southland?
 

This is a friend of mine's bike: southland

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../southland.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...hlandbadge.jpg

He wants to know more about it, history of the brand, original paint scheme, restoration tips etc.
I told him to check CR and oldroads, any input here? Thanks -

There's no school like the old school.

Or an old thread.

that thread was so LY.
He actually just picked up the bike this weekend (was in storage).

That bike may outlive us all. Compliments to your friend, sorry that I can't shed any light on Southlands. Out of curiosity,
what size tires are those, and do the hubs bear any markings as to manufacturer?

I'll ask him. If the tires are not size-marked, what should be measured, the rim dia. or the outer edge of the tire?

I'm not 100 percent on this, but I gleaned from Sheldon Brown's fine article
http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html
that two possibilities are 26x2.125 "balloon tire" size, fits a rim which is close to an actual 26" diameter,
AND
26x1.75 "middleweight" tires that fit a rim of about 25 5/8" diameter.
Since I unfortunately can't tell you much about the bike, don't bother measuring the wheels on my behalf...
especially since those may be the original tires!

I don't think so. Those are wood rims, and "single tube" tires. Most likely designated 28 x 1 1/2". This was the standard adult size in the early part of the last century. The rim is the same size as a "modern" tubular.

http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_sa-o.html#singletube

Bobby Walthour was a noted track racer in the days before WWI. That bike probably dates from the 'teens or 'twenties.

If it rides as nicely as my 1916 Mead Ranger, you're in luck!

http://sheldonbrown.org/ranger.html

Sheldon "Oldie" Brown

Fascinating info! Many thanks Mr. Brown. And thanks for bringing this venerable bike to C&V, Norskagent.

Here is my friend's reply:

"The tires are 28". I forgot to write down the brand name. It
has a Morrow coaster brake. Hubs are too greasy to see anything. Guess
I need to tear it down and look for clues.

I've seen pics of several Iver Johnsons from that time period. The guy
I talked to about it before said Iver Johnson made a lot of truss frame
bikes like that and other companys would put their logo on it. The Iver
Johnsons I've seen have a differnet chain ring pattern. Mine is the
only truss frame I've seen with the circle pattern."