Date: Fri 22-May-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: JUDIR

Quick Words:

Pedaling

Full Text:

Pedaling Old Bikes In Copake

(W/CUTS) - EWM

By Lyrysa Smith

Photos By Brian W. Benson

COPAKE, N.Y. -- They call them bone shakers and velocipeds, high wheels and

ordinaries, hard tire safeties, pneumatics, balloon tires, air flows and even

muscle bikes. We're talking bicycles here -- old bikes -- and the people who

know them well adore them.

They also know just where to get them. The world's largest antique bicycle

sale happens in a little town in New York. Mike Fallon's Copake Auction held

its seventh annual Antique and Classic Bicycle Auction on Saturday, April 18.

Fallon and his son and business partner, Seth, sold just under $300,000 worth

of bicycles and bicycle memorabilia.

As always, the auction attracted all the big wheels of bicycle collecting,

from as far away as Japan, England, The Netherlands, Belgium and Canada, and

from all corners far and wide of the United States. Suddenly, the village of

Copake was filled with bike-minded visitors.

Most rolled into town in vans, motor homes and trucks large enough to haul

home their prize purchases. Others came for the "smalls" -- antique,

bicycle-related ephemera like books, catalogues, artwork, photographs,

glassware and china, trophies, medals and stud-back buttons.

Many arrived early the day before for Friday's dawn-to-dusk swap meet. More

than 40 vendors (most of whom were buyers on Saturday) set up temporary shop

and did brisk business in a light drizzle under gray skies. They sold and

swapped bicycles, gears, pedals, seats, tools, lamps, chains and other

assorted bits and parts. Several swap meet buyers reported scooping up some

real treasures long before lunch.

During preview on Friday and the auction on Saturday, bicycle enthusiasts

absorbed close to 150 years of bicycle history, all told through more than 200

antique bicycles and 400 more lots of bicycle ephemera.

They ogled over the oldest bicycles at the auction and the newer models, too.

In fact, it was the "children of the 60s" collectors, ages 25 to 40, that

could be found reminiscing over the Sting Rays, now affectionately known as

"muscle bikes," from the era of fast "muscle" cars, banana seats and sissy

bars.

Serious antique bicycle collectors, however, were more taken with two 1850s

velocipedes or "bone shakers," so called because the equal-sized wagon-like

spoke wheels -- made of wood and wrought iron by blacksmiths -- jarred the

body.

These are the earliest pedal-driven bicycles, with the pedals attached to the

front wheel. The ancient bone shakers sold for $4,410 and $1,980.

Collectors scrutinized the much-beloved 1880s high wheels, or ordinaries, that

offered faster forward motion with the design development of a gigantic front

wheel and tiny back wheel. It is the nostalgic image of the high wheels that

popularly represent the notion of "antique bicycle." However, these bicycles

were somewhat hazardous; even a collision with a small obstruction in the road

would cause the rider to instantaneously flip over the handlebars.

"To alleviate these `headers,' as they were called, bike makers decided to

create a safer bike," explained Mike Fallon. The first effort by the English

in a "safety" resulted in one of the most unusual bikes at the auction -- the

1886 Regent Dwarf Safety, known as The Kangaroo.

The English made the front wheel smaller than a high wheel (from 50 plus

inches down to 36 inches), and to compensate for loss of speed, added an

innovative concept for the era -- a geared chain drive. Although the Kangaroo

still had unequal-sized wheels, the smaller front wheel made it possible to

travel over rougher surfaces.

"I think this was a very early attempt at an all-terrain vehicle," mused

Fallon. "And at the time, Australia was all the rage, and naming things after

animals was also a trend. So, they were following a fashion, thinking, well, a

kangaroo could go anywhere, even in outback Australia."

The 1886 Kangaroo was purchased for $11,825, while the high wheels at the

auction sold for prices around $2,000 to $3,000. A 1889 Victor Model A high

wheel, which sold for $5,500, was one of 50 uncatalogued items in the auction.

"My philosophy is to take a few late items because it adds surprise and

excitement to being here at the auction and participating in it," said Fallon.

"I turn down more than I accept because I try to add only a few very good

items."

A culturally charming bicycle was the 1896 Waverly Ladies Pneumatic (which

refers to air in the tires, as opposed to hard rubber tires), an ornamented

bike made specifically for women. It was stylish at the time for well-to-do

women to ride bicycles, so these bikes were designed with no center bar to

ruffle their long skirts. The bike also had the original decorated wood cover

for the chain to protect the skirt from getting snagged. The 1896 Waverly

Ladies bicycle sold for $575.

According to Fallon, the current hot item, a trend reflected at this auction,

is the pre-World War II balloon-tire bicycle. This 1930s bike features Art

Deco-type styling, with air flow designs that make each look like a streaking

comet. Many of these very sleek bikes were created in all shiny silver

aluminum with the look of lots of chrome.

Bike manufacturers were really trying to make an impression and do something

flashy with these deluxe bikes, explained Fallon. The nation was in the midst

of the Depression, however, and the deluxe bikes were expensive, so only a few

were made. Still, the bikes were intended to be flagships, the top of line.

"These were the bikes that the store would put in the front window, gleaming

and glorious, to attract customers. Then most buyers would walk in and

purchase less expensive models," he said.

One collector from Arizona called the 1930s balloon tire bikes "an obsession,

a total addiction. I save all year to come to this auction and see these

bikes. There's a great selection this year, so it will be tough to pick `the

one' that is, if I can get away with just one."

The one bicycle most esteemed by nearly everyone at the auction was the 1937

Evinrude imperial model Stream Flow, and for good reason, given its bizarre

history.

Only about 200 of these bikes were made, and they were touted as being

technologically advanced. "In fact, they were pushing technology so far, [the

bikes] had severe mechanical problems, which caused them to break apart, and

there were all kinds of accidents," said Fallon. "The design suffered from

major engineering flaws, and as you can imagine, it was a marketing disaster."

Evinrude recalled the bikes, but some have remained in private hands. Any one

of the couple of examples that exist today are extremely rare. Furthermore,

the particular bicycle sold at Copake is considered to be the best original

unrestored Evinrude in existence, and came with a rare promo "fold out"

brochure, the likes of which had never been seen before.

Fallon recalled auctioning the Evinrude. "That bike had so much action. It

opened with a $5,000 bid right away. The buyers knew it had never been offered

in public before."

When the final hammer came down, the winning bid was $18,700.

Several book lots also inspired a lot of excitement. The second offering in

the sale, consisting of 17 bound volumes of the cycling trade magazine The

Bearings, was purchased by a California collector for $6,050.

A two-volume set, Around The World On a Bicycle, by Thomas Stevens, and San

Francisco to Teheran and Teheran to Yokohama, 1887-88, sold for $1,870. The

set's significance was raised considerably when it was realized that the

inscription in them was between two great historical biking figures: "To Karl

Kron, Sincerely yours, Thomas Stevens."

The Fastest Bicycle Rider in the World, the autobiography of Marshall W.

"Major" Taylor, was a 1928 rare edition autographed by Taylor to George

Hendee's manager, Charles P. Culver. The published subtitle stated, "The story

of a colored boy's indomitable courage and success against great odds." The

book sold for $1,100, with three phone bids going and four absentee ballots,

too.

According to Fallon, "It's an historically and culturally important book.

Taylor was the first important black athlete in the US, and he was lauded

around the world as a champion at a time when bike racing was the most

important and best-attended sporting event."

The books mentioned above, and many of the auction items this year, were from

four major collections: the property of Roger Johnson, Bob Trimble, Pope

Manufacturing, and Ed Berry, Sr.

Many lots of ephemera sold well, including unique bicycle-related glassware.

"I've never seen it offered or seen so much of it in one place before," said

one buyer. Also offered were bike lamps and other parts, lithographs,

photographs, framed artwork, advertising items, catalogues and accessories.

A visitor from Orlando, Fla., noted that the auction has something for

everyone, from a three-wheeled bicycle taxi with retractable top, an "E.T."

character bike, and even a "Coca-Cola" bike.

Carl Burgwardt, owner of the Bicycle Museum in Orchard Park, N.Y., commented

on the nice selection of this year's lots and called the auction "the first

season rust buster," because it gets all the wheelmen and collectors out

looking at and coveting the antique and classic bicycles.

A collector from New York City said, "I get to see all of my bike friends from

all over. The variety and assortment of bicycles is terrific."

"We had maybe ten percent fewer people in the auction audience this year,"

said Fallon, "but they were good buyers, and we had more absentee and phone

bidders. But anyone who wasn't here missed out on the uncatalogued surprises.

Best of all the mood of the auction was great, really, really upbeat."

Fallon expects the swap meet to continue to grow and says collecting trends

remain strong for early paper items like books, catalogues, trade cards, and

original art, pre-1890 high wheels and hard tire safeties, and the pre-war

deluxe balloon bikes.

"There's always a lot of interest in good original condition or correct

restoration bicycles here," he continued. "And we heard from a couple of

collectors that this is a unique auction because buyers and sellers walk away

very happy."

Prices quoted include a ten percent premium.