auchencrow

Here is another offering on eBay UK that I thought some of you would enjoy seeing.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/160811496127...84.m1423.l2649


Vintage Rare James Archer "2 Speed Bracket Gear" Rod Brake Bike - 1906:
Very rare James Archer 2 speed bike, this bike is in unrestored condition, The gears and brakes do work but the tyres are perished. This would be an ideal restoration project or may catch the eye of a keen collector either way this bike is a real gem.
The bike all seem original and complete, It is believed to be 1906 or around that time. We have managed to find a website related to the bike this is...
https://oldbike.wordpress.com/1906-ja...ottom-bracket/

Specifications:
26 x 1 1/2 Wheels
2 Speed James Archer Bottom Bracket Gears
Dynamo Lights
Rubber Block Pedals
"Wright" Sprung Saddle
Full Chainguard

auchencrow

auchencrow

repechage

I really don't think 1906, bikes were a bit less stamped out in 1906.

Shaneferd

Not a lot of meat left on them brake fasteners. James put together some stand up trikes through this period, The James.

photogravity

Interesting old bike, for sure. With that said, I'm with repechage in that I don't think the bike is as old as the auction states. To my eye at least, it appears to be somewhere in the 30's or 40's, though I don't know anything about the history of the 2-speed hubs.

auchencrow

I think it could very well be a c 1906 bike. - That is if the seller's source is not in error.

https://oldbike.wordpress.com/1906-ja...ottom-bracket/

Check out the 1907 advert.

sailorbenjamin

Is that related to this bike I had a year or two ago? It was a boom bike from the early 70s I think. Kind of a mediocre Raleigh copy, though definitely not a clone;

GamblerGORD53

It looks like it was painted black for use during the second war. I would say pre it is pre WWI.

auchencrow

I would have to think the name "The James", is related - however your bike was probably not a boom bike. James built bikes in Birmingham from 1897 and went out of business in 1966.

auchencrow

I can't say if that's paint or grime. It looks like there's blue under all that.

mapleleafs-13 

it would probably look better with some aerospokes....

auchencrow

Yup - I was just about to say that.

zukahn1 

These bike looks more 30's maybe 40's just post war but not 1908 2-speed hubs din't even really come in to production on stock bikes before the late 20's.

Sixty Fiver

It does not have a 2 speed hub but rather, a 2 speed crank which makes it quite unique when you consider how dominant Sturmey Archer was in supplying hub gears in a country where anything less was usually a single speed model.

The Patterson 2 speed crank is a comparable modern variant on this idea.

sailorbenjamin

Basic black was pretty popular in England in the early days.
Edit; Your right, there does appear to be traces of chrome under some of that. Particularly the front rim and the headlight. I have that same light on one of my bikes in chrome, I'd guess it's a 60s add on.

Sixty Fiver

Sturmey Archer patented their first variable 3 speed hub in 1901 and were already becoming a significant supplier of hub gears by 1905 as this was the high tech kit of the day, James' designs and patents served to compete against Sturmey Archer.

By 1904 Sturmey Archer and Raleigh had already started their love affair... and were the company to beat until they decided they would just buy you up and make you part of their syndicate.

auchencrow

This ad is a pretty good match for the bike in question. I don't think that the seller is that far-off in his assessment of its age.
The lighting however is undoubtedly a later addition.

Cache

"A Triumph Of Science and Mechanical Skill"!! and that Shakespeare quote gave me a good chuckle as well.

Cool old bike, thanks for posting.

tcs

British Cycling magazine published a 13 page article on available gear options listing 14 models of two-speed hub gears, 9 three-speed hub gears, 3 two-speed crank gears, 1 three-speed crank gear and one continuously variable hub gear.

This was in their February, 1907 issue.

About the James two-speed 'bracket' gear, they said: it ran 'solid' in high gear and geared down 25% when shifted. The over-run pawls were tripped by a rod that passed down along the seat tube. (You can see this rod in some of the pictures above.)

The Crypto-Dynamic two-speed cycle gear debuted at the cycle show in Albert Hall in 1883. It was featured in the enthusiast periodicals of the day and fitted to first quality cycles by OEMs beginning that year. Examples can be seen in cycle museums and collections today. The 'Manchester' two-speed hub was a best seller beginning in 1897. In Germany, Fitchel&Sachs began IGH production in 1904, the year after Sturmey-Archer, and offered two- and three-speed hub gears, and by 1912, a four-speed.

Shaneferd

It would be nice to see an example of this type James in better condition, definitely looks like it has seen "The Dip" a time or two...
A blackout lantern would not look inappropriate up front.

Catnap 

coolest name for a component EVER.

Italuminium

You're right.

It also strikes me as a bit later; the "black-out" paint on all the chrome is a doubtless wartime addition.

waverley610

Very similar set up to a 1920's James 2 speed with sloping top tube that was out on our ride last weekend; I wish that I had taken a picture as it really was that nice a specimen.

In fact I wish it were mine.

...as the slogan says "JAMES So much the better"!

Velognome 

Not always, I recently picked up a '57 Carlton frame with the same heavy black paint.