Iver Johnson originally manufactured Lovell Diamond bicycles, and they bought the Lovell Diamond company in 1900. Iver Johnson’s Truss Bridge was the world’s market leader for a truss frame. So did they introduce another braced-frame bicycle to capitalise on the success of the Truss Bridge? Or to provide a cheaper alternative?
Cycle manufacturers were fiercely protective of their trademark designs. No other company sold a truss bridge bicycle until Iver Johnson’s patent expired in 1917, at which time Columbia, Schwinn Harley Davidson and other makers’ ‘Arch Bar’ bicycles suddenly appeared. (Note that, even then, no other company used the term ‘Truss Bridge’). This suggests that Iver Johnson had a powerful litigation team ready to act against any competitor.
The style used by Iver Johnson for the Lovell Diamond Truss Frame was already in use in England. Lovell Diamond was not a major company, and promotion and sales of this model was minimal compared to Iver Johnson’s flagship Truss Bridge. There are now only a few surviving examples. My personal opinion is that Iver Johnson introduced this style into the Usa and registered it to prevent other companies introducing a similar ‘Truss Frame’ to compete with their Truss Bridge.
This is an unrestored original example that needs a replacement front wheel and saddle. There is also a small kink in the handlebar. It would be good to see it back on the road.
View in the Online Bicycle Museum
BICYCLE COLLECTORS CURATED ONLINE AUCTION, Spring 2025
This Timed Auction is live from 14th of March 2025 2pm to 14th of April 7pm, 2025. Highest bid wins.
NO BUYERS or SELLERS PREMIUM.
THE RESERVE IS THE START PRICE + BUY-IT-NOW OPTION.
INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY: NO PACKING FEES.
BIDDING INCREMENTS: Up to £1000 = £10. Over £1000 = £50. Over £2000 = £100
IT’S A CURATED AUCTION – Colin is the auctioneer and is available to chat to you personally during the auction (or before) by email, text message, phonecall, Facebook Messenger or Whatsapp.
