A Mid-1950s Express Werke AG (Bavarian) Road Bicycle
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
A Mid-1950s Express Werke AG (Bavarian) Road Bicycle
Hello folks,
I trust everyone is doing well! Yesterday I had the good fortune to pick up this 1950s Express Werke AG road bicycle that was built in Newmarkt in der Oberpfalz in Bavaria. Express Werke AG was founded in the 1880s and continued to make bicycles until the mid-20th century. I received it from a gentleman named Jurgen who purchased it in 1958 from the original owner, who Jurgen described as an older man that had had the frame custom made. I have only come across a few of these bicycles when searching the internet so additional information is of course welcome. I purchased the bicycle primarily because I noticed the quality of some of the components in an otherwise vague eBay advertisement, and recognized the logo specifically from a similar bicycle sold by Steel Vintage in Berlin a couple of years ago... Only Jurgen's height was listed yet the frame turned out to be my ideal size, which is 24.5" (c-t) on the seat tube and 22" along the top tube. Jurgen had fenders, a rear rack and a lighting setup on the bicycle which I removed in order to wash, polish and wax the frame, which was done this morning before taking the photos shown below. I still have not cleaned the components much except to dust everything off, remove bar tape and use some Proofide on the saddle.
Jurgen said he put new tubes in the tires and was adamant that all of the components were original, which I believe based on research into the respective appearance on the market for each part.
I plan to replace the consumables throughout and re-grease everything to get it back into riding order but will otherwise maintain a sympathetic restoration.
The frame has crimped seat and chain stays with triangular cross-sections for added rigidity, and the upper inside of the fork blades are also crimped. I was unable to photograph these details on this overcast day but I'm sure when I get it all set up and out for a ride on a sunny day it will be apparent enough! The black paint is chipped and dull throughout but overall very presentable for its age, and the chrome on the fork blades and the rest of the components is also in decent condition with minimal pitting and I'm sure will clean up well.
The component list includes the following:
- Brooks B17 Champion Standard saddle
- Unmarked steel seat post
- Phillipe stem (~95mm)
- Scheeren steel handlebars
- Huret lever-actuated front derailleur
- Huret Tour de France rear derailleur
- Huret down tube shifter
- Unmarked forged 3-arm crankset (I suspect a German-made copy of a French model)
- Durex (German manufactured) Simplex 51/49 chainrings.
- Lyotard Marcel Berthet pedals
- Regina Gran Sport 4-speed freewheel
- Weinmann Type 730 brake calipers
- Weinmann AG brake levers
- Maillard Normandy high-flange hubs
- Rigida Chrolux steel 700c rims
- Aiglor front wingnuts
- F&S rear wingnuts
Overall, I'm very excited about this find, particularly because the quality of the frame and the components matches that of other 1950s bicycles I've restored piece by piece, yet here I got it all at once for a fraction of the cost! Expect some updates as I get it road worthy again!
-Gregory
I trust everyone is doing well! Yesterday I had the good fortune to pick up this 1950s Express Werke AG road bicycle that was built in Newmarkt in der Oberpfalz in Bavaria. Express Werke AG was founded in the 1880s and continued to make bicycles until the mid-20th century. I received it from a gentleman named Jurgen who purchased it in 1958 from the original owner, who Jurgen described as an older man that had had the frame custom made. I have only come across a few of these bicycles when searching the internet so additional information is of course welcome. I purchased the bicycle primarily because I noticed the quality of some of the components in an otherwise vague eBay advertisement, and recognized the logo specifically from a similar bicycle sold by Steel Vintage in Berlin a couple of years ago... Only Jurgen's height was listed yet the frame turned out to be my ideal size, which is 24.5" (c-t) on the seat tube and 22" along the top tube. Jurgen had fenders, a rear rack and a lighting setup on the bicycle which I removed in order to wash, polish and wax the frame, which was done this morning before taking the photos shown below. I still have not cleaned the components much except to dust everything off, remove bar tape and use some Proofide on the saddle.
Jurgen said he put new tubes in the tires and was adamant that all of the components were original, which I believe based on research into the respective appearance on the market for each part.
I plan to replace the consumables throughout and re-grease everything to get it back into riding order but will otherwise maintain a sympathetic restoration.
The frame has crimped seat and chain stays with triangular cross-sections for added rigidity, and the upper inside of the fork blades are also crimped. I was unable to photograph these details on this overcast day but I'm sure when I get it all set up and out for a ride on a sunny day it will be apparent enough! The black paint is chipped and dull throughout but overall very presentable for its age, and the chrome on the fork blades and the rest of the components is also in decent condition with minimal pitting and I'm sure will clean up well.
The component list includes the following:
- Brooks B17 Champion Standard saddle
- Unmarked steel seat post
- Phillipe stem (~95mm)
- Scheeren steel handlebars
- Huret lever-actuated front derailleur
- Huret Tour de France rear derailleur
- Huret down tube shifter
- Unmarked forged 3-arm crankset (I suspect a German-made copy of a French model)
- Durex (German manufactured) Simplex 51/49 chainrings.
- Lyotard Marcel Berthet pedals
- Regina Gran Sport 4-speed freewheel
- Weinmann Type 730 brake calipers
- Weinmann AG brake levers
- Maillard Normandy high-flange hubs
- Rigida Chrolux steel 700c rims
- Aiglor front wingnuts
- F&S rear wingnuts
Overall, I'm very excited about this find, particularly because the quality of the frame and the components matches that of other 1950s bicycles I've restored piece by piece, yet here I got it all at once for a fraction of the cost! Expect some updates as I get it road worthy again!
-Gregory
Last edited by Kilroy1988; 02-22-22 at 03:48 PM.
Likes For Kilroy1988:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,433
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5887 Post(s)
Liked 3,469 Times
in
2,079 Posts
This is such a cool bike and I love the bell. Nice score. The only thing I don't like about seeing a bike like this is that it gets me thinking that I need to spend some even more time on eBay . . .
Last edited by bikemig; 02-22-22 at 02:19 PM.
Likes For bikemig:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,242
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3802 Post(s)
Liked 3,324 Times
in
2,170 Posts
-----
thanks so much for sharing this wonder
the completeness, originalness and lack of damage combine for a small miracle
seat binder looks to be one of the Way-Assauto models
---
there was a period during the 1950's when both Freres Huret & Juy (Simplex) offered these manual front mech models whose levers operate with a front-to-back action
the Juy ones were termed Randonneur -
-----
thanks so much for sharing this wonder
the completeness, originalness and lack of damage combine for a small miracle
seat binder looks to be one of the Way-Assauto models
---
there was a period during the 1950's when both Freres Huret & Juy (Simplex) offered these manual front mech models whose levers operate with a front-to-back action
the Juy ones were termed Randonneur -
-----
Last edited by juvela; 02-22-22 at 02:20 PM. Reason: addition
Likes For juvela:
#4
Full Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Redwood City CA
Posts: 299
Bikes: 57 ExpressWerke, 58 CinelliB, 62 CinelliB Altenberger, 70 Cinelli SC, 76 Masi, 77 Colin Laing, 78 Ritchey, 80 Jack Taylor, 82 Appel, 82 Davidson, 85 Ironman, 92? Andy Gilmour, 04 Peter Johnson, 91 Ed Litton, 11 Bianchi
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 96 Post(s)
Liked 450 Times
in
132 Posts
You luck DOWG! That is spectacular! At first I was so excited thinking it was for sale and feverishly read the post to scan a number $!! Good for you!
Likes For cinelliguy:
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,029
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 267 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4507 Post(s)
Liked 6,373 Times
in
3,665 Posts
@Kilroy1988
The condition, completeness and correctness of this machine is absolutely fantastic, Bravo!
The condition, completeness and correctness of this machine is absolutely fantastic, Bravo!
Likes For merziac:
#6
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,793
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1390 Post(s)
Liked 1,322 Times
in
835 Posts
Great score! I love half-step gearing, but I have never understood 51-49 or 49-47 two-tooth chainring drops, having always gone with 3 or 4 teeth myself, for a better ratio progression with 2-to-3-tooth spreads across the freewheel.
I love the head badge and the graphics, and I prefer your Huret front shift mech. over the more familiar Simplex unit.
Your rear derailleur is interesting, in the sense that the pivot really is supposed to be at the top of the cage. The Simplex equivalent is the opposite, but most get set up to look like yours and any conventional rear derailleur, with the jockey wheel on the bottom.
I love the head badge and the graphics, and I prefer your Huret front shift mech. over the more familiar Simplex unit.
Your rear derailleur is interesting, in the sense that the pivot really is supposed to be at the top of the cage. The Simplex equivalent is the opposite, but most get set up to look like yours and any conventional rear derailleur, with the jockey wheel on the bottom.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
Likes For John E:
#7
Shifting is fun!
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: South Holland, NL
Posts: 10,997
Bikes: Yes, please.
Mentioned: 279 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2192 Post(s)
Liked 4,580 Times
in
1,762 Posts
Very, very, very nice. Congratulations on finding it, and what's more, in this size! Color me jealous.
Likes For non-fixie:
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 578
Bikes: 1951 Sun Wasp, 1953 Armstrong Consort, 1975 Raleigh Competition, 1980 Apollo Gran Sport, 1988 Schwinn Voyageur, Mystery MTB
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 359 Post(s)
Liked 457 Times
in
190 Posts
A pretty bicycle. Nice catch, Kurt Gregory!
I think the sword transfer is my favourite part.
I think the sword transfer is my favourite part.
Last edited by Ged117; 03-30-22 at 02:08 PM. Reason: foof brain
Likes For Ged117:
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
Thanks folks! Regarding the transfer my hunch is that Express Werke's association with Nurnberg made the sword an appropriate mark. My undergraduate degree is in European history and I have long studied the manufacture and development of medieval armament, and Nurnberg was a center of the German arms industry throughout the later medieval and renaissance periods. Seeing a high quality bicycle that was made nearby is a neat way to appreciate the rich industrial history of the region.
John E I hear you on the Simplex derailleurs of the period. I have one I'll need to set up on that Carlton Super Python and need to remember they did it somewhat counter-intuitively!
juvela I haven't had the opportunity to use the Simplex lever-actuated derailleur like in the catalog picture you show, but my understanding is that the lever was turned from left to right around an axis on that model. With the Huret derailleur on the Express it is in fact a back-to-forth motion.
-Gregory
John E I hear you on the Simplex derailleurs of the period. I have one I'll need to set up on that Carlton Super Python and need to remember they did it somewhat counter-intuitively!
juvela I haven't had the opportunity to use the Simplex lever-actuated derailleur like in the catalog picture you show, but my understanding is that the lever was turned from left to right around an axis on that model. With the Huret derailleur on the Express it is in fact a back-to-forth motion.
-Gregory
Last edited by Kilroy1988; 02-22-22 at 04:14 PM.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,242
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3802 Post(s)
Liked 3,324 Times
in
2,170 Posts
----
Freres Huret catalogue pages of MCMLVI illustrating the machine's gear ensemble (or something close thereto!)...
-----
Freres Huret catalogue pages of MCMLVI illustrating the machine's gear ensemble (or something close thereto!)...
-----
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
I have a feeling we're talking about different derailleurs, or perhaps your last post was not a response to my last.. I was referencing the pivots on the front derailleur levers - the Simplex moves left to right while the Huret moves front to back.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,242
Mentioned: 415 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3802 Post(s)
Liked 3,324 Times
in
2,170 Posts
here are some additional images of the Juy Randonneur serie manual front mechs which operate by moving the lever in a front-to-back direction
the Juy Competition serie manual front mechs operate by twisting the lever
they were produced as late as nineteen & sixty-one
-----
Likes For juvela:
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
juvela I see the difference in those mechanisms now, while I did not notice early when I glimpsed at the catalog images. I have not seen one of the Simplex randonneur front derailleurs before. Cheers!
-Gregory
-Gregory
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NW Burbs, Chicago
Posts: 12,045
Mentioned: 201 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3009 Post(s)
Liked 3,785 Times
in
1,405 Posts
Great bike! Was it Jurgen Borgmann out of Munich? That guy has some spectacular stuff.
Likes For iab:
Likes For BFisher:
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
-Gregory
Last edited by Kilroy1988; 02-23-22 at 07:17 AM.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Point Reyes Station, California
Posts: 4,525
Bikes: Indeed!
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1506 Post(s)
Liked 3,459 Times
in
1,129 Posts
I anguished over bidding on this one, even had it in my watch list.
I'm really glad you got it!
Brent
I'm really glad you got it!
Brent
Likes For obrentharris:
#18
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,793
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1390 Post(s)
Liked 1,322 Times
in
835 Posts
Thank you for posting that. I have seen the nested right-side downtube levers from Huret and Simplex in the past, but I did not know they made a left-mount pair, as well.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
Likes For John E:
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
I took the Express out for a quick ride on this brisk, partly cloudy afternoon just to see how it feels. It is indeed sized just the way I prefer and the ride was very stable. The grease must not be totally gone as everything spins freely yet there is little noise from bearings jumping around anywhere along the drivetrain. I've decided that what I'll do is take it apart one weekend, clean everything up and get all the fresh grease on, and also touch up the frame with proper black automotive paint that I have handy to keep it from rusting in the future, let that cure for a week then put it back together the next weekend with fresh consumables. I may have time to do all of that sometimes before Easter so that I can enjoy riding it a bit during the spring holiday.
'Til then, cheers!
-Gregory
'Til then, cheers!
-Gregory
Likes For Kilroy1988:
#21
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
Hello all,
I really do pride myself on patience... Ha!
It's been more than a year and I've finally begun the restoration process on the Express Werke and have also completed some relevant research. The frame model is the "65 L" for road riding, and the fork crown revealed that the frameset was built in September 1957.
Today I touched-up the frame with black automotive paint. It doesn't look perfect and I missed a few spots on the underside of some tubes but it will protect most of the places where the metal was exposed and looks much more presentable from anything further than about two feet!
The headset and bottom bracket have already been re-greased and I'm most of the way through with the pedal restoration. The wheels have been cleaned up and I've got new tires installed and a full set of consumables to match. Looking forward to the completed build sometime in the next month or so!
-Gregory
Catalog page (c. 1955):
Before touch-up:
After touch-up:
I really do pride myself on patience... Ha!
It's been more than a year and I've finally begun the restoration process on the Express Werke and have also completed some relevant research. The frame model is the "65 L" for road riding, and the fork crown revealed that the frameset was built in September 1957.
Today I touched-up the frame with black automotive paint. It doesn't look perfect and I missed a few spots on the underside of some tubes but it will protect most of the places where the metal was exposed and looks much more presentable from anything further than about two feet!
The headset and bottom bracket have already been re-greased and I'm most of the way through with the pedal restoration. The wheels have been cleaned up and I've got new tires installed and a full set of consumables to match. Looking forward to the completed build sometime in the next month or so!
-Gregory
Catalog page (c. 1955):
Before touch-up:
After touch-up:
Last edited by Kilroy1988; 03-05-23 at 06:52 PM.
Likes For Kilroy1988:
#22
Rolling Vintage Only
I stumbled across an Express Werk track bike on CL a few years ago. Interesting machine. Mine had a later set of 3-speed wheels. I passed it on to Ted Ernst not long after I found it. More photos at https://photos.app.goo.gl/fCvpo3uGaj4gATMq1.
Likes For drpaddle:
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Visalia, CA
Posts: 2,249
Mentioned: 45 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 1,844 Times
in
609 Posts
Hello all!
drpaddle That's a neat old example, thanks for sharing! I've come across a few of these Modell 65Ls with that blue and grey paint scheme, very spiffy. I would have preferred it to black but I can't complain about the condition of this one!
I've been busy polishing and lubricating components... Pretty astounded at how well the chrome has held up under all the dried muck and grease - good ol' Jurgen clearly stored the machine indoors! Hoping to put the bicycle back together next week.
-Gregory
drpaddle That's a neat old example, thanks for sharing! I've come across a few of these Modell 65Ls with that blue and grey paint scheme, very spiffy. I would have preferred it to black but I can't complain about the condition of this one!
I've been busy polishing and lubricating components... Pretty astounded at how well the chrome has held up under all the dried muck and grease - good ol' Jurgen clearly stored the machine indoors! Hoping to put the bicycle back together next week.
-Gregory
Likes For Kilroy1988: