Bethlehem Star
Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2012 9:56 am
I picked up another old bike at the Sunday market yesterday. It is very, very old, with the remains of its original decals on the downbar. It has a large single star on the head tube, and the legible parts of the decals say, BETxLxHEx STxR. My detective skills can only make out of this, 'Bethlehem Star'.
Every year, around this time, stories of the elusive Bethlehem Star come to light amongst collectors. But after many years of searching, this is the first one I have actually seen ‘in the metal’. It is almost a miracle!
It is amazingly complete, with its original Jingle bell on the handlebars, Silent Night freewheel, and Mistle toe clips, all still in tact.
I opened the sealed bottom bracket, and a beautiful aroma of frankincense was released. What looked like a wasp's nest under the seat has been identified by a chemist friend as myrrh.
The quality of this bike is amazing, and even under its countless years of grime and wear, it was obviously immaculately conceived by its maker.
Three wise bike collector friends have suggested that it is the find of the millennium. So it will find a warm dry space in my stable, for evermore.
The frame number is 0B 25.12.00. The keeper of the Bethlehem Star serial number register tells me that this means it was built in Bethlehem, on the very first day of production.
The actual frame builder is unknown, but Bethlehem Star lore suggests that in the early days of production, it was someone pretty high up in the organisation.
If anyone else has a Bethlehem Star in their collection, please let me know, so we can get together and take them for a ride.
Merry Christmas to all. I hope Santa brings you lots of rusty old bike stuff!
Warren
Every year, around this time, stories of the elusive Bethlehem Star come to light amongst collectors. But after many years of searching, this is the first one I have actually seen ‘in the metal’. It is almost a miracle!
It is amazingly complete, with its original Jingle bell on the handlebars, Silent Night freewheel, and Mistle toe clips, all still in tact.
I opened the sealed bottom bracket, and a beautiful aroma of frankincense was released. What looked like a wasp's nest under the seat has been identified by a chemist friend as myrrh.
The quality of this bike is amazing, and even under its countless years of grime and wear, it was obviously immaculately conceived by its maker.
Three wise bike collector friends have suggested that it is the find of the millennium. So it will find a warm dry space in my stable, for evermore.
The frame number is 0B 25.12.00. The keeper of the Bethlehem Star serial number register tells me that this means it was built in Bethlehem, on the very first day of production.
The actual frame builder is unknown, but Bethlehem Star lore suggests that in the early days of production, it was someone pretty high up in the organisation.
If anyone else has a Bethlehem Star in their collection, please let me know, so we can get together and take them for a ride.
Merry Christmas to all. I hope Santa brings you lots of rusty old bike stuff!
Warren