Originally Posted by
frameteam2003
Can't say much on your bike but Swift dates back to at least 1891.Built by Coventry Machinists Co.,Cheylesmore Works,Coventry.M.A.Holbein road 361 miles 1446 yards in 24 hours at herne track in 1891 on a Swift to set a new record.
So just jump on your Swift and ride it 362 miles in 24 hours and beat his distance....I pushed 25 miles today and I'm dying!!!
Thanks! I thought/assumed that the machine was made in Coventry but the seat-tube decal says "Swift....Birmingham."
Poor decal and not a brilliant photo!
I think they got taken over by another company at some point and may have had a factory in Birmingham.
Seems odd though, that it should be called the Swift Cheylesmore if it was actually made in Birmingham.
There is another (poorer) decal on the down-tube so I'm certain of the name and model.
Not sure I want to attempt the distance/endurance record just yet, because I had the rear wheel off to clean and check this morning and the free-wheel is a little 'gritty,' so I want to fix that before using it.
Even then I'm not too sure, because I'm 1946 vintage myself!!