Two of my bikes came with histories:

My 1949 Raleigh Clubman was given in 1950 to the father of the guy I bought it from, a pharmacist in Milwaukee, to settle a debt. It then stayed in that family until last year, when I became the third owner.

My lady's 1939 Raleigh Tourist I bought from someone who had owned the bike since the late 1940s; she had been a nun, living in a convent, and a friend had been given the bike by one of the moguls in the Newport, RI, area. I think it was quite well taken care of.

Neal