Really old Bridgestone
 

Pics first:

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...ngel/br1-1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...ngel/br2-1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...ingel/br10.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...aingel/br6.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...aingel/br8.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...ngel/br3-1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...aingel/br9.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...aingel/br7.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...ngel/br4-1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...ngel/br5-1.jpg

It's pretty awesome...everything, including the bell and the seat, is stamped BS. The chaincase is almost totally sealed, so the bike still rides smoothly. The front brake sucks, but the rear drum brake actually works pretty well. It even came with a hood ornament, a wheel lock, mud flaps, and a very serious kickstand. Any thoughts on the age? The guy I bought it from said 1948, but I forgot to ask him how he got that. I can't find a date stamp anywhere, and the hub shells are caked with rust. The whole thing is rusty, but the tubes aren't bad and the drivetrain is still really good, and I thought I'd kick myself later if I didn't get it. Oh, and it weighs 8,000 pounds. No joke.

That is a cool bike!
Tom

Wow!!!!

I dont know the timeline of the Bridgestones but sure am wondering if there's any way to breath life back into that beautiful orig saddle... maybe some bee's wax or a small amount of mink oil to revitalize it??

What a gorgeous find!

Is that a key in the wheel lock!!?? Those handlebars and the "cast iron look" of the rear rack sure do look like 40's

That's what I was thinking too...it's really dry, but not cracked.

That bike is the coolest! Good luck with the saddle!

maybe from the bridgestone kabuki line? check to see if the "lugs" are all steel or aluminum. or maybe one of the bridgestones named after constellations? someone here knows. i don't know. i love the the front brakes and hood ornament.

:beer:

I had been watching that on the Portland craigslist. Is a really cool find.

Yeah, I saw it a few weeks ago and it was pretty pricey. Yesterday he listed it at $125, and then today at $80. I don't have a car so he delivered it, but it's sort of hard to haggle if someone's doing that for you. Oh well...I'm happy having paid that for it, especially considering that it's ridable until I restore it. I just rode it to the store! It's pretty amazing how smoothly the drivetrain is running considering the rust on the rest of the bike...why did chain cases never catch on?

Bigwoo, there's no key:(

I'm not usually a big fan of that style bike but the "hood" ornament alone makes me wish I had that bike. Nice find.

I see a very large amount of oxalic acid in your future :D

Heres a bike Ive shared with you guys on a couple other occasions, Im posting it here just to show the fender ornament :D Nice bike you got there! Real sweetness! Congrats!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...nthingy004.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...nthingy005.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...nthingy002.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y16...nthingy001.jpg

I'd pay $80.

That saddle looks like you could use the leather from a Brooks B72 if the original stuff won't play nice.

I wonder at what point in time they realized that 'BS' monogram wasn't such a great idea in English-speaking markets. Reminds me of GM trying to sell the Chevy Nova (No va!? Carumba!) in Latin America.

That's an interesting idea...how would I attach it though? I have a pop-rivet gun, but I'm pretty sure those wouldn't hold up. Although on the Hercules the leather is a separate piece with clips that are attached with pop-rivets, and the clips just go over the saddle frame...so maybe they would. If the original stuff rips, I guess it'll be another project:D It does seem pretty decent, although my experience with leather is minimal.

And yeah, the fact that BS is stamped all over the bike, plus the hood ornament, is definitely pretty ridiculous. And Bridgestone isn't even 2 words! ..well, I guess they are, but it's not how the compant writes it.

That chain guard could stop a bullet. How does the front brake work? Are you sure its only 8000 pounds? Do thay still make those wheel locks? If I get my jet pilot do you want to race?

The front brake pulls the pad up against the underside of the rim. And I guess 8000 pounds was a little bit high, but our household guess is an honest 55-60. Gravity almost knocked me down the stairs with it.

:roflmao:

tolfan, I bet you could beat this Bridgestone in a fair race!

East Hill

I have seen rivets available on the interwebs, I just can't remember where.

You can most likely get copper rivets at a tent and awning store, too.

I think you can get rivets from Wallbike. IIRC they are a bucked rivet, where you put the rivet thru the leather and the hole in the saddle frame, then us an bucking bar on the underside and a hammer/tool on the upper side. FWIW that is the way my Airstreams are put together and it isn't as hard as it sounds just a bit time consuming:D

Aaron:)

I had no idea Bridgestone was that old a company. Neat bike.

The history of this bike would be interesting to find.Was this a product of Japan or Europe?Pre-war?post-war?It looks alot like the raleigh roadster but they were/are copied all over the world.I've never seen a BS that style or that old.Hmmmmmm......

Just from the look of the bike, Id guess Japanese, but only from the looks/styling :)

Yup...some of the decals are even written in Japanese. Headbadge says Tokyo.

Yup, that Grant sure made some cool bikes..

I'd have to guess post-WWII.Did Bridgestone market these in the US? or did it belong to some serviceman stationed in Japan?an immigrant perhaps?I sort of have doubts about these being sold in the US.

Regardless of the history or mystery its a great bike!