Genner Bikes

[74Pirate]

Any Genner experts out there??

I've been through all the classic lightweight stuff several times and lots of googling so would kindly ask not to be redirected there.
Having also researched genealogy websites , it would seem that Fred and Dan Genner were brothers who eventually went their separate ways - Fred in Woolwich and Dan in Colliers Wood. Their parents seem to predate them in the Cycle business - poss WH Jenner was their father but yet to confirm that one.

I'm interested in the Fred Genner side of the business following his death in 1939. His wife Alice kept the business until 1955 when she sold it to Harry Perry (it still exists!!). I've acquired a Genner split seat tube from this era - similar to the Saxon but with an extra set of seat stays! It is badged as A.Genner hence my dating to this period.

Has anyone heard of or seen one of these before??

 

[74Pirate]

Re: Head badge

 

[Jonny69]

I don't know any more about Genner other than what I've read on classiclightweights.

The additional set of stays weren't uncommon back in the day on very tall frames to put some stiffness back in. I think riders tended to ask for them when the frame was built, rather than the frame builders using them as a feature. So the original owner probably wanted them rather than them being a specific feature of Genners. The twin tube probably didn't do much for the frame stiffness.

 

[74Pirate]

Thanks Jonny69 - I thought it was prob for stiffness given the frame size but didn't realise it was a relatively common feature. Makes sense.
Any idea of the age? Are those stallard dropouts on the rear and would they date it or did they span a number of years?

 

[OldTel]

Re:

Hi, terrific frame, lovely period looks, I suspect just post war, but as a suggestion have you contacted Harry Perry's, they are proud of there inheritance and I believe they used to have an expert in the house. Terry

 

[74Pirate]

Re: Re:

Hi, terrific frame, lovely period looks, I suspect just post war, but as a suggestion have you contacted Harry Perry's, they are proud of there inheritance and I believe they used to have an expert in the house. Terry

Thanks Terry. Yeah - I tried emailing them but nothing yet. Will call if nothing heard soon.

 

[Jonny69]

Thanks Jonny69 - I thought it was prob for stiffness given the frame size but didn't realise it was a relatively common feature. Makes sense.
Any idea of the age? Are those stallard dropouts on the rear and would they date it or did they span a number of years?

I want to say early 1950s but those dropouts with the tang are for an Osgear setup which was pretty redundant by the 1950s. So I think it must be earlier. Though they don't seem to have the notch to locate the wheel at the front of the dropout, but it could have been cut off later, so who really knows? Mid 40s probably. They look like Ekla lugs and fork crown which would tie in with that

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/co ... nents.html

 

[Jonny69]

Got to do some reading between the lines with the classiclightweights articles and make some assumptions.

Yours is earlier than the Colliers Wood shop because it says so on the head badge.

So it's not from Dan Genner's era: http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bu ... swood.html

It's from Fred Genner's shop: http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bu ... lwich.html

We know Fred Genner died around 1939. We know his wife Alice continued the business after his death, with Harry Perry probably building the frames. Your head badge says A Genner so I'd wager it's her name after Fred's death, but probably pre-dating the Colliers Wood shop. Timeframe therefore between 1939 and 1955. Going on the components I'd say mid 40s and maybe the lack of chrome points it to wartime or shortly after when there was a chrome shortage. The lack of a Russ fork, the later mudguard fittings and the non-clip headset suggest to me that it's not a 30s frame.

 

[kingbling]

Re: Re:

Hi, terrific frame, lovely period looks, I suspect just post war, but as a suggestion have you contacted Harry Perry's, they are proud of there inheritance and I believe they used to have an expert in the house. Terry

Thanks Terry. Yeah - I tried emailing them but nothing yet. Will call if nothing heard soon.

I used to have a Perry and spent a lot of time at the shop don't expect to much from emails you're better off getting on the phone and asking for Paul Mepham who runs the business nowadays (but you already know that :facepalm: ) He's a cracking bloke and will tell you everything you need to know.

 

[74Pirate]

Re:

All much appreciated guys!

Anything is gratefully received! I'll call perry's and ta for the contact name!!

I normally 'do' later bikes but am really looking forward to this one. The guy I'm buying it from originally purchased it from Genner but I'm not sure if that was new or second hand. I'll obviously try and get more info when I pick up in a couple of weeks - it's overseas at the moment.