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A Couple of Notes Looking For Info on an Early Cleveland
Hello my name's Alasdair Fotheringham and I'm a cycling journalist.
I'm doing some research for the Belgian National Cycling Museum https://koersmuseum.be into a a series of late 19th, early 20th century US road/track bikes they've just had donated to them. One of them is a Cleveland 1901 which I know was made by the HA Lozier factory that became part of the CCM.
Is there any way I can send you a photo of said bike so you could help me out with more background info please?
Thanks and best wishes,
Alasdair
John many thanks for your rapid response.
Here's the picture I have of the Cleveland. Unfortunately right now I don't have more because I live in Spain and the Belgian Cycling Museum is in west Flanders, but if people want more detailed pictures I'll try and nag the curators to take some! If you can post it on your site for me that'd be very kind. Feel free to post my email as well if need be so people can contact directly without hassling you!
A bicycle badged as Cleveland could be US-made, CDN-made by Lozier before 1900, or CDN-made by CCM after 1899. A close-up photo of the badge is a good starting point. You suggested people email you directly - you could post your email address here.
i think the fellow "Alasdair" emailed John and John posted the message here for a response
maybe you can click on the link John provided and get the email address on their website to contact him
here is the email address that is available on their website :koersmuseum@roeselare.be
Sorry. Here is his email address alasdair@siapi.es I thought it had been included in one of his notes.
Photo of Cleveland A-1 Badge:
I emailed Alasdair and he has sent me 34 excellent photos of the Cleveland he's asking about. I will attach a photo of the badge. I've never seen a badge like this, with A-1 across the top and 1901 model at the bottom. As you can see there is no mention of Canada Cycle and Motor or Toronto. I'm hoping the collective minds here on vintageccm can help Alasdair.
On Wikipedia the Lozier page states that in the US, H.A. Lozier sold his bicycle business to concentrate on automobiles, which he made starting in 1900. From the CABE, I learned that the right to the Cleveland name in the US was under Pope's control by 1904 (following the collapse of the ABC).
Here are questions that come to my mind:
1. Has anyone seen the model A-1 or a similar style designation on a CCM bike here in Canada?
2. With a badge like this, is this bike an American-made Cleveland and not Canadian?
3. With "1901 model" on the badge, is it safe to say that the bike was made for the 1901 model year?
4. If it's an American-made bike, in 1901 it would have been made under the control of the American Bicycle Company, right?
5. Is this specifically a racing bike, or is an ordinary roadster with downturned bars?
As mentioned, I have 33 other photos of this bike. If there are close-ups that people want to see to help answer any of these or other questions, please put in your requests here and I'll post them.
-Brian R.
In the 1918 CCM catalogue, under Massey Crank Bracket Parts on page 10, there was an "A" and "A1" model. Curiously, there is no A or A1 under Cleveland Crank Bracket Parts. As we all know there was no Massey bike made in the USA. So, perhaps this means an A-1 Cleveland could possibility be a CCM bike after all. Maybe A was for 1900 or CCM's first year, and A-1 for its second year, 1901.
More Photos:
Looks to me that head badge has been off.I would think originally it would have been rivits no slot for screw driver.
That early I would think it would have had a block chain as most racing bikes around 1900 had. Then again a lot can change in 120 years
Just my take on it
Also front wheel is 36 spoke count i think it should be 32 at that time.
Brian, Here is the front cover of a 1900 Cleveland (CCM) catalogue. The image of the Cleveland head badge does not have the A-1 or !900 model visible, as you can see. Nor is it mentioned in the 24 pages of the catalogue. The Racer model is No. 64.
Hi Ron
Does it show a chainless in the 1900 catalgue?
Dave
Dave Yes Chainless and several other models including Quickstep. Ron
Thanks Ron
What is ( Quickstep)?
Quickstep was a model of Cleveland they made it for several years 98 to 02 I would guess. I have a ladies for sale if you are interested. Ron
Ron
Email some pictures of the bike .I am trying to quite but you never know.
Dave
this is an American made 1901 Cleveland model A-1, ABC (American Bicycle Company) consortium (“skinny X badge”), classified as an entry model
They advertised in the catalogues as American Bicycle Company, Lozier Sales Department, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.
American “Cleveland” used an alphanumeric system from 1901 to 1906,
looks like an older repaint, paint patina doesn't match the patina on the nickel, and around the headbadge, the paint is perfect
it should have rivets for the headbadge as Dave mentionned
looks like the wrong stem, bars and seat
two sets of chain tensioners might be one too many!
Chain is a B-D USA (Baldwin Duckworth) chain from the ‘40’s
hard to tell from the pictures if the rims and hubs are original
Pedals should be Cleveland rat-traps. Hard to tell from the pictures which pedalsare in there
Alasdair is already a CABE member, and is actively asking questions on some of his bikes
There is a A-1 on the Cabe and two C-1 that I could find.
catalogue list the seat as "Wheeler Extra"
Paul Watson makes a beautiful "Wheeler Extra" saddle and he also makes the correct triangular "Cleveland" leather tool pouch
would be a real nice addition to this bike
the rest of the bike looks great as-is IMO
tried posting the 1901 Cleveland catalogue pages here, but not able to add the scans so I sent it to Alasdair directly, he should be all set!