Age of Columbia Torpedo bike
04-23-21, 12:30 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Age of Columbia Torpedo bike
I was tasked with fixing up this Columbia Torpedo for a friend. It didn't need much! It mostly needed air in the tires and a good cleaning,. I took it all apart and put it back together again and it's in great shape.
I can't find much about these online. Does anyone know approximately what year it was built? It seems to me that it's intentionally designed for a time when people were infatuated with space and the future, while also being very functional.
I can't find much about these online. Does anyone know approximately what year it was built? It seems to me that it's intentionally designed for a time when people were infatuated with space and the future, while also being very functional.
Likes For jfny1978:
04-23-21, 01:19 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 11,728
Mentioned: 328 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2829 Post(s)
Liked 1,364 Times
in
999 Posts
-----
thank you for sharing this project!
this cycle will be right up the street of the experts over at thecabe.com forum
they are primarily concerned with U.S. brands of balloon and semi-balloon type machines
registration there is without cost
-----
thank you for sharing this project!
this cycle will be right up the street of the experts over at thecabe.com forum
they are primarily concerned with U.S. brands of balloon and semi-balloon type machines
registration there is without cost
-----
04-23-21, 01:24 PM
#3
3rd Grade Dropout
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Santa Barbara Calif.
Posts: 1,535
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 242 Post(s)
Liked 311 Times
in
147 Posts
Love the name "Torpedo".
Condition and construction have me thinking 1960's. The squared leading edge of the "gas tank" is definitely reminiscent of that time frame with Columbia in my observations.
Condition and construction have me thinking 1960's. The squared leading edge of the "gas tank" is definitely reminiscent of that time frame with Columbia in my observations.
Likes For Erzulis Boat:
04-23-21, 01:29 PM
#6
3rd Grade Dropout
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Santa Barbara Calif.
Posts: 1,535
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 242 Post(s)
Liked 311 Times
in
147 Posts
Most that I have seen in real life had a stamped rear luggage rack, the tubular one with the taillights is very cool.
04-23-21, 09:54 PM
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Boulder County, CO
Posts: 3,456
Bikes: '79 Gios, '80 Masi, '06 Felt, early '60s Frejus
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Liked 123 Times
in
92 Posts
Yours has the '60s "thinline" tank. My sister had the girls' version of that. Mine was the late '50s style, full with a scalloped cutaway deal in the back. For knee clearance, maybe? The headlight, riveted to the front fender was the first casualty. Then the horn rusted out.
It was stolen in '62.
Westfield was was a skip and a jump across the Connecticut River, where I grew up. Columbia also made the school furniture we sat at all day.
It was stolen in '62.
Westfield was was a skip and a jump across the Connecticut River, where I grew up. Columbia also made the school furniture we sat at all day.
Last edited by oldbobcat; 04-23-21 at 09:59 PM.
04-23-21, 09:55 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Boulder County, CO
Posts: 3,456
Bikes: '79 Gios, '80 Masi, '06 Felt, early '60s Frejus
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 163 Post(s)
Liked 123 Times
in
92 Posts
Originally Posted by jfny1978
Wow, is that just supposed to look like a gas tank, and for purely aesthetic purposes?
04-24-21, 09:22 AM
#9
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 8,836
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Mentioned: 32 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2056 Post(s)
Liked 1,999 Times
in
1,243 Posts
Likes For dedhed:
