28th March 1922 ()
This Hibbard bike is a Deluxe Motorbike that was made by Arnold Schwinn & Company for the Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett, and Company Hardware Stores. H.S.B& Co. was from from Chicago Illinois and had a long history in hardware and bicycles, from the mid late 1800s up past the Second world war. H.S.B. & Co. was also known to developed the True Value Hardware line that still exists today. Early Schwinn are not very common and this one with a Historic Hardware background makes this bike quite a find.
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17th January 1919 ()
This Vintage 1919 Autocycle Motorbike was the Top of the Line Bike offered from the E. C. Simmons Hardware Stores. Simmons Hardware was founded by Edward Campbell Simmons in the 1870s in St. Louis, Missouri and grew to a highly successful nationwide hardware chain. Simmons hardware flourished up until 1922 when it was acquired by Winchester Repeating Arms Still Badged Simmons and then acquired by Shapleigh Hardware Company in 1940 Most Likely no longer Simmons but Badged Shapleigh. Simmons Hardware offered few different Bike models and parts to go with them. Some Later Simmons Bicycles were made by Colson Corporation, but this early one remains a mystery, to the best of my knowledge it is made by Michigan City Excelsior. Simmons was a well trusted hardware store and sold a lot of bikes that are unique with quality construction.
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05th August 1916 ()
This is an Antique Early 1900s EC Simmons Westminster Arch Bar Fixed Gear Racer. The Bike was made by Colson Bicycle Co. (of Elyria, Ohio) for Simmons Hardware Co. USA. The Bike is is an early 1900s arch bar frame with a Lux Low Patina restore.
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24th September 1912 ()
This Vintage 1912 Wonder was the in house bike brand offered from the Shapleigh Hardware Store. Augustus F. Shapleigh had a history in the hardware industry and in the mid 1800s moved to St. Louis Missouri Considered The Gateway to the West. In St. Louis A. F. Shapleigh developed a highly successful nationwide hardware chain called A. F. Shapleigh Hardware. A. F. Shapleigh hardware stores had a long run out lasting many competitors, staying in business up until 1960s. It is known that Shapleigh had some of there bikes made by Pope / Columbia and this one is Pope manufactured.
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