The Rollfast name would continue until 1975 AnĮxception would be the Hopalong Cassidy bikes complete with conchos, fringe,Īnd a simulated horse hair saddle. Was decidedly more conservative than a lot of their contemporaries. While Rollfast bikes were high quality machines their design Snyder built bikes were also sold through Montgomery Wardĭepartment stores. Harris distributed the Snyder bikes under the Rollfast name as wellĪs many others. Manufacturer of bicycle parts and ball bearings and its own product line was called Snyder would build the bicycle and Harris distribute them. In the early 1900s a partnership was formed between Snyder and Harris whereby Harris Company is one of the more unusual arrangements in bicycle history. Badges: Shelby, Flying Cloud, Gambles, Hiawatha, Ideal, Safe-T-Bike, Speedway Special, Supreme, Fox, Western Flyer, Bird, Trojan, Eagle, Pirate 1938 Shelby Airflo Speedline Model 62 The company was sold briefly to Gambles in 1953 but within months sold to AMF. In 1949 Shelby built the Donald Duck bike featuring Donald Ducks head whose eyes were the lights. The Shelby Airflos (Speedlines) are considered some of the most outlandish designs of the late 1930s and are some of the most sought after balloon tire bikes among collectors. of Shelby, OH was formed in 1925 from the remnants of the Shelby Cycle Frame Builders. Mahowald, Airman, Firestone 1947 Monarch Silver King aka “Hex Tube” Silver King, Montgomery Ward, Hawthorne, DeVega, Reggie McNamara, Ace, Postwar Monarks include the popular aluminum “Hextube” and the Super Deluxe models. It is their aluminum bikes though such as the Flocycle, Wingbar, and 26X that most collectors covet. Monark introduced its steel framed bikes in 1938 which included such models as the “Superframe” Five Bar. It should be noted that aluminum had been used in bicycle construction starting in the 1890s. What sets Monark apart from other manufacturers was their use of aluminum in construction of their bicycles as well as using a 24” wheel size on these bikes. started as a battery manufacturer and began producing bicycles in 1935. CWC was sold to AMF in 1951 but the Roadmaster brand lives on although these bicycles are now made in China.īadges: Roadmaster, Supreme, Packard, Hiawatha, Ridewell, Ben Hur, All American, Trojan, Pilot, Hawthorne, Trail Blazer, Speed King, Vim, Movie Ace, Fleetwing, Champion 1937 CWC Roadmaster Supreme The Roadmaster Luxury Liner is probably the most well-known model from this company and the “Shockmaster” is arguably one of the smoothest riding spring forks ever made. The “Y” frame Roadmaster Supremes of 1937 (aka Bug Eye) and 1938 (aka Four Gill) are some of the rarest and most sought after balloon tire bikes. The Cleveland Welding Company is generally referred to as “CWC” by collectors started producing bicycles in September of 1935 and are probably best known for their Roadmaster line of bicycles. Tiger & Sons–Colorado Springs, CO) 1935 Schwinn Aerocycle Mission, American Flyer, Chicago, Admiral, Liberty, and hundreds of storeīadges such as Beards (Evansville, IN), Lawlor’s (Lincoln, NE), and Tiger (G.W. The World, LaSalle, Lincoln, American Beauty, Cadillac, Ace, Henderson, Excelsior, Although the Schwinn name survives the bicycles are now made in China. Schwinn designed and built some of the most iconic balloon tire bikes to include the Aerocycle, Autocycle, and Phantom. At one time Schwinn was also one of the largest motorcycle manufacturers in the United States having acquired both Excelsior (1912) and Henderson (1917). The company was formed in 1895 by Ignaz Schwinn, a German immigrant, and along with the financial backing of Adolf Arnold formed Arnold, Schwinn & Co. Generally accepted as introducing the balloon tire bicycle to America Schwinn is probably the most recognized bicycle manufacturer in the world. Colson, Monark, Cleveland Welding, and Schwinn made the bikes for the In the case of the Elginīicycles many were made by Westfield but some made by Monark and Murray as Sears never made any of its own bicycles. For example the brand “Elgin” was used onīicycles Sears sold before World War II. It is important to understand that the badge was merely a brand and not Retail establishments that sold bicycles many times had their own badges made. Such as tire stores, department stores, hardware stores, or any number of These listings are only examples as some companiesĪre known to have used hundreds of different badges. Prolific builders of balloon tire bicycles.īadges known on the bikes. Listed here certainly predated balloon tire bicycles the following are the most Out other makers but carried their brands forward. The field narrowed considerably as companies like Schwinn and Westfield bought Before 1900 there were hundreds of companies
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