How to assess an old bicycle
August 3, 2010 10:49 PM Subscribe
How would I go about finding how old, what worth if any, this old bike has?
It's in my grandparent's garage and they are quite curious about it. I tried googling belt drive bicycles but got nothing useful. They are in up north in Michigan and pretty frail so I don't think they'd be able to take it to any larger cities to evaluate. It would just really tickle my grandpa if I could give him any solid info on it. Thanks! (the tires say Firestone which he is sure is important)
It's in my grandparent's garage and they are quite curious about it. I tried googling belt drive bicycles but got nothing useful. They are in up north in Michigan and pretty frail so I don't think they'd be able to take it to any larger cities to evaluate. It would just really tickle my grandpa if I could give him any solid info on it. Thanks! (the tires say Firestone which he is sure is important)
It looks like a random, one-of-a-kind, hand-made bike. Either that, or some type of toy.
Looks like it's made out of a destroyed tractor. Older bikes wouldn't have that sized wheels - they'd be much larger. It looks like a folding bike, but it doesn't fold.
Someone had some fun making it. That's my assumption. It's worth something to someone, I guess.
posted by alex_skazat at 11:23 PM on August 3, 2010
Looks like it's made out of a destroyed tractor. Older bikes wouldn't have that sized wheels - they'd be much larger. It looks like a folding bike, but it doesn't fold.
Someone had some fun making it. That's my assumption. It's worth something to someone, I guess.
posted by alex_skazat at 11:23 PM on August 3, 2010
Response by poster: He was thinking Firestone might have used it for a store promotion or something. I cannot find a photo of another one that looks like it anywhere, which lends credence to the homemade theory huh...
posted by yodelingisfun at 11:27 PM on August 3, 2010
posted by yodelingisfun at 11:27 PM on August 3, 2010
This forum will give you a reasonable set of opinions as to whether there's any monetary value to the bike.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 11:31 PM on August 3, 2010
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 11:31 PM on August 3, 2010
Best answer: A reconditioned one is listed on Worthpoint. You have to sign up to see the price. I have no idea if Worthpoint is a good or bad thing. I have no experience with it.
This guy says it's a a circus monkey bicycle. (this sounds wayyy cooler than just an old bike)
In light of these developments
Your future has been laid out before you
Step 1. Fix up the bike
Step 2. Acquire a trained monkey
Step 3. Profit!
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 1:36 AM on August 4, 2010 [4 favorites]
This guy says it's a a circus monkey bicycle. (this sounds wayyy cooler than just an old bike)
In light of these developments
Your future has been laid out before you
Step 1. Fix up the bike
Step 2. Acquire a trained monkey
Step 3. Profit!
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 1:36 AM on August 4, 2010 [4 favorites]
Not a home made bike. Tire companies sold plenty of bikes, so the idea that this was in a Firestone dealer makes perfect sense. The belt drive is extra goodness. Does it have a freewheel (i.e. can the pedals be turned backwards)?
posted by fixedgear at 1:49 AM on August 4, 2010
posted by fixedgear at 1:49 AM on August 4, 2010
It looks similar to the bikes that were available to kids at the local Parks & Rec activities during summer vacation in my SoCal town in the late 50s/early 60s. They had them in both 2 and 3 wheeled variations. Most of the 2 wheelers had training wheels. I never rode one because I liked these.
posted by buggzzee23 at 8:08 AM on August 4, 2010
posted by buggzzee23 at 8:08 AM on August 4, 2010
Response by poster: Ohh I don't know if it can move backwards or not, I didn't think to try when I was there....
posted by yodelingisfun at 12:08 PM on August 4, 2010
posted by yodelingisfun at 12:08 PM on August 4, 2010
Response by poster: Bighappyfunhouse , thank you so much!!
posted by yodelingisfun at 9:47 PM on August 4, 2010
posted by yodelingisfun at 9:47 PM on August 4, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Usually, however, the ones I see are tricycles. I think that's mostly because they can stand up on their own and people just set them up in their lofts as conversation pieces.
posted by dobbs at 11:23 PM on August 3, 2010