Iver Johnson

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italiansport

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I'm pretty sure most of the members here are aware of the fact the Iver Johnson revolvers are marked "Iver Johnson's Arms & Cycle Works".
Over the years I've owned a great many of these tip up nickle plated revolvers.
However in all my years of collecting and nosing around in old sheds and barns I've yet to see a bicycle marked "Iver Johnson". I am wondering if any of the membership here has ever owned or even seen one?
Jim
 
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My grandfather's .410 shotgun he received as an 11 year old is an Iver Johnson Arms and Cycle Works. Internet research indicated Iver Johnson was one of several bicycle manufacturers who also produced firearms.

Figured bicycles in the late 1800's and early 1900's were like cars where many makers did not survive after 1930, if that long.

Check around and see if anyone either has heard of or perhaps ever seen a Cole automobile. They competed with Cadillac for a few years and were not just another motor vehicle in their time.

My other grandfather cherished his 1913 Cole town car so much that the three owner's manuals and several license registrations survived in excellent condition. The chassis of the car may well have lasted into the 1950's and was one of the skeletons cut to scrap for salvage money.

I am told there are only about 70 Cole automobiles left today in any condition. Maybe a few Iver Johnson bicycles are still around as well.
 
Husqvarna in Sweden made motorcycles back at the turn of the century. There owned by KTM right now. I just picked up a barn fresh adult ridden '84 husqvarna wr 250 I'm going to restore and put it away. These were and still are the best quality bikes on the planet.

Iver Johnson motorcycles I watch the Pickers to see the old bikes they find. Is there any I/j videos on you tube?
 
Can't say that I have ever seen an Iver Johnson motorcycle. The bicycles, while not common, are not all that rare either. I have probably seen half a dozen around Minnesota.
 
The name "JOHNSON" is Swedish?

Going by most named Johnson that I know are Swedes. I can only tie in quality to the Swedish manufacturers.

I find it odd that gun manufacturers at the late 1800 to early 1900 an on till today also manufactured motorcycles. They didn't slack off in quality with anything they manufactured.
 
Last edited:
BigBill said:
The name "JOHNSON" is Swedish?

Going by most named Johnson that I know are Swedes. I can only tie in quality to the Swedish manufacturers.
Click to expand...
My name is Yon Yonson
I live in Visconsin
I verk in a lumbermill dere
Ven I go on the street, und people I meet, I say:
My name is Yon Yonson
I live in Visconsin
I verk in a lumbermill dere.....;)

Never seen an IJ motorcycle or bicycle.:o
 
The bike makers seemed to intermingle with gunmakers a bit, they worked similar metals and parts manufacture, esp drawn tubing.
Miyata started in guns, became known for splined butted tubing in bike frames. O.F. Mossberg worked with Iver Johnson in the bicycle plant before going at it his own in guns.
Remington, LeFever, MDA/Unique of France, Greener, BSA, Suhl, Steyr, CZ, etc worked in bicycles. Browning markedted a front chainring shifting system for bikes....
 
Old TexMex said:
My name is Yon Yonson
I live in Visconsin
I verk in a lumbermill dere
Ven I go on the street, und people I meet, I say:
My name is Yon Yonson
I live in Visconsin
I verk in a lumbermill dere.....;)

Never seen an IJ motorcycle or bicycle.:o
Click to expand...

Oh ja?

Ten t'ousand Svedes
runnin' t'rough da veeds,
pursued by vun Norvegen.
Da dust from da veeds
made snoose for da Svedes,
and they called it Copenhagen.

Uff da.
 
Otreb said:
The bike makers seemed to intermingle with gunmakers a bit, they worked similar metals and parts manufacture, esp drawn tubing.
Miyata started in guns, became known for splined butted tubing in bike frames. O.F. Mossberg worked with Iver Johnson in the bicycle plant before going at it his own in guns.
Remington, LeFever, MDA/Unique of France, Greener, BSA, Suhl, Steyr, CZ, etc worked in bicycles. Browning markedted a front chainring shifting system for bikes....
Click to expand...
In a funny little country back before the Berlin Wall came down I had both a CZ (JAWA) motorbike and a CZ bicycle, among other things CZ built.
 
Oscar Mossberg was Swedish. His company didn't make bicycles that I know of. Maybe a bit late to get into that competitive game in post WW1 years.

The company did sell 3,5,and 10speed bikes in the early 1970's,,but I suspect they were imports or made elsewhere in the US. Relabled w/a Mossberg ID plate.
Hey, they gave me a free 3spd (maybe it was a 5sp?) when I worked at Pedersen. It worked fine to carry me around the neighborhood.

Marlin tried out the bicycle biz in the mid 30's.
They contracted with a company in Mass. (Westfield ?) to make the bicycles and put Marlins name on them.
They didn't sell well to say the least. Less than 500 sold I was told when I was there w/a couple old print ad pics left to look at..
As WW2 was looking like it might have an end in sight, Marlin again thought of post-War production of bicycles. But they never actually started up any production.
 
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