and most of the components. With a 1956 rear hub and a 1957 front, we at least know the approximate year of manufacture. You did great for $15. :)

I wonder if Arnold the Governor of California rode a Steyr-Puch? That could have been HIS bike!

Funny story I read in his autobiography that when he first lifted weights at age 14 he was so sore he couldn't ride his bicycle so he had to walk it home.

Thanks Neal for the hook up on the B66 saddle.

I rode the Stryr over to a friends house last night to help with rototilling a spot for a garden. We tilled past dark. As I was leaving, I engaged the generator on the Stryr, and had trouble free light back home. What a great bike!!! If only the tiller had a headlight!!!

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/WithBrooksMedium.jpg

That's a nice piece of work, man.
Good show!

Such a cool bike! Glad it is back on the road. Someday I'll find something that unusual...

Very nice! I like the progress photos. I'm wishing there was a chain guard. I wonder if you can find old photos of the bike with chain guards on.
I'm cruising around the usual used places for a nice 3 speed. But most of them are a bit too large for me (I need about a 27-28" clearance from ground to TT)

I just found a 66 Steyr, I got for free! I just came across the forums looking for information about my new Steyr bike, and I found this post. I believe the bike I have is a 66. No head lamp, ladies bike, but original paint w/ chain guard. I'll try to post pictures soon for comparison WREY.

-S

For those who were asking, Steyr was indeed part of Steyr-Daimler-Puch, which included Steyr Mannlicher, the same armaments company who used concentration camp labour (as did many of Germanys industrial giants). Good quality bikes though!

I got a 2nd Steyr today. Its a low end Clubman with Steel Rigida wheels, Simplex drivetrain, dia compe brakes, and cottered cranks. The head badge says made in Austria and the frame is stamped made in Germany. I think Puch may have manufactured this, but not sure. The tires even say made in Austria, so I spect they are originals!! I took some side by side pics for fun.

http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6562Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6567Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6570Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6571Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6572Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6574Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6575Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6577Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6578Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/CIMG6580Medium.jpg

I love the curved stem...nice...

That Clubman is just pure cool.

I think the bridge is an esge part, and is made in Germany, but the frame is probably Austrian.

It's real similar to a '67 Puch 3-speed I got last week; I imagine the chainguard is similar too. Mine is a typical 'hockey stick' guard, except it wraps around the front to about the 5:00 position. I'll try to post a pic of it tomorrow.

Lucky duck.

Awesome! I love old bikes! :love:

The Clubman was made in Austria by Steyr-Daimler-Puch. They were a very popular altenative to the Schwinn Varsity in Southern California an the late sixtys and early seventies.

I love the three speed!

I know this is a late submission, but Austrian tyres were almost certainly made by Semperit. You can still buy Semperit labelled tyres in Austria. I did, and liked them a lot.

That stem is beautiful!

Wrey,

I found a bike similar to yours in a scrap metal pile on my Uncles ranch at a family reunion this past September. When I found it the tires and rims were missing and the cables were messed up. I live in San Jose, CA and between Fabers an old bike shop with a lot of old bikes to pull parts off of and the Flea Market, I was able to put it together. I got an old Sturmey Archer 3 speed rear hub, a front wheel I think from an old Schwin, new tires, tubes, new seat, and clips to hold the cabling for about $55.00 and a 12 pack of Corona. I think my Stery is from 1970 because of the olympic logos on the frame. Also notice the green color, is there a common theme? The bike runs great and all 3 gears work. I will try to take more photos over the weekend an post them for you to see.

I only purchased the frame; still kept it even though the downtube is bent. I built some wheels, and now it is my favorite 3-speed ride. I will have to take some more recent pictures. These frames look to similar to the austrian-made sears 3-speeds


http://s726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/threespeeder56/Steyr/?action=view&current=Steyr3-speed.jpg

nick

How monstrous to spraypaint that frame green!

Steyr is an old and quite collectible Austrian bicycle manufacturer. Particularly notable are their "Waffenrad" bicycles (the Austrian version of Roadster/ Dutch bike type of bike). I live in Vienna on and off throughout the year and the bike I ride there is a vintage lady's Steyr Waffenrad.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4435134609_469a43086c_o.jpg

and here is another vintage Steyr I saw at a flea market in Vienna - this one must have been 1920s or so!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2745/4130223099_c69e6e495f_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2632/4130222947_b19a8b4fc7_o.jpg

Anyhow, I am glad you are bringing some life back to your bike; good luck with it!

and here is another vintage Steyr I saw at a flea market in Vienna - this one must have been 1920s or so!

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2745/4130223099_c69e6e495f_o.jpg

Wow, looks like the front brake clamps down onto the tire.Love the unique head badge and the handle bars remind me of a bird in flight,Very graceful.

Wow, looks like the front brake clamps down onto the tire.Love the unique head badge and the handle bars remind me of a bird in flight,Very graceful.

Yup called a spoon brake, it is similar to what was used on the Penny Farthings, amazing how far braking technology hadn't advanced in 70 years. :D

Aaron :)

Steyr 3 speed

Here are some more recent pictures; added Kool-stops

http://s726.photobucket.com/albums/ww265/threespeeder56/Steyr/?action=view&current=steyrkoolstop.jpg#!oZZ1QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs726.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww265%2Fthree speeder56%2FSteyr%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3Dsteyr1.jpg

nick

this is mi bike! 3 gear steyr daimler puch 1969 the one´s sold in USA conmemorating 100 years (1864-1964)



The rest of the pics:
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore7Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore6Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore5Medium-1.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore3Medium.jpg
http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w254/psu15540/SteyrBefore4Medium.jpg

Wrey, your Steyr Tourist deLuxe looks great! I have one I acquired from an older brother, and now I want to restore it. It is similar to yours in most ways, but is red - nice original color, but tarnished & splattered badly. Couple things: mine does have a chain guard; perhaps with specs you could have a duplicate made. Also mine did have a kickstand, but it was broken. Luckily the base of it remained, and is stamped "Made in Germany" on one side and "Patent Pletscher" on the other. An internet search found the company, and they are now based in Switzerland, and have one like it for $28. The front axle is imprinted "Styria" and "Made in Austria" but has no number to give a clue as to the year. Rear axle has no embossing other than "3-GANG" which I surmise to be German for "3 speed" since I think "gang" is a form of a German verb, gehen (to go). I would like to know if you still have and/or use your Steyr Tourist Deluxe.