Facilitating can be more fun than buying!
08-02-12, 06:11 PM
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Fat Guy on a Little Bike
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Facilitating can be more fun than buying!
Sometimes it's great to spend other people's money instead of my own (for once!). What made this one even more special is that the buyer is related to someone who was very important musically to me when I was in my 20s...in fact I had an email address named after this person. I can't be more specific for reasons of other people's privacy.
It turns out the seller knows many of the same people I know and is a CR lister. What's even more interesting is that I was in his home many times before he bought it; it used to be owned by a family with a kid my age and we were quite friendly. In fact, when I was 17 I prevented a burglary at that house.
Finally, the bike itself is quite interesting and was given to me with the original rubber tires (from 1913). Wow - plastics have come a long way (someone tell Dustin Hoffman).
Without further ado, a 1913 Mead Ranger:
It turns out the seller knows many of the same people I know and is a CR lister. What's even more interesting is that I was in his home many times before he bought it; it used to be owned by a family with a kid my age and we were quite friendly. In fact, when I was 17 I prevented a burglary at that house.
Finally, the bike itself is quite interesting and was given to me with the original rubber tires (from 1913). Wow - plastics have come a long way (someone tell Dustin Hoffman).
Without further ado, a 1913 Mead Ranger:
08-02-12, 06:44 PM
#3
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Wow, the stories that thing could tell... A little personal history to go with every scrape and scratch!
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08-02-12, 07:44 PM
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That is an exceedingly cool bike! WOW! I'd really love to see that bike in person, to say the least.
Last edited by photogravity; 08-02-12 at 09:01 PM.
08-02-12, 08:45 PM
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Just curious are those the actual original one piece wood rims or replicas. Very cool bike the nearly original condition is almost unbelieviable considering this bike is basicaly a hundred years old.
08-02-12, 08:51 PM
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Very cool!
To clarify, it was given to you with the original tires, but that's not what's on the bike now, correct? Those rims must have been refinished, they look awfully good for their age. Beautiful bike!
To clarify, it was given to you with the original tires, but that's not what's on the bike now, correct? Those rims must have been refinished, they look awfully good for their age. Beautiful bike!
08-02-12, 09:06 PM
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Interesting to see this. Thanks for the pics.
Regarding the chain, from what I can see/to my inexperienced eye, it looks like a "modern" chain. Meaning, it looks like the pins are about 0.5" apart. Is that the case?
Regarding the chain, from what I can see/to my inexperienced eye, it looks like a "modern" chain. Meaning, it looks like the pins are about 0.5" apart. Is that the case?
08-02-12, 09:10 PM
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Rims look kinda like modern wood clinchers? Should be single tube 28's, typically with a chain pattern tread. Interesting enough bike.
Yep the chain is modern. Kinda thought it would be 1" too; skip thooth? The Chainring and sprocket look 1/2 to match though. I've got a 1917 bike in a box, it's 1" with block non roller chain.
Regarding the chain, from what I can see/to my inexperienced eye, it looks like a "modern" chain. Meaning, it looks like the pins are about 0.5" apart. Is that the case?
Last edited by Velognome; 08-02-12 at 09:14 PM.
08-02-12, 09:13 PM
#10
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That is just splendid. And take it from someone who got an otherwise-inaccessible gem of a bike (albeit not nearly that vintage) thanks to a generous forum member's facilitation, it's mighty fine to be on the other end of such an arrangement - even if one does have to pony up the dough rather than enjoy the vicarious experience!
A fine string of coincidence there, too.
Another question: what's the gearing on that almost-century-old ride? I'm curious how the real 'old-school' makers/riders did it, as it's something (one of many things) I know absolutely nothing about. 'Fixed' or freewheel? Freewheel was a 19thC invention, I've heard (patent 88,238), but many older bikes did run 'fixed,' I gather...
A fine string of coincidence there, too.
Another question: what's the gearing on that almost-century-old ride? I'm curious how the real 'old-school' makers/riders did it, as it's something (one of many things) I know absolutely nothing about. 'Fixed' or freewheel? Freewheel was a 19thC invention, I've heard (patent 88,238), but many older bikes did run 'fixed,' I gather...
08-02-12, 09:29 PM
#11
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Wow, nice photos of MY new (to me) bicycle ! 
You will have that at the shippers tomorrow, right Aaron ???
The seller believes that the crank and everything except the tires and spokes are original. The wheels were cleaned up and relaxed with fresh SS spokes, and have modern tubulars on (but not currently glued) the rims. The paint is original as well. Not everything prior to WWII was skip tooth, as most think, heck I wasn't even completely sure, as most I have seen are skip tooth, however research bears this out. Fortunately it is much easier to find info on Mead, than it is on the Union I have. I can't wait until it arrives ! Aaron, I just have to say THANKS again, for making this new acquisition a reality for me!!
Soon the Happy Caretaker for this bicycle,
Joe
You will have that at the shippers tomorrow, right Aaron ??? The seller believes that the crank and everything except the tires and spokes are original. The wheels were cleaned up and relaxed with fresh SS spokes, and have modern tubulars on (but not currently glued) the rims. The paint is original as well. Not everything prior to WWII was skip tooth, as most think, heck I wasn't even completely sure, as most I have seen are skip tooth, however research bears this out. Fortunately it is much easier to find info on Mead, than it is on the Union I have. I can't wait until it arrives ! Aaron, I just have to say THANKS again, for making this new acquisition a reality for me!! Soon the Happy Caretaker for this bicycle,
Joe
Last edited by JPZ66; 08-02-12 at 09:32 PM. Reason: addendum
08-02-12, 10:19 PM
#12
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Wow, nice photos of MY new (to me) bicycle ! You will have that at the shippers tomorrow, right Aaron ??? The seller believes that the crank and everything except the tires and spokes are original. The wheels were cleaned up and relaxed with fresh SS spokes, and have modern tubulars on (but not currently glued) the rims. The paint is original as well. Not everything prior to WWII was skip tooth, as most think, heck I wasn't even completely sure, as most I have seen are skip tooth, however research bears this out. Fortunately it is much easier to find info on Mead, than it is on the Union I have. I can't wait until it arrives ! Aaron, I just have to say THANKS again, for making this new acquisition a reality for me!!
Soon the Happy Caretaker for this bicycle,
Joe
You will have that at the shippers tomorrow, right Aaron ??? The seller believes that the crank and everything except the tires and spokes are original. The wheels were cleaned up and relaxed with fresh SS spokes, and have modern tubulars on (but not currently glued) the rims. The paint is original as well. Not everything prior to WWII was skip tooth, as most think, heck I wasn't even completely sure, as most I have seen are skip tooth, however research bears this out. Fortunately it is much easier to find info on Mead, than it is on the Union I have. I can't wait until it arrives ! Aaron, I just have to say THANKS again, for making this new acquisition a reality for me!! Soon the Happy Caretaker for this bicycle,
Joe
Congrats on your new bike. It's beautiful. Thanks for posting pictures for us Aaron. I've got to find some tires like that for my old bike.... any ideas?
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08-02-12, 11:29 PM
#13
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Some of the old cranks out there like this one are just amazing pieces of art. Love it much more than modern looking cranks.
08-03-12, 12:30 AM
#14
Fat Guy on a Little Bike
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It's too late for me to answer some of these questions because I dropped it off yesterday to be packed and sent out. The spokes are new, the tires are obviously new...I wish I'd taken photos of the original tires, but neglected to. You'll have to wait for JP on that one.
08-03-12, 03:31 AM
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I have four very old 28" "one tube" tires. They are all in OK/good condition. I have been wondering what I can do to be able to use them. Here are some pics of the parts used on my Nashua. The rear hub in that bike is a model A about 1920. Available for two chain widths but only 1". The chain looks British to me with the rounded plates and the pins hollow in the ends.
Nice bike! I love the old timers!
17 049 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
1890's pedal by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
Nice bike! I love the old timers!
17 049 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
1890's pedal by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
Last edited by ftwelder; 08-03-12 at 03:38 AM.
