Y Truss fork info

[Dizzle Problems]

So I picked up this fork in a lot I recently got.
It’s for 28” wheels. Guessing motorbike of some sort. Other then that, ?
Usually, I wouldnt’t ask value on stuff, but i’ve been contacted and asked to sell this. What’s a fair range for this?
The steerer looks to possibly be a little bent. I’m not looking for America pickers money here, just a estimate to what’s fair to the buyer, and myself. This is earlier then what I usually dabble in. Any help is appreciated.

 

[kirkpatrick]

Definitely old, looks like possibly Davis made. I’m not familiar with these, but here’s a thread with similar forks.

https://thecabe.com/forum/posts/836367/

 

[LarzBahrs]

Possibly iver johnson

 

[Phil Fink]

Its all in the details. Notice how the two rods appear to be forged together on top in the shape of a "Y" and notice also the small but tall top nut.
Some others (Davis) seem to be forged into a larger boss or ball of steel material.
See the 1st post, 1st picture on the CABE, top looks right.
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/excelsior-possible-sale-but-dont-want-to.102768/

But then, maybe the stand-offs or fork crown don't match?
Yours is the second fork, besides mine that I could find like that. Before today, I thought that it was Excelsior Michigan City IND, but could only find examples of the 5" head tube versions. You have a 3.5" compatible.
I agree that Davis is the closest to the Excelsior, but I am not sure; I have seen bikes that I thought were Excelsior's identified as Davis' on reference sites.
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/1920ish-excelsior-deluxe.100830/ Another thread, same bike.

 

[Phil Fink]

Definitely not a Westfield (Shapleigh example).

The top stud was pinned and brazed to a hairpin bend of a single bar.

 

[Phil Fink]

Not quite a Great Western Mfg. Crown, La Porte IND.

Appears to have a hairpin bend, like the Westfield.

 

[Phil Fink]

I paid $59.99 (free shipping) July 2017 on eBay; gray on black on yellow on blue on red on brown primer. But maybe I paid too much(?).

Truss forks may go for much more tho.
A factor is if you can install a headset, the truss rods might interfere with any re-tapping tools, (as I have found).
And remember there were more than one Excelsior, a guy named Arnold Something might have owned an Excelsior motorcycle company that went bankrupt about that same time.

 

[Phil Fink]

The Davis camp has good points too.

Most similar to Davis fork #9; but not an exact match, neither.

 

[Phil Fink]

Not sure about Iver Johnsons, (very old).

Only similarity with the 1915-17 Bowker patent, (for the widow Mary Johnson), is the 'fairing' of the two rods into one, unlike others with a wider boss or blob of steel at the top.

 

[Dizzle Problems]

Wow! @Phil Fink , thank you for all the info! They do look very similar, if not the same as the pair you got.

@kirkpatrick , thank you for the link, lotta info in there. They’re pretty close, but I think they’re a little different. Learned a lot in thy thread!

Whatever they are, I dig em. Maybe just hang em on a nail in the garage for awhile.

 

[Phil Fink]

There is a similar yoke truss fork on ebay,
https://www.ebay.com/itm/273129676224
It is damaged, and advertised as 24" (overall length I suppose).
It has older looking stand-offs and crown, matching the restored bike pictures.

 

[Phil Fink]

So, searching for the "other" Excelsior, (for a badge with right holes), I found a couple more pictures posted on Cabe; they show it as a teens Michigan City bike.

https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/excelsior-bicycles.37232/page-2#post-398128
So I am feeling better about putting an Excelsior decal on my unknown frame with what I believe is an Excelsior fork (28"). Too bad my Snyder frames seem to be 26 inchers; Snyder may have bought the Michigan City plant in 1934 or so.

https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/excelsior-bicycles.37232/page-4#post-656056
So, I think that its all cleared-up, then I notice the chain ring on the Excelsior - its a Davis Sprocket No. 6 with six pointed star with drive pin holes.

Later Shelby might use a simplified version (only one hole - one drive pin), sometimes seen on Western Flyers.