General Cycling Discussion - 1912 Picture of Shop in Detroit

http://www.shorpy.com/node/9414?size=_original

Interesting that some of the new bikes I see today look a lot like the ones here.

Single-speed, upright bars, white balloon tires, sprung leather saddles... some would say the bikes were better than today's.

I don't think they would feel much more diferent than today's beach cruiser. Who knows, those bikes could still be on the road today.

The tires in the US were all tubulars without an inner tube until the '33 Schwinns, and maybe a few imports.

What's with all the phonographs? The owner having a tough time making a living selling bikes? Or is it really a phonograph shop that's selling bikes to get by?

;)

I see an Indian as well. I think this is the same Metzger:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._Metzger

The tires in the US were all tubulars without an inner tube until the '33 Schwinns, and maybe a few imports.

Tubulars have an inner tube, it's sewed up in tire. That's why they're also called "sew ups".

Ah, the good old days, when you only had to choose between white, gray, and black bikes. :)

Super cool, thanks for the share!

I see an Indian as well. I think this is the same Metzger:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._Metzger

It is the same Metzger. He was instrumental in promoting bicycle, cars, and airplanes in Detroit and beyond.
http://www.m-bike.org/blog/2010/12/11/metzger-bicycle-shop-in-1912/

Single-speed, upright bars, white balloon tires, sprung leather saddles... some would say the bikes were better than today's.


Ah, the good old days, when you only had to choose between white, gray, and black bikes. :)

I guess you guys are being nostalgic, but this is crap.

With all the new tech, everybody can get a bike that fits their needs and riding style.

I guess you guys are being nostalgic, but this is crap.

With all the new tech, everybody can get a bike that fits their needs and riding style.

My comment was mostly tongue-in-cheek. I do prefer leather saddles, steel frames, and wide tires. My commuter is a single-speed. Oh, and the commuter is grey too. :lol:

Single-speed, upright bars, white balloon tires, sprung leather saddles...

There were hipsters back then too???

My comment was mostly tongue-in-cheek. I do prefer leather saddles, steel frames, and wide tires. My commuter is a single-speed. Oh, and the commuter is grey too. :lol:
Righto. It sounds like our bikes are nearly twins :P (though 28 mm tires are edging a little close to "narrow").

What's with all the phonographs? The owner having a tough time making a living selling bikes? Or is it really a phonograph shop that's selling bikes to get by?

;)

Well how else are they going to get muzak in their store back then?

Righto. It sounds like our bikes are nearly twins :P (though 28 mm tires are edging a little close to "narrow").

Close. 32s on my commuter - narrowest tires I own.

Those appear to be phonograph cylinders occupying the cubbies in the cabinetry on the right wall. Anyone else have a better idea? Disc records had been commercially available for twenty years when this photo was taken, but cylinders were still (apparently) readily available. Technology was a slower animal then.

Got records (discs?) on the left wall. Yup things moved A LOT slower back then.

Aaron :)

Tubulars have an inner tube, it's sewed up in tire. That's why they're also called "sew ups".Those tires didn't. They also were vulcanized as a tube and were not sewn up. They had to be repaired from the outside if punctured. They did, however, make for a less expensive wheelset and tires.

Had that pic as my desktop for awhile, had no idea where it was taken.

picture is too small, can't see a thing. can anybody blow it up for me?

I see an Indian as well. I think this is the same Metzger:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._Metzger

Thanks for posting, Metzger was an interesting guy.

I was in the National Air and Space Museum this spring. I got to see a Wright St. Clair bicycle in the Wright Brothers exhibit. It really was a pretty modern bike, a fixie with mustache bars, steel frame, tires close to a 26 x 1.25, what I run on my utility bike. Considering how rough the roads were then, I don't think you'd want skinnier tires.

I also noticed that Indian on the left side of the shop. That's one of the goofiest looking rear fenders ever.
Wikipedia has a better picture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IndianHedstrom.jpg

I also noticed that Indian on the left side of the shop. That's one of the goofiest looking rear fenders ever.
Wikipedia has a better picture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IndianHedstrom.jpg

I noticed a small handle? on the top of the fender, perhaps it's a small cavity for carrying built into the fender.

I noticed a small handle? on the top of the fender, perhaps it's a small cavity for carrying built into the fender.

Some of those early machines were really off the wall. That might be a fuel or oil tank. I found this picture on the National Motorcycle Museum website. http://www.nationalmcmuseum.org/
It definately shows a line from the tank.

By the way, I highly recommend this museum. They have a nice collection of very early bicycles in addition to the motorcycles.

Hey, look. A bunch of Brooks saddles.

I don't see any helmets for sale.

I also noticed that Indian on the left side of the shop. That's one of the goofiest looking rear fenders ever.
Wikipedia has a better picture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IndianHedstrom.jpg


Definitely a fuel tank, not sure why it's mounted to the rear fender, maybe some old motorcycle buffs could chime in on that one.

no lugz? fake.

Bicycles may not have changed much, but even the blue collar workers were dressed well... Now that is something to be nostalgic for!

Definitely a fuel tank, not sure why it's mounted to the rear fender, maybe some old motorcycle buffs could chime in on that one.So you could pedal!

So you could pedal!

Some things become real obvious once they're explained to you.

Some things become real obvious once they're explained to you.

Yup, it was called a camelback tank, and it held both fuel and oil. Early motorcycles were basically motorized bicycles and were equipped with pedals, and often didn't have clutches - that meant the engine stalled every time you stopped. You would pedal to get up to speed and then fire the engine and let it take over.

I don't see any helmets for sale.
That's why all the bike riders from 1912 are now dead.

No. I don't agree. Look at the Fork Crowns. They are all flat. The forks on todays bicycles have welded crowns, much beefier.

Are those gigantic horns on the left side, as large as umbrella??? My God.

Are those gigantic horns on the left side, as large as umbrella??? My God.


Ah, the good ol' days, instead of turning up a volume knob, just get a bigger amplifying horn.

Ah, the good ol' days, instead of turning up a volume knob, just get a bigger amplifying horn.

I was joking, but you make it sound like for real?? Are they really horns used on bikes??? How do you mount it and wouldn't it affect the balance?