1921 FN (Fabrique Nationale) Ladies Chainless Type C55 (Shaftdrive/ Cardan)
(Now sold)
F.N was the market leader in chainless bicycles in Great Britain. The Model C55 was available for £20 and exhibited at the 1919 Olympia Show as ‘the only chainless bicycle marketed in this country.’
When you ride a shaft-drive bicycle these days, not many folks notice anything different about it. So it’s always enjoyable when you spot an observer doing a double-take, slowly taking in the fact that there’s no chain.
In the day, however, a chainless bicycle – the generic name was ‘acatene’ in France – was a status symbol.
The heyday of glorious promotional colour posters coincided with their introduction in the 1890s, so the general public was familiar with them, and passers-by would definitely have appreciated the lack of chain.
The Belgian company Fabrique Nationale (FN), already a renowned arms manufacturer before moving into bicycle production, was a pioneer in shaft-drive bicycles, influencing the subsequent development of motorcycles.
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The Chainless was designated ‘Type C55’ while the model with a chain was ‘Type VI.’ Note the use of the English word in the French language FN catalogue below – ‘La Chainless.’
TO SEE THE FULL 1926 CATALOGUE/ PARTS LIST
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An interesting detail on this Ladies FN is the celluloid handlebar covers, which were a popular factory accessory at the time.
You can see it better in this close-up photo. The Fabrique Nationale emblem is a nice touch too.
The frame number is 29070.
The saddle is also an FN original, bearing the company crest.
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To see this bicycle’s partner,
and to
www.Oldbike.eu 
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