McCauley Cycle Works

On our way to Baltimore!

This is the preamble to what promises to be an exciting race tomorrow. If you are anywhere near Baltimore MD it will be worth the trip to come see the Baltimore Kinetic Sculpture Race!

"New" Bicycle Day!
William's first (of many I'm sure) alley find bicycle.
Found yesterday, tinkered with it today and it's on the road!

It is often discussed in bicycle & motorcycle circles that the first generation of motorcycles were often souped up bicycles at their core. To achieve a motorcycle in that first generation many bicycle component designs were modified and enhanced to suit the heavier strain and added mechanics.

Here are a handful of components from this pivotal transitional period that I currently have up for grabs to help finish some of the exciting early MC projects out there.

Please feel free to reach out if you see something you may need, happy to discuss specifics.

Always happy to "wheel & deal," horsetrade, and hustle.

Have you ever tried to check your pocket watch while riding your bicycle? It's no easy task!

This unassuming little piece of hardware could save your skin if you were on a tight schedule around the turn of the 20th century.

Handlebar Mounted pocketwatch / stopwatch holder and catalog advertisement for the same style piece alongside some pocketwatches of the period.

Gotta love early cycling accessories.

Sometimes it just takes a simple piece of early hardware to send me down the history rabbithole.

The past couple days I have been studying this handlebar stem with special care, a piece which could so easily be glossed over.

I recognized it as the very same hardware initially developed for the first generation factory motorcycle trade. Many of the most iconic early motorcycles were originally outfitted with this piece to allow for handlebar adjustment which was superior to the period bicycle hardware on the market.

Of course such a claim requires some evidence so I hit the archives and dredged up a handful of images that clearly show it in action.

This example needs a bit of attention & repair but it gave me an excuse to do some archival digging which I always appreciate.

A close look at some turn of the 20th century engineering. This bicycle stem was designed to accommodate steam bent wood handlebars which were quite popular on 1890's American cycles. The three pieve construction allows the user to install and secure the bars without the hazard of removing grips or damaging the delicate wooden bars.

Exquisite machining quality holds up even 120+ years later, faultless technology from a long bygone era.

I get a little tickle in my stomach when I handle and direct gear of this ilk, just wanted to share it with some other bicycle leaning folks around the world.

Badges!? I think you may actually need these stinkin' badges! My apologies to Mel Brooks.

Some of the finer elements of 1890's bicycles, the badges were often highly ornate with huge variation in motif and style. These are just a handful of badges currently up for grabs from my wife collection of period bicycle badges.

HUBBA HUBBA!

Just a few of the antique bicycle hubs I currently have available to help finish your early American bicycle project.

Please feel free to reach out for any details or with any requests of particular hubs you are searching for.

Some bits and bobbles to look at between plays while you watch the big game tonight!

A sampling of antique bicycle accessories, components, and sundries I currently have listed for sale across multiple platforms.

I post new (old) gear daily so keep checking back!

On ebay: mccauleycycleworks
On the CABE: Jesse McCauley
Or send me a note here and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Happy Friday Friends! All these fresh to market items listed to eBay & the CABE forum
McCauleyCycleWorks on ebay, check out the ever replenishing fountain of antique bicycle wares!

Another day another round of rare antique bicycle gear up for grabs. More pictures, prices, & information available for everything pictured upon request.

Feel free to ask any questions here or via direct message.

All posted to multiple platforms, keeping my hands busy!

Just a few of the antique cycling items I currently have listed on ebay & the CABE forum.

Plenty of pictures etc upon request and happy to give discounts for off-ebay transactions.

From 1890's new old stock to 1920's well used relics.
More listed every day, feel free to reach out with any questions or requests.

Joseph Delay Special..svelte, racey, downright sexy machine. One of my favorite rebuilds, this bike has it all as far as 1890's racing bicycles are concerned. Adjustable Uber drop bars, great unique paint work reminiscent of much later Schwinn Paramount machines, and for me original tires just set it apart.

Putting this rare Chicago bicycle up on the market today, please PM with any serious interest.

Tiimmberrrrrr!
This Ca. 1895 Timber frame "Huseby" bicycle is likely the last of it's kind and is heading off to a new home befitting the rarity.

Built out of the equivalent of broomsticks and iron lugs it is remarkable that it still exists in any form.

I was fortunate enough to discover it in the rough and spend quality time bringing it back to life.

One of my favorite projects that I rebuilt from a bare bones frame that is going off to a fantastic European museum. It is bitter sweet to see it go but couldn't have found a better home.

A special bicycle available for sale.
1890's Timber Frame "Huseby" ladies with trace original paint.

Timber frame and cast metal lugs.
Original red, green, and gold filigree throughout the machine.

Ornate everything from stylized inlaid grips to the hygienic saddle.

Available for $4,000 USD

Machine shop mastery in action.
Chainwheels are an integral and often highly artful component of any bicycle (save for chainless varieties)

Sometimes they are so fine they just need to go on the wall.

PM for information on my vast chainwheel collection if you are searching for a particular rare bird or just interested in building a unique clock for someone on your Christmas list this year.

A little foot candy for your early bicycle that is woefully missing period pedals.

Often the component that first succumbs to replacement the right set of pedals can make a huge difference.

Little McCauley Cycle Workin'

It amazes me sometimes what and why some objects survive the ravages of time.

A "one of a kind" set of original Indian Bicycle advertising materials for instance.

Printed on heavy card stock, likely early shipping boxes cropped down for use as file organization.

Killer frame worthy advertisements fit to display alongside your original Indian Bicycle.

PM me for details.

Who is on the hunt for a great winter restoration project? Perhaps even a nicely finished 1890's machine? Look no further!

You may be due for a visit to Richmond, VA, otherwise known as the home of the McCauley Cycle Works.

This is just a sampling of some of the historic bicycles I have available for purchase, PM me to chat about any of these bikes or much more!

Bicycles are easily overlooked as sources of artistic inspiration, that is unless you spend a moment looking at this saddle.

Built well enough in 1897 to survive but only with many generations of care.
Perhaps the last surviving example that has not succumb to the wear and tear of the last century.

All the latest features ca 1898, 125 years later he's a little threadbare but still an "extreme" machine.
Once carmine red, this 30" wheel bike was likely built for someone well over 6 feet tall with an interest in speed.

I love to imagine it before the tires were ridden into dust.

Trick riding and the modern day BMX bike have had much popularity in the 20th century but did you know their roots go back much further? This late 19th century trick bicycle has all the trappings of a modern 24" BMX bike while being stuck in the previous century. William Hoefler, at one point a world renowned entertainer, rode and performed on this bicycle near the end of his career and now I've had the chance to ride it around the block too!

A fantastic example to help tell the story of how acrobatic bicycle riding evolved from yesterday to today.

The Wright Brothers sold their bicycle business in 1909 to W.F. Meyers of Dayton, Ohio.
This little slip of paper offers a scarce insight into this transition with Meyers offering the "Van Cleve" bicycle which had been a Wright Bros. exclusive bicycle.

One step away from the most notorious bicycle men of all time, an exciting find in the world of bicycle geeks.

Geneva, Ohio "Geneva Special" scorcher bicycle.
The "Scorcher" started as a slang term often derogatory aimed at speed driven cyclists that was adopted proudly eventually by cyclists and companies alike.

The gear ratio, dropped bars and racey saddle all put this in a retired speed machine category.

Does anything seem off on this Hagerstown built machine? Aside from the wood handlebars and rims, this Crawford sports a left hand drive train! Unique to this company they outfitted most of their bikes with this novel trait that still stands out today.

This excellent 'Chinook' sold by FP Keenan of Portland, Oregon was built by Pope MFG sometime in the first quarter of the 20th century.

Noteworthy that this build very closely mirrors the notorious 'Indian' line also built by Pope.

The Chinook Indian Nation is primarily associated with the area surrounding the mouth of the Columbia River in present day Oregon.

Fascinating that they would be the namesake of a bicycle badge on their one-time land, a scarce and obscure survivor machine that tells a story.

Sometimes you have to stop and smell the roses.
Likewise to really appreciate some of the subtle components of a bicycle you have to get a pretty close look.

This ornate head badge from a mid 1890's Iver Johnson Arms / "Fitchburg" bicycle.

The flowing floral pattern surrounding the wheel motif all in order to frame the porcelain insert panel with yet another wheel seemingly engulfed in flame. Love it!

Highly refined art in such a petite package.

"Miss Pat Valentine
One Wheel - One Foot - One Wire - One Umbrella"

Patricia learned the trick unicycle craft from her father who was also a performer in the field. This unicycle likely belonged to her father before her as the base is a high wheel (1880's) era fork modified with (1890's) era safety bicycle hardware and ultimately ridden well into the 20th century.

I was tickled to come across (and purchase*) this fantastic photo this morning showing Miss Valentine on the very unicycle from my collection while performing on the high wire.

"It won't be a stylish marriage, for I can't afford a carriage. But you'll look sweet upon the seat of a bicycle built for two."

Despite Daisy's lack of general enthusiasm this is a great overall time capsule of the courting tradition of the mid 1890's.

This 1896 Columbia Model 43 is set up so that both riders have power of steering. Often called "rear steer" the reality is much more cooperative. Working against one another would be catastrophic and fortunately it seems thus tandem has avoided any major marital wrecks.

This machine is available for sale for display as it sits or a great base for restoration.

$1500 picked up in Richmond VA or otherwise moved at buyers expense.

PM for more details