In the 1891 Seidel & Naumann catalogue a lot of safety bicycles are called Teutonia, an impressive german name for a dwarf safety. The Teutonia I is not in the catalogue, but the number II is a straightforward cross frame with pivot steering. The Teutonia III has the difference that it has no chainguard, no brake lock and no double chainwheels at the rear axle.
Number IV and V are semi-diamond frames like the one you see in the pictures on this page. Number VI is a ladies bike or a gents diamond frame - both models have the same name. Then, there are bikes called Germania, which look exactly like the Teutonia VI gents version.
Look at the beautifully shaped cranks and brake lever. And the magnificent hinges to lift front and rear mudguard. I love it.
Both wheels measure 30 inch, the serial number is 13165.
You can see that the bike has been used a lot. Both (same sized) rear chainwheels are completely worn, so a third chainwheel was added. This is the way people kept those bikes running! Nevertheless: I think a blockchain or double roller-chain would look better on this bike.
I put this Seidel & Naumann in the category 'cross frames', although literature of the time calls these bikes 'semi-diamond frames' or 'half-diamond frames'. They were the great hype of 1890, when practically all firms introduced one.
We also have some Seidel and Naumann ordinaries on the website, with a little history about this German factory.
Both wheels measure 30 inch, the serial number is 13165.
You can see that the bike has been used a lot. Both (same sized) rear chainwheels are completely worn, so a third chainwheel was added. This is the way people kept those bikes running! Nevertheless: I think a blockchain or double roller-chain would look better on this bike.
I put this Seidel & Naumann in the category 'cross frames', although literature of the time calls these bikes 'semi-diamond frames' or 'half-diamond frames'. They were the great hype of 1890, when practically all firms introduced one.
We also have some Seidel and Naumann ordinaries on the website, with a little history about this German factory.
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