Bicycles (except children's bicycles) are almost always required to have a frame or serial number. Some manufacturers use a date-code as part of the serial number. For example, a Brompton uses YYMMXXX as their serial code, so a Brompton with a serial number of was manufactured in 2013.06 or June 2013.
Rudge was successful in the period of the ordinary and they almost invented the safety. In 1879 they produced one of the first models designed by Lawson. This bicycle was already called 'the bicyclette', a name that became the French word for bicycle.
This Rudge bicyclette model H has a rare double tube frame. The bike is incredibly heavy, in fact it makes me think of a light motorcycle! The model is not unique for Rudge; we know of some French factories that built the same frame; these might be copies of the original Rudge design. This bike has socket steering (without balls). Rudge also made a version with pivot steering.
This bicycle with serial number 79069 was built in 1891-1892. It has a lot of nice details and was very well restored by Maarten Waarlé, who also made the pictures. Note that the mudguards are original, even the strange 'wave' near the front fork. Look at the illustration from the catalogue! Only detail that is not correct is the new leather on the saddle.
I asked Maarten why the step was mounted on the right side, when all other safeties have it left side. He told me there was no other possibility: the axle was long at the right side and too short on the left side...
I really love this bicycle, it is the safety in its best form. Not very practical, but experimental in a lot of details. It's like an evolution, leading to the modern bicycle in only ten years time.
This Rudge bicyclette model H has a rare double tube frame. The bike is incredibly heavy, in fact it makes me think of a light motorcycle! The model is not unique for Rudge; we know of some French factories that built the same frame; these might be copies of the original Rudge design. This bike has socket steering (without balls). Rudge also made a version with pivot steering.
This bicycle with serial number 79069 was built in 1891-1892. It has a lot of nice details and was very well restored by Maarten Waarlé, who also made the pictures. Note that the mudguards are original, even the strange 'wave' near the front fork. Look at the illustration from the catalogue! Only detail that is not correct is the new leather on the saddle.
I asked Maarten why the step was mounted on the right side, when all other safeties have it left side. He told me there was no other possibility: the axle was long at the right side and too short on the left side...
I really love this bicycle, it is the safety in its best form. Not very practical, but experimental in a lot of details. It's like an evolution, leading to the modern bicycle in only ten years time.
Vintage Rudge Bicycle Parts
Bike Serial Number
- BEESTON HUMBER FRAME NUMBER DATING. ELSWICK HOPPER FRAME NUMBER DATING. The following dated bicycle frame numbers from the Singer Car Club (not guaranteed): 1903 – 142069. I started to collate frame numbers from 1890s-1920 Triumph bicycles, and will update it.
- Specialized Bike Serial Number Lookup I had also asked him about the size and he said it measured 21 inches from the center of the BB spindle to the top of the seat tube. I haven't ridden many of these old three speeds, so I don't really know if that would fit me at 6'2' (it wouldn't if it were a typical road bike).