framebuilding tools

By 1900, moving beyond the range of tires and associated products, M & W produced a selection of tools and products for the shop offering more substantial repair services, and for small manufacturers, mostly focused on brazing and enamelling equipment:

• a brazing stand, for heavy repairs or even construction of bicycle frames.
• a dipping tank, for application of enamel over finished bicycle frames, all at one fell swoop.
• an enameling oven, to bake and cure enamel once applied.
• paints, varinishes, polishes and other finishing supplies, including:

bicycle enamel - for touch-up of enameled frames.

rubber baking enamel - for painting frames.

enamel brushes - for finish and patch work of enamel.

brush safe - to keep brushes free from contaminant when not in use.

enamel polish - for spot polishing of enameled surfaces.

enamel thinner - for thinning enamel (surprise).

iron putty - for filling in gaps in brazing joints.

hand-polishing powder - for finish polishing of enameled surfaces.

metal polish - for polishing of nickelled and bare metal surfaces.

bronzing powder

bronzing size - for pinstriping and solid bronzing of details.

transfer size - for attaching decals over enamel.

finishing varnish - for covering bronzing or transfers over dark enamels.

white crystal varnish - for covering bronzing or transfers over white or lighter enamels.

repair shop tools

there were a variety of tools destined for bike shops, most of which were concerned with repair of tires, casings and innertubes:

• a cement kettle, for either gas burner or stovetop use, designed to melt hard cement for use in coating new rims. the rim would be rolled against the wheel shown in the center of the kettle, and would pick up cement evenly from it.
• the m & w tire mouse was designed to hold innertubes while they were being threaded through the tire casing. later on, a second version replaced this, of simpler design.
• the tube horn was to be placed at the opening to the casing in order to make the innertubes entry smoother.
• a kit of casing tools was also available - eash had its individual purpose in the repair of the actual tire casing - a scraper for prepping the inside of the casing, the brush & brush holder for spreading cement, and the patch-holders of various sizes for inserting and securing the actual patch.
• for more serious tire repair, there was also the gas burner-powered steam heat vulcanizer.

other accessories, tools and sundries

besides tubes, tires, repair kits and tools for bicycle shops, the m & w catalogue included a host of related bicycle products under the m & w name. each catalogue also featured a number of other manufacturers products as well, but im concerned only with their own products for this listing. most of these products had something to do with tires, though there are exceptions. also, being a general rubber manufacturer before beginning to focus on bicycle tires, m & w also had a variety of other rubber bicycle products.

• a variety of tools for the rider were offered. the pumps were specifically set up for their tires (it was common in those days to have proprietary valves, as they were not yet standardized).
foot pump (drawing).- for general shop or home use.

hand pumps - available in 8.5" and 5.25" sizes, for carrying in the tool kit or pocket.

bicycle wrench - a fairly standard adjustable wrench, present in any good cyclist's tool kit.

screwdriver - wooden handled, another tool kit standard.

plug pliers - pressed steel, for the repair of single-tube tires and other uses.

nipple grip - a one-size-fits-all (valuable in the age before standardization) spoke wrench, designed to be comfortably twirled between the fingers.

• "slippery stuff", their lubricant, was a mica-based grease stick, it seems. it came in a neat cardboard tube. [photo 1 | photo 2]
• m &w also offered a cycle oil, which was, well, cycle oil.
• "sticky stuff" was their catch-all name for tire cements, rubber solutions etc:
hard cement - for melting in the cement kettle for the initial gluing of tires to rims.

liquid cement - for reconstituting the dried hard cement to reglue tires.

rubber solution - a general patching cement for double-tube tires.

quick-repair cement - a thicker cement specifically formulated for the quick-repair tire.

plastic rubber cement - for injecting into single- or double-tube tires as a patch.

• morgan & wright had their own proprietary valve, which was available separately from innertubes and tires for repairs.
there were also a variety of sundries related to patching and repair of tires and innertubes:
soapstone - to prevent innertubes from chafing against outer casing.

tire plugs - in a variety of sizes, for repairing punctures in single-tube tires.

vulcanizing patches - for repairing punctures in double-tube tires.

tire tape - for road repairs of damage to the outer casing.

puncture band - a sort of external rubber tire boot, to be used in case of extreme damage to the outer casing on the road.

• M & W hubs, front and rear.
• M & W pedals, in both men's and ladies' versions.
• pedal rubbers, for standard pedals of the day, rat-trap pedals, and adjustable pedal rubbers for M & W pedals.
• rubber toe clips, which more accurately were toe straps, designed to be used with spring steel toe clips, which provided a firmer grip, for racing purposes.
• handlebar buffers, in both spring and flexible versions, which fit onto the top tube of the bicycle, and protect it in the instance of the bars hitting the frame.
• the M & W saddle, much like many of the other saddles of the day. notice it was part of the first split saddle/hole in the saddle fad.
• sprocket locks, in two sizes - one of the more popular security measures of the day.

products of other companies sold through M & W catalogues

• Matthews & Willard nickel finish gas lamp, a carbide-burner.

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