Excelsior head badge

[Finder Bear]

This one is not from today but maybe a week ago, forgot to post it up. Found at my church about 3 inches down. Looks to be from around a 1934 model bicycle

 

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[Gene Mean]

Real nice!

 

[Digger RJ]

Nice!!! Congrats!!!

 

[villagenut]

Old head badges are always cool. I Love it

 

[Finder Bear]

Is there a way to safely bend it back out without breaking it?

 

[DigginNorthernVa]

Sweet find! Good job on the ID.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

That's a nice find!
I would 'Google' your area to find a good CW relic restorer who knows how to safely straighten stamped brass.

Dave

 

[ToddsPoint]

Excelsior Co. had a complicated history. They made motorcycles and bicycles. The company was split up and sold. Ignaz Schwinn bought part of it and the Excelsior name ended up on Schwinn bicycles. Here are some old Excelsior badges. If you look closely, some say Chicago, IL, some say Michigan City, IN., and some say Arnold, Schwinn & Co. Chicago. I can't read what your badge says but it should say one or the other. Gary

 

[Hawks88]

Real nice save. Congrats

 

[Trezurehunter]

Nice old bicycle relic. Since you asked, if it were mine, here is what I would do. Put the small bent end into a vice. Put a piece of cloth on each side of it, so it doesnt get scratched in the vice. Turn vice handle just to snug up the end of the badge. Now, SLOWLY start to lift the longer end up, then let it rest for a few hours. Go back and do it again, and again. From the pics, it looks as though you would be able to get it straightened out. Now, there is always that slight chance that it will snap, so if you do not want to take that gamble, then I would just leave it alone and display as it is. I'm sure someone will chime in against my advice, but remember, at the beginning I said "If it were mine". I have had great success straightening many items with a vice, but you have to go slowly and have patience.

 

[villagenut]

I dug this one way back when I was about 13 years old and immediately bent it back into shape, not knowing if it would snap, but then again I didn't know what it was then. Glad I did though because it would lot be appreciated as much not seeing the details. Looks like yours is a bit thicker so I would guess it should bend fairly easy back into shape. Leaving like it is though is great because it doesn't really take away from its cool factor. If you do bend it back, show us a pic, but I wouldn't shine it up though.

 

[Inspector]

really nice badge, congrats on the save

 

[Finder Bear]

Well I mustered up the courage and used a plastic mallet and broom handle to coerce it somewhat back into shape. Looks better already. Could use more work but I’m happy with it. This is by far my favorite piece, I don’t know why, it just strikes a chord with me.

 

[Professor of Engineering]

Nice piece of bike history!