Identifying Old Coventry Bicycle?
04-17-18, 11:39 AM
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Identifying Old Coventry Bicycle?
I hope I've attached a picture of a rather dapper looking cyclist. The gentleman is my great granddad Harry. It would have been taken maybe around 1900-1910 in Coventry. Can anyone identify the make of bicycle?
Thanks for any info anyone has
Thanks for any info anyone has
04-17-18, 11:41 AM
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Hello Sarah! That's a great photograph. You might have more luck finding someone who knows about such a venerable machine over at The Classic and Antique Bicycle Exchange (C.A.B.E.) forum. There are certainly folks here who might be able to help, but that's where most of the fellows who are really into early bicycles hang out.
https://thecabe.com/forum/
https://thecabe.com/forum/
04-17-18, 01:08 PM
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It would help if we knew where that photo was taken. It appears to be a fixed gear from the photo. Is that a toe strap on the drive side; I don't see one on the left?
I enlarged the image in order to read the logo on the chaincase, but that didn't work for me.
I enlarged the image in order to read the logo on the chaincase, but that didn't work for me.
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Last edited by dweenk; 04-17-18 at 01:15 PM.
04-18-18, 07:00 AM
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Note the fastback seat stays!
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04-18-18, 10:40 AM
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I'd say it's a roadster, rather than a racer; the bolt-on chain stays were a common feature.
By 1900 most bikes of this kind had a horizontal top tube, so I suspect this bike is a bit earlier.
The logo on the chain case looks like it should be almost legible. two letters plus Rex? or Roy?
If you browse the Veteran Cycle Club online library, you will find many catalogs of English bike companies of the 1890's; I'd look at those (I didn't find Rex or Roy there; there was a Rex company, but it was in Chicago; so a dud). But you will find most bikes of this kind look pretty much alike, and many are shown without the chain case, which obscures some details that could be useful.
The closest I found, before I quit, was this:
https://www.veterancycleclublibrary.o...20Library).pdf
By 1900 most bikes of this kind had a horizontal top tube, so I suspect this bike is a bit earlier.
The logo on the chain case looks like it should be almost legible. two letters plus Rex? or Roy?
If you browse the Veteran Cycle Club online library, you will find many catalogs of English bike companies of the 1890's; I'd look at those (I didn't find Rex or Roy there; there was a Rex company, but it was in Chicago; so a dud). But you will find most bikes of this kind look pretty much alike, and many are shown without the chain case, which obscures some details that could be useful.
The closest I found, before I quit, was this:
https://www.veterancycleclublibrary.o...20Library).pdf
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Last edited by rhm; 04-18-18 at 10:47 AM.
04-18-18, 03:34 PM
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Could be the lens and angle but that front wheel looks to be a smidge larger than the rear. Screen size measures 2 cm bigger 
04-19-18, 08:46 AM
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Yes. Did they make bikes with two different wheel sizes? It seems unlikely to me, so I'll assume some kind of optical distortion. In that case, the top tube is pretty close to horizontal.
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04-19-18, 02:22 PM
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A quick google glance shows some mistmatched wheels...hard to say I guess.
04-19-18, 02:28 PM
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04-22-18, 11:50 PM
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Sorry for the delay in replying - got caught up with work stuff.
Thanks for all the replies. Great grandad Harry had close links with both Coventry and Willenhall (nr Wolverhampton) and from some digging in the catalogues in the veteran cycle club library and some investigating by guys on the CABE forum the closest bike found so far is one made by the Sunbeam bike company in Wolverhampton - it is very similar to their Road Racer.
Harry also raced at the Rover Stadium in Coventry (now the Butts Stadium) so my dad suspected it might be a Rover bike.
The monogram on the chain case looks like could be a very fancy HR which is Harry's initials so it could be personal rather than manufacturer.
Thanks for all the replies. Great grandad Harry had close links with both Coventry and Willenhall (nr Wolverhampton) and from some digging in the catalogues in the veteran cycle club library and some investigating by guys on the CABE forum the closest bike found so far is one made by the Sunbeam bike company in Wolverhampton - it is very similar to their Road Racer.
Harry also raced at the Rover Stadium in Coventry (now the Butts Stadium) so my dad suspected it might be a Rover bike.
The monogram on the chain case looks like could be a very fancy HR which is Harry's initials so it could be personal rather than manufacturer.
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