650B French goodness: Oscar Egg Swoop Mixte
06-09-11, 02:35 PM
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650B French goodness: Oscar Egg Swoop Mixte
Decided to visit the local 'old-time' shop. Haven't been there in a while, but he usually has an interesting bike or two on the floor. Also, he's got a basement full of mostly 3-speed stuff, including some early Phillips and Hercules frames, possibly pre-Raleigh.
Anyway, this Oscar Egg mixte was sitting on his floor offered at a fairly attractive price. Apparently, a customer of his had refurbished it. I'm fairly certain the original wheels would have been 650B, but it is currently sporting a set of 26 x 1 3/8", which matches 650B pretty closely.
I've never owned early French like this, so naturally I had to have it. Not sure what I'll do with it now, however. It's a 48cm frame, not exactly my size.
Anyone think this might be pre-war, or does it look more like 50's vintage?
Anyway, this Oscar Egg mixte was sitting on his floor offered at a fairly attractive price. Apparently, a customer of his had refurbished it. I'm fairly certain the original wheels would have been 650B, but it is currently sporting a set of 26 x 1 3/8", which matches 650B pretty closely.
I've never owned early French like this, so naturally I had to have it. Not sure what I'll do with it now, however. It's a 48cm frame, not exactly my size.
Anyone think this might be pre-war, or does it look more like 50's vintage?
06-09-11, 02:39 PM
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Stunning bike! Well done on the find.
I would say it was a 1950's bike but i'm just guessing so don't quote me on that.
I would say it was a 1950's bike but i'm just guessing so don't quote me on that.
06-09-11, 02:43 PM
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06-09-11, 02:45 PM
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Very cool! That looks like a braze on for a Cyclo shifter on the top tube, so originally it was probably a 3 or 4 speed.
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06-09-11, 02:48 PM
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06-09-11, 02:52 PM
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Yep, the shop owner confirmed that. I left my number and asked if he could check if the seller still had the original wheels and derailleur system, or anything else.
06-09-11, 02:54 PM
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Last edited by JReade; 06-09-11 at 02:57 PM.
06-09-11, 04:12 PM
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Very cool. It would likely have had an Osgear Super Champion deraileur and lever on it. Similar to the Simplex or cyclo of the time. I'd say Mid-1950s.
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06-09-11, 04:25 PM
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Very, very nice! Congrats!
06-09-11, 05:00 PM
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Styling is stunning.
Come to think of it, I have a bike like that in my garage. It sat outside for years, so it's completely rusted, but it might be worth a restore. I don't remember what brand it is.
Come to think of it, I have a bike like that in my garage. It sat outside for years, so it's completely rusted, but it might be worth a restore. I don't remember what brand it is.
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06-09-11, 05:12 PM
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Man, you are going to be the envy of all the girls! I suggest you set it aside as your daughter's 12th birthday present.
I think I count 40 spokes rear, 36 front? Do the rims match one another? What's the front hub; French? And how 'bout a date on the SA; if it's a TCW it's likely been on there for 40+ years.
Anyway, that would be highly cool if the former owner turned out to have the original gears and all the other parts along with letters from Oscar Egg, photos of the original owner on her epic round-the-world tour in 1953 and do on, but I'll be pretty surprised if you get anything at all. In which case, I'd say cut your losses, rebuild with a better hub (a 50's AW with 36H alloy shell would be perfect, though a little hard to find) Being a French bike you really have to go with 36 spokes. With an AW and a dynohub this could be a very useful little bicycle!
I think I count 40 spokes rear, 36 front? Do the rims match one another? What's the front hub; French? And how 'bout a date on the SA; if it's a TCW it's likely been on there for 40+ years.
Anyway, that would be highly cool if the former owner turned out to have the original gears and all the other parts along with letters from Oscar Egg, photos of the original owner on her epic round-the-world tour in 1953 and do on, but I'll be pretty surprised if you get anything at all. In which case, I'd say cut your losses, rebuild with a better hub (a 50's AW with 36H alloy shell would be perfect, though a little hard to find) Being a French bike you really have to go with 36 spokes. With an AW and a dynohub this could be a very useful little bicycle!
06-09-11, 05:35 PM
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nice!
you're going to be the envy of all the other girls for sure.
you're going to be the envy of all the other girls for sure.
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06-09-11, 05:38 PM
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rhm, you quirky man! A regular AW will be fine. They're all over the place and inexpensive.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
06-09-11, 06:16 PM
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Man, you are going to be the envy of all the girls! I suggest you set it aside as your daughter's 12th birthday present.
I think I count 40 spokes rear, 36 front? Do the rims match one another? What's the front hub; French? And how 'bout a date on the SA; if it's a TCW it's likely been on there for 40+ years.
Anyway, that would be highly cool if the former owner turned out to have the original gears and all the other parts along with letters from Oscar Egg, photos of the original owner on her epic round-the-world tour in 1953 and do on, but I'll be pretty surprised if you get anything at all. In which case, I'd say cut your losses, rebuild with a better hub (a 50's AW with 36H alloy shell would be perfect, though a little hard to find) Being a French bike you really have to go with 36 spokes. With an AW and a dynohub this could be a very useful little bicycle!
I think I count 40 spokes rear, 36 front? Do the rims match one another? What's the front hub; French? And how 'bout a date on the SA; if it's a TCW it's likely been on there for 40+ years.
Anyway, that would be highly cool if the former owner turned out to have the original gears and all the other parts along with letters from Oscar Egg, photos of the original owner on her epic round-the-world tour in 1953 and do on, but I'll be pretty surprised if you get anything at all. In which case, I'd say cut your losses, rebuild with a better hub (a 50's AW with 36H alloy shell would be perfect, though a little hard to find) Being a French bike you really have to go with 36 spokes. With an AW and a dynohub this could be a very useful little bicycle!
I've thought about keeping it for my 6 year old daughter. Having recently installed a dyno lighting system on the Kogswell, she's on the hunt for her own bike lighting. However, I showed her this one and she was unimpressed. Go figure. Additionally, if we remain where we are currently living, it's really an impractical bike.
Honestly, I had two thoughts when I bought it. Part out, or act as a middleman to get it to someone who can use and appreciate it. I suppose I could have let the shop owner act as that middleman, instead of trying to act as an auxiliary middleman, but what fun is that?
You're green with envy, aren't you?
06-09-11, 08:20 PM
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You can definitely sell that. Well, I could. Women here go for style.
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06-10-11, 05:35 AM
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06-10-11, 06:11 AM
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I'm curious to how much a french bike like this would sell for in the States.
Can you PM me what you paid for it and how much you think it is worth?
If you don't want to and wish to ignore this then no problem
Can you PM me what you paid for it and how much you think it is worth?
If you don't want to and wish to ignore this then no problem
06-10-11, 08:52 AM
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Thinking of starting an export/import business, Dave? I have ogled your bikes and find them to my taste. I think a venture like that would do well in a larger city with a college, especially for older bikes with a little patina and a lot of panache.
A friend of mine and I were going to start importing Raleigh 20's from their homeland where they're cheap and plentiful. We even looked into the price of renting a container from Liverpool to Houston- a half-container was only $800, and would conservatively hold 100 bikes (200 folding bikes). If you only expect about $100 profit on each, that's $10K. Conservatively. A little polishing and mechaniking and the profit could double. It would be a nice little supplement to an income. The problem is finding enough bikes to fill the container.
BTW- I'd pay $400 for that bike. If it were my wife's size and my garage weren't full of bikes already. But I'm a cheapskate- just a data point.
A friend of mine and I were going to start importing Raleigh 20's from their homeland where they're cheap and plentiful. We even looked into the price of renting a container from Liverpool to Houston- a half-container was only $800, and would conservatively hold 100 bikes (200 folding bikes). If you only expect about $100 profit on each, that's $10K. Conservatively. A little polishing and mechaniking and the profit could double. It would be a nice little supplement to an income. The problem is finding enough bikes to fill the container.
BTW- I'd pay $400 for that bike. If it were my wife's size and my garage weren't full of bikes already. But I'm a cheapskate- just a data point.
06-10-11, 06:39 PM
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Thinking of starting an export/import business, Dave? I have ogled your bikes and find them to my taste. I think a venture like that would do well in a larger city with a college, especially for older bikes with a little patina and a lot of panache.
A friend of mine and I were going to start importing Raleigh 20's from their homeland where they're cheap and plentiful. We even looked into the price of renting a container from Liverpool to Houston- a half-container was only $800, and would conservatively hold 100 bikes (200 folding bikes). If you only expect about $100 profit on each, that's $10K. Conservatively. A little polishing and mechaniking and the profit could double. It would be a nice little supplement to an income. The problem is finding enough bikes to fill the container.
BTW- I'd pay $400 for that bike. If it were my wife's size and my garage weren't full of bikes already. But I'm a cheapskate- just a data point.
A friend of mine and I were going to start importing Raleigh 20's from their homeland where they're cheap and plentiful. We even looked into the price of renting a container from Liverpool to Houston- a half-container was only $800, and would conservatively hold 100 bikes (200 folding bikes). If you only expect about $100 profit on each, that's $10K. Conservatively. A little polishing and mechaniking and the profit could double. It would be a nice little supplement to an income. The problem is finding enough bikes to fill the container.
BTW- I'd pay $400 for that bike. If it were my wife's size and my garage weren't full of bikes already. But I'm a cheapskate- just a data point.
I've sold my first bike internationaly and the sale went very well.
The buyer loved the bike and from france to the USA it took 7 days for delivery.
It was a bit of a pain to package the bike though as it was slightly over the weight limit and so i had to add some parts to a separate box, which added another 40 euros.
But overall it was a good experience and so i'm interested in selling others but i need to find a way of advertising bikes without Ebay fees etc.
11-13-16, 06:00 PM
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Oscar egg bike
I have a very small size Oscar egg bicycle It appears to be in a worn unloved condition but it is all there it has a leather seat also a leather little bag that hangs off of the rack I have pictures of it but I just don't know who could authenticate what I have and could place a value on it Glarassa@aol.com