Orient Bicycles 1893

Today I visited the Charles River Museum of Industry in Waltham, Massachusetts. The building was first used as a textile manufacturing plant in 1814, the first manufacturing plant in America (the founder stole British power loom plans by memorizing them). Later watches were manufactured in the building, and bicycles, and cars. I'll post some pictures of the Orient bicycles built there from 1893 to the early 1900s. Several tandems were on display and some single bikes and a pair of wheels with wooden rims. They were said to be favorites of racers in the 1890 because they were the lightest available. The ones on display were all fixed gear bikes.

The black tandem can be steered from either position, ie. it has two headsets with the fork connected to the rear headset by 2 rods. Note the cutouts in the leather saddles on the red tandem. There were pictures of tandems built for 4 and 10 persons being ridden. The bottom bracket and crankset design appeared unique.

The wood-rimmed wheels may not have been built at this factory. All the 1890 bikes had metals rims. I have also seen wood-rimmed wheels at the Wright Brothers bicycle shop in Dayton Ohio (the Wright Brothers of aviation fame).

I also liked the adjustable pocket-wrench, multitools (wrench, gage, and hammer).

Peugeot of unknown vintage, but almost modern. Reynolds 531 frame and fork, cottered steel crankset, modern bottom bracket, sewup rims, Ideal leather saddle, Leotard pedals could have been from the 70s. But the 4-cog freewheel and old Simplex derailleur with chain activation peg it as much earlier. The big axle wing nuts in lieu of quick release were sometimes found on bikes in the early 1970s.

Why are they called leotard pedals?

wonderful pictures. Love the tandem!! rear steering!!

what are leotard pedals?

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Originally Posted by zencentury

Why are they called leotard pedals?

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Leotard is just a brand of French pedals, as far as I know. Found on lots of French and other bikes in the 70s. Maybe my sentence didn't come out right, but I meant that the Reynolds 531 frame and fork, cottered steel crankset, modern bottom bracket, sewup rims, Ideal leather saddle, and pedals could all almost have been from the 70s (60s more likely). But the derailleur and 4-cog freewheel clearly are not. Simplex was the major derailleur manufacturer in the early 70s, but this one is of much earlier vintage. It has only one jockey wheel. There is a control chain like 3-speeds use that runs through the outer plate of the derailleur and attaches to the inner plate next to the jockey wheel. When the cable is pulled to shift gears, that chain slides though the hole in the outer plate and makes a 90 degree bend. OK, found the derailleur on a web site. It's a Simplex Champion du Monde from 1936-46.

OHhhhh so interesting! Thanks so much for sharing Deb; I love looking at old bikes and their designs. Sometimes their thought process wasn't all that different than what is happening today.

Thanks again I loved this post!:D

Awesome, if I'm ever in the area I will make a point of visiting that museum. It makes me wonder what other museums feature bicycles.

Those are amazing! The red tandem is gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing. I hope, one day, to see them in person.

kind of makes me want to take one for a test spin. The museum would probably frown on that :p

Also reminds me of the Museum of Transport in Glasgow, Scotland. All sorts of wheeled things.

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Originally Posted by bmccasland

kind of makes me want to take one for a test spin.

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I know!
Wonder what that Peugeot would feel like...?

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Originally Posted by bmccasland

kind of makes me want to take one for a test spin. The museum would probably frown on that :p

Also reminds me of the Museum of Transport in Glasgow, Scotland. All sorts of wheeled things.

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Originally Posted by zencentury

I know!
Wonder what that Peugeot would feel like...?

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That Peugeot would feel great, like any 531 frame with sewups. But only 4 gears and I imagine the shifting would be slow. The black tandem had rotten tires that almost felt like solid rubber, but I think they were just flat and so old they were extremely stiff. The red tandem had good tires and could have been taken for a ride. If you don't mind a tandem fixie. :)

DebW, question about the tandem; can you brake from the back? :p

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Originally Posted by Trek420

DebW, question about the tandem; can you brake from the back? :p

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The two tandems are fixed gear with no brakes. Both riders would have used their legs to brake. Not sure if these bikes were strictly for track racing or would have been used on the roads as well.

Great stuff! Thanks!