Ever heard of a "Clipper"?
02-11-14, 09:39 PM
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Ever heard of a "Clipper"?
I picked this one up from the Milwaukee Bicycle Collective where I volunteer on a regular basis. I'm trying to find out a little bit more about the bike.
The headbadge and seat tube are marked "Clipper". A sticker on the seat tube indicates the bike was made in Japan. The rear hub is a Shimano 333. The lugwork is simple. Pump pegs are present. The handlebars and stem give a nod to British design. The crankset is of the cottered variety. The tires are 26 x 1 3/8" (ISO 590).
Can anyone shed a little more light on the Clipper brand or this bike in particular? I can surmise that it was probably imported in the 1970s, but not much beyond that. My internet searches have yielded very little information. These bikes seem to be somewhat of a rare bird.
The headbadge and seat tube are marked "Clipper". A sticker on the seat tube indicates the bike was made in Japan. The rear hub is a Shimano 333. The lugwork is simple. Pump pegs are present. The handlebars and stem give a nod to British design. The crankset is of the cottered variety. The tires are 26 x 1 3/8" (ISO 590).
Can anyone shed a little more light on the Clipper brand or this bike in particular? I can surmise that it was probably imported in the 1970s, but not much beyond that. My internet searches have yielded very little information. These bikes seem to be somewhat of a rare bird.
Last edited by Aleksandr; 02-11-14 at 09:44 PM. Reason: Photos
02-11-14, 09:52 PM
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My guess is it was a private label built for a retail store like Joe the Motorist Friend or Drug Fair, Kings or Nichols, Grants, Town and Country.... OH TG&Y out west 
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02-12-14, 12:21 AM
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I've seen early Japanese road bikes around these parts labeled "Cal Clipper".
02-12-14, 12:30 AM
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We rode around in a Packard "Clipper" when I was a boy. But I think it weighed about 6,000 lbs.
02-12-14, 01:37 AM
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02-12-14, 02:27 AM
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I'm pretty sure I have. Just can't remember when or where. 
Maybe a rebranded Dutch build?
Edit: like the bike, BTW. That should clean up beautifully.
Maybe a rebranded Dutch build?Edit: like the bike, BTW. That should clean up beautifully.
Last edited by non-fixie; 02-12-14 at 02:37 AM.
02-12-14, 07:10 AM
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There was one in Yuma when I was stationed there back in.....well a few years ago. But not so long ago that I saw many packards LOL
I agree with non-fixie it looks like a nice bike should be a great rider with a little elbow grease. a chromed plastic chainguard should be pretty easy to find and would be a nice touch.
I agree with non-fixie it looks like a nice bike should be a great rider with a little elbow grease. a chromed plastic chainguard should be pretty easy to find and would be a nice touch.
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02-12-14, 09:10 AM
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There's a level of detail on this bike (just look at that head badge!) that makes me think this bike was more than a department store bike. But I certainly could be wrong.
02-12-14, 09:37 AM
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Does it have a country of origin sticker? It looks English to me. It's also very handsome. I'm not a fan of the 333 hub, but it might work out fine for you. The rest of the bike is fine, too.
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02-12-14, 03:05 PM
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Have a look at this thread. Similar proposition, and we did some digging into the history.
02-12-14, 09:25 PM
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