Arch-bar / Truss bridge style frame and fork

[outskirtscustoms]

So I just won this unknown frame and fork on eBay and I'm not sure what I bought but I'm thinking it's mid teens to mid 20's Iver Johnson or Crown arch-bar? I have seen a few similar frames but none that are a spot on match.

This is the closest looking bike I have come up with.

 

[MattiThundrrr]

@us56456712 this is in your wheelhouse, do you know anything about this gorgeous frame? Such a beautiful bike, nice acquisition

 

[outskirtscustoms]

@us56456712 this is in your wheelhouse, do you know anything about this gorgeous frame? Such a beautiful bike, nice acquisition

Thanks. I'm stoked to add it to my collection.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Thanks for turning me on to retro bike. Someone posted this there as they were selling it on eBay UK. Even though it has been modified I bought it right away. All the old English 3 speeds I have owned had small frames. This frame looks bigger with a longer top tube. I’m hoping it will fit my 6’1” son. He likes fixies. In England you have to have a front and rear brake so that will make it easier to ride fixed gear. If it needs any work I’ll take it to the bike shop for a complete tune up. It will likely need new cables, tires and chain. Maybe wheel tune and repacking. I won’t be doing much for awhile with my fused finger so it will be a good project for the bike shop to pick away at.

????

 

[us56456712]

????

Oops, wrong place to post.

 

[us56456712]

@us56456712 this is in your wheelhouse, do you know anything about this gorgeous frame? Such a beautiful bike, nice acquisition

Might be a 1917-20 Columbia arch bar

 

[outskirtscustoms]

That Columbia looks really close.

 

[Swampthing]

You could do some beautiful builds.

 

[Kevin B]

I remember an arch bar frame like yours being used for a steam punk build here on rrb. Now I can't find it. It seems like there was a "sight glass" with green liquid in it where the short tube between the top bars is located.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

You could do some beautiful builds.

That's the plan. I have been crossing things off my bicycle bucket list left and right. I finally got a Mini Twinn, I got my first bike from the 30's, first bike from the 20's, and I really want to cross off my first Rat Rod Bikes Build Off Winner. I'm gathering parts and pulling out all the stops. This year's build is going to be epic in a huge way.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Searched and it looks like @tanksalot had this sweet looking Arch-bar last year. Any info you can share?

 

[MattiThundrrr]

Searched and it looks like @tanksalot had this sweet looking Arch-bar last year. Any info you can share?View attachment 227714

This might help you fill in the blanks

https://ratrodbikes.com/threads/roaring-20s-winged-wheel-archbar.116683/

 

[outskirtscustoms]

This might help you fill in the blanks

https://ratrodbikes.com/threads/roaring-20s-winged-wheel-archbar.116683/

That's where I got the picture. Such beautiful patina on that bike. I pray mine has original paint preserved under the respray. Just tagged him on the chance he may still have it and might be able to offer some comparison reference pictures.

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Head badge holes are really unusual so this should be a good clue. They are on either side of the steer tube but offset one higher one lower. I am thinking Columbia.

Serial number looks like 1845?

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Same offset to the holes

 

[outskirtscustoms]

So I'm guessing since the bike is between a 1917 and 1920 and the numbers on the bottom bracket appear to be 1845 I'm going to assume first two numbers are year and last two are week???

So 1918 Columbia Arch-bar???

 

[Phil Fink]

I believe that the arch truss frame bike on eBay; (whoever ends auctions at midnight, doh, deserves a measly $150- high bid!); could be an Emblem Angola NY. Perhaps measure the arch or truss tube diameter; is it fairly small?

The locations of the diagonally-spaced head badge screws look peculiar.

Another key is the seat post binder bolt; it does not touch the seat post like a Westfield notched or slabbed bolt would.

Also, one might check if the bottom bracket is 2" and not undersized (like a Westfield of that era).

 

[Phil Fink]

J.W. Grady New England bicycles also had the diagonally-spaced holes for fastening head badge.