What did I just buy?? Serial added

[firstyearchevelle]

I really have no idea. I'm really a Muscle bike guy. Found this at a swap meet and it was cheap. What is it? and what year might it be? Front skip tooth chain ring and chain missing as well as all the spokes. lol Thanks-Jim

 

[Bri-in-RI]

Colson

 

[deorman]

That, my friend is a really old bicycle.

 

[Jpromo]

Nice find; I'd put the frame around the early-mid 20s. It would have been a 28" wood wheel bicycle originally but somebody later put 26" clincher wheels on it as well as a later 26" Schwinn or Higgins fork. Crank arms appear original, bars likely original, stem may be a few years later. Seat is from late 30s-early 40s.

Despite being cobbled together, it's not like this was cobbled together recently in a collector's hands. It's a bike that looks like it has lived several lives. Revived years later with a few "upgraded" parts here and there when grandpa pulled the ole bike out of the barn so Jimmy could ride it when he comes to visit.

The frame is a bit of a mystery. The exact one just recently showed up on the other bike forum, The Cabe, and a typically surefire bunch, suddenly got quiet and uncertain. To me it resembles a Davis or a Colson built frame. If you can take a picture of the serial under the bottom bracket, I can credit or discredit Davis as a builder, since they had one very unique feature of their serials.

 

[Bri-in-RI]

These are coming out of the woodwork lately, here is the Colson Silver Ring I picked up today. Looks to be the same frame and I believe my 28" steel wheels to be original to the bike based on others Ive seen. My guess was early 30s but that was ONLY a guess.
-Brian

 

[outskirtscustoms]

Pure awesome, that's what you bought.

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

Cool Score !



~RafaeL~

 

[Gold Street Customs]

Patina Deluxe!!!

 

[Outlaw90]

That think is super cool! id through new wheels and bearings in it and ride as is

 

[twomorestrokes]

cool garden ornament.

 

[firstyearchevelle]

Here is the serial no.

 

[firstyearchevelle]

Bump for more info

 

[American Vintage Bicycle Supply]

Colson

Yep!

 

[Terry66]

Really nice. I had a rusty 20's Elgin with 28" wheels. I put 700 wheels and made a nice rider

 

[deven_science]

Really nice. I had a rusty 20's Elgin with 28" wheels. I put 700 wheels and made a nice rider

That's what I did with my Racycle. The overall measurement of my 700x40 wheels is 27 1/2", so it fills up the 28" spot fairly well.

Of course I did have those laced onto older hubs, so it's still a skiptooth.