L.W. Keenan Champion branded bikes...Colson Heavy Service and ACE HIGH brands as well

[Phil Fink]

Are all "Champions" also "Keenans" - and so pricy?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/original-rare-antique-CHAMPION-bicycle-head-badge/283075592120

 

[RustyGold]

Thanks for the link, Phil. Champion is such a common word throughout the bicycle world, that it would be hard to make a confident guess that the above is in anyway related. There was a Champion brand in Australia (which the script in the above badge matches very well...but, the 'Made in the USA' makes that unlikely, a Europe Champion, a BMX Champion brand...and then a ton of different models of bike called Champion. So...searching for info is not super productive. My inclination is, that the above badge isn't related to either of the Keenan's...but, that is no more than a guess.

The script is ridiculously similar to these hand painted logos on a very old Australian 'Champion' branded bike...

Jason

 

[OliverRage]

Check it...
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/302829034371

 

[RustyGold]

Check'd it...and snagged it

Thanks for the heads up. That may help tie in the sticker from LA that I posted earlier in the thread. Hopefully there will be an 'about' statement left in it

Jason

 

[Phil Fink]

I saw another Ace:
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/vintage-head-badges-photos.26320/page-37#post-928658

 

[OliverRage]

I saw another Ace:
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/vintage-head-badges-photos.26320/page-37#post-928658

That’s my bike! He musta blew up my picture and reposted it.

 

[RustyGold]

I actually posted all the Keenan badge shots on a thread for hardware store badged bikes on thecabe. But, from the dates it looks like he raided this thread a week before I posted him for the thread above .

Jason

 

[RustyGold]

However...a fortuitous fluke. When I click on Phil's link above from my phone...I get a different thread. That thread (badges that have never been on a bike) only had four pages, and lo and behold on page 2!

 

[RustyGold]

It looks same era and general shape as your Ace High badge, maybe CWC as well.

 

[Phil Fink]

I just saw a Keenan "Chinook" on the Cabe; Westfield built.
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/1918-pope-yard-art-cleaned-up-and-what-if.93448/

 

[RustyGold]

I figured there must have been some F.P. Keenan branded bikes out there! Thanks Phil, for pointing this one out, very cool!

Jason

 

[RustyGold]

A couple more tidbits linking the seemingly prewar Portland L.W. Keenan to the evidently Los Angelos postwar L.W. Keenan. Dunelt british bike ads from '55/'56...

...also found a bit of info indicating an L.W. Keenan Manton & Smith bike, but no picture of the badge ...

That's all for now!
Jason

 

[Seanymac280]

Looks like I have the 5th CHAMPION by L.W.Keenan known to exist in the world. And I must say it is actually in pretty good shape for as old as it must be. I haven’t cleaned it up yet. I did air up the tires and adjusted the rear brakes so I could take it for a spin. I think the original color may have been red. This blue color scheme with the yellow striping and the pin-wheel like shaped possibly drawn or painted on the seat scream Eastern Oregon. I grew up in The Dalles. I haven’t tried to clean up the badge yet. I don’t want to make it less readable. This badass piece of history might have a couple of clues on it that hopefully help me get more info on this particular bike. One is a LaGrande license/permit plate and the other is a Baker City permit sticker. Let me know what you all think! And I love the chain ring on it!