Not lugged but certainly vintage...
07-22-10, 11:27 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Not lugged but certainly vintage...
While stumbling across the net I came across this and thought I should share this seriously vintage ride. Anyone know anything else about this/these bikes?
More pictures at the original site.
https://fixedgeargallery.com/
This is my great-great grandfather's bike from 1896! Yes, it's that old, and the crazy part is the frame is made out of cast aluminum, it was made by the Lu-Mi-Num company in St. Louis. Their logo is cast in the head tube. For some perspective on age, the Wright brothers first flight was 6 years after this bike was built, (first flight was in 1903). I understand this to be one of the first aluminum bicycles ever made. The rims are original and made of wood. They are quite wide and set up for tubulars much wider than anything made today- Wheel Size: 27". The bike is fixed and uses a skip tooth chain. The saddle is a new Brooks B-17 special. The lamp on the front is a "Cyclops" brass kerosene lamp made by the Manhattan Brass Co. in 1896. The last little accent are the handmade wooden valve caps, made by a colleague of mine.
More pictures at the original site.
https://fixedgeargallery.com/
Last edited by sauze; 07-22-10 at 11:51 AM.
07-22-10, 11:41 AM
#2
Buh'wah?!
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WOW! Look at that top tube. The whole thing looks practically brand new.
That's spectacular. Thing is probably worth a fortune.
-Gene-
That's spectacular. Thing is probably worth a fortune.
-Gene-
07-22-10, 12:07 PM
#4
Senior Member
Man, that thing is cool!
07-22-10, 12:10 PM
#5
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I can't tell if that beast has a coaster brake. If not, how do you stop? Wedge your foot between the front wheel and fork?!
07-22-10, 12:33 PM
#9
Ride heavy metal.
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Yeah...I don't know, it's clearly not meant for speed, as one can tell by the chainwheel. Perhaps if it was just a slow moving, short burst/point a to point b bike you wouldn't necessarily need foot retention?
07-22-10, 12:50 PM
#11
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Just proves to show that FG/SS "hipsters" were around way before us multispeed roadies were!
Cheers to Gramps and his Kewhhlll ride!!
Betcha he took that little headlamp with him under the sheets to secretly look at those "racey" corset and bloomer ads in the Sears catalogues....
Chombi
Cheers to Gramps and his Kewhhlll ride!!
Betcha he took that little headlamp with him under the sheets to secretly look at those "racey" corset and bloomer ads in the Sears catalogues....
Chombi
07-22-10, 02:52 PM
#13
Banned
Just thinking about how the Molds were made to cast a frame in one go.
and repeat the pour many times. Wax investments or Green sand in a 3 part mold.
Rear triangle means a 3rd mold portion wedged in between 2 outside ones ..
Or a steel die cast sort of mold tooling..
and repeat the pour many times. Wax investments or Green sand in a 3 part mold.
Rear triangle means a 3rd mold portion wedged in between 2 outside ones ..
Or a steel die cast sort of mold tooling..
07-22-10, 02:57 PM
#15
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And to think that Aluminum in the 1800's was very expensive....this bike must be close to unobtainium to most mortals back then!
Grampa must have been loaded??! It's recession time!, Where'd he bury all the gold!
Chombi
Grampa must have been loaded??! It's recession time!, Where'd he bury all the gold!
Chombi
07-22-10, 03:51 PM
#18
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do I see one of the new fangled integrated headsets? cool bike could it have been a 'working bike'? like western union or police?
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
07-22-10, 03:58 PM
#19
Steel is real, baby!
Nice headlight.
07-22-10, 04:46 PM
#20
PanGalacticGargleBlaster
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is it just me or is the Downtube ovalized at the BB shell?
and why is there a drilled brake bridge? They didn't have caliper brakes in 1896 did they?
I'm not 100% convinced this isn't a clever ruse.
and why is there a drilled brake bridge? They didn't have caliper brakes in 1896 did they?
I'm not 100% convinced this isn't a clever ruse.
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07-22-10, 05:22 PM
#21
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I would just like to say: That is STUNNINGLY gorgeous!
I never had a dream bike before, but i think this just became it.
I never had a dream bike before, but i think this just became it.
07-22-10, 05:28 PM
#22
Lost Again
I love that seat post.
As far as the rear brake drilling, I's suspect that was done much later when someone added a brake for awhile.
As far as the rear brake drilling, I's suspect that was done much later when someone added a brake for awhile.
07-22-10, 05:33 PM
#23
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chombi
Chombi
07-22-10, 05:36 PM
#24
www.theheadbadge.com
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Bring on the conspiracy theorists and the folks who say that the fork is a silver-painted Schwinn Ashtabula balooner job 
-Kurt
-Kurt
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07-22-10, 05:45 PM
#25
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There is too much that is right about this machine. It's no ruse.