Re: Packard Bikes
Posted by Leeedy On 2024/4/21 9:12:24
And now... back to Packard bicycles. From 1937 and a bicycle wholesale-distributor's (W-D) catalogue. Here is a Colson-built deluxe balloon model that was specially-badged PACKARD.
Colson was located for many years in Elyria, Ohio and was famous for making high-quality bicycles as well as industrial casters, hospital equipment, automotive components and more.
Some folks who believe they are knowledgable about Colson will argue the year (the internet is a home for endless arguing). But the catalogue is the catalogue and when the W-D sold it is indisputable. So? It is what it is. Collectors today presume that all bicycles made by certain manufacturers have to look like and be equipped in lock-step with what the manufacturer's brand did. Not true. W-Ds did whatever they wanted. So it is useless to expect a W-D model like Packard made by Colson to look exactly like and be equipped exactly like the manufacturer's line of Colson. Colson-made is not Colson.
Some will also look at the specs and note that the coaster brake is listed as "optional"... and jump to conclusions. But what this really meant was the brand of coaster brake was optional. The option was New Departure, Morrow or Musselman brands.
The printing on this page was not the best but was indicating the standard color of maroon. Optional was blue as indicated.
The hornlight shown looks like those supplied by Delta Electric (they also made electrical components for real Packard Motor Car Company Packards). But in reality, the hornlight supplied for these bicycles was made by E.A. Laboratories.
Grips were what was known as Champion grips and today commonly referred to as "Coke-bottle" grips. So pervasive has this terminology become that some re-poppers have taken to making handlebar grips that look like scrunched-up Coca-Cola bottles!
Image is courtesy of National Bicycle History Archive of America which has thousands of original bicycle catalogues and advertisements.
Colson was located for many years in Elyria, Ohio and was famous for making high-quality bicycles as well as industrial casters, hospital equipment, automotive components and more.
Some folks who believe they are knowledgable about Colson will argue the year (the internet is a home for endless arguing). But the catalogue is the catalogue and when the W-D sold it is indisputable. So? It is what it is. Collectors today presume that all bicycles made by certain manufacturers have to look like and be equipped in lock-step with what the manufacturer's brand did. Not true. W-Ds did whatever they wanted. So it is useless to expect a W-D model like Packard made by Colson to look exactly like and be equipped exactly like the manufacturer's line of Colson. Colson-made is not Colson.
Some will also look at the specs and note that the coaster brake is listed as "optional"... and jump to conclusions. But what this really meant was the brand of coaster brake was optional. The option was New Departure, Morrow or Musselman brands.
The printing on this page was not the best but was indicating the standard color of maroon. Optional was blue as indicated.
The hornlight shown looks like those supplied by Delta Electric (they also made electrical components for real Packard Motor Car Company Packards). But in reality, the hornlight supplied for these bicycles was made by E.A. Laboratories.
Grips were what was known as Champion grips and today commonly referred to as "Coke-bottle" grips. So pervasive has this terminology become that some re-poppers have taken to making handlebar grips that look like scrunched-up Coca-Cola bottles!
Image is courtesy of National Bicycle History Archive of America which has thousands of original bicycle catalogues and advertisements.
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