Columbia chainless bicycle
Title
Columbia chainless bicycle
Description
This bicycle was used by Reverend M. Ellis. Ellis arrived in Montana in 1884 and for the next forty years served the state's Presbyterian churches in a variety of capacities, most notably as the Superintendent of Sunday School Missions. As superintendent, Ellis traveled all over the then roadless state establishing and ministering to Sunday Schools—by bicycle.
Bicycle (a) Wheel (b) Tire (c) Spare tire (d) Columbia Chainless Bicycle. Black painted over red under paint. Shaft driven/ upright handle bar with wooden hand caps/ metal spokes/ wooden wheel rims/split padded saddle seat on springs made of horse hair covered with leather/ wire frame toe clips/ front holder made of heavy gauge wire attached to handle bar for holding suitcase/ cross bar, seat tub, and downtube/ handle originally leather covered (remnants remain)/ tires are tubeless canvas covered in rubber/ wire above fork with piece of wood for holding a light/ wire twisted across top and bottom of body, possibly for added stability.
Bicycle (a) Wheel (b) Tire (c) Spare tire (d) Columbia Chainless Bicycle. Black painted over red under paint. Shaft driven/ upright handle bar with wooden hand caps/ metal spokes/ wooden wheel rims/split padded saddle seat on springs made of horse hair covered with leather/ wire frame toe clips/ front holder made of heavy gauge wire attached to handle bar for holding suitcase/ cross bar, seat tub, and downtube/ handle originally leather covered (remnants remain)/ tires are tubeless canvas covered in rubber/ wire above fork with piece of wood for holding a light/ wire twisted across top and bottom of body, possibly for added stability.
Date
ca. 1899
Identifier
2002.45.01 a–d
Materials
Metal/Wood/Paint/Leather/Horse hair/Canvas/Rubber
Height (inches)
25
Width (inches)
40
Length (inches)
59
Source
Montana Historical Society Museum Collection
Credit
Gift of Richard J. Dosker