Brooks 1890 Catalog — Illustrated Book of Cycle Saddlery

The earliest Brooks catalog in the Ebykr collection, and the book the company’s own later publications trace their line back to. It prints its own title on the opening letter: the Illustrated Book of Cycle Saddlery for 1890. J. B. Brooks and Company had been making bicycle saddles for about seven years when it went to press, from the Criterion Works in Great Charles Street, Birmingham, and the imprint on every page still reads “Patentees and Sole Manufacturers” rather than the limited company it became in 1896.

Two things in it are worth the attention of anyone reading the modern Brooks range backward. The first is that the saddle section, printed pages 2 through 20, sells saddles and springs as a combination rather than as a seat alone: the “International” and “Imperial” patterns are quoted as a saddle plus its sprung frame, and the frame is as much the product as the hide. The second is the suspension medium. The catalog leans on coil and loop springs for its road patterns, but its long-distance and “Climax” models are suspended on **rubber bearings**, a third medium that sits between the sprung and the rigid and is easy to miss when the range is described only in terms of springs.

Prices are quoted as a single figure per model throughout. There is no enamel-and-nickel pair of columns anywhere in the saddle section, which is what a reader checking the arrival of nickel plating on Brooks chassis will want to know. Nickel does appear in this book, but on accessories rather than saddles: the “Tidy” carrier is offered enamelled at 4/6 the pair or nickeled at 6/-, and the No. 5415 handle bar carrier is quoted with nickeled carriers at 18/6.

The scan is a low-resolution one, about 850 pixels across per printed page. Headings, model numbers and prices read cleanly. The smaller body copy is at the floor of legibility and is summarized rather than transcribed word for word where that is the case.

— Page 1 —

[Front cover.]

BROOKS’ PATENT “INTERNATIONAL” AND “IMPERIAL” SADDLES AND SPRINGS.

B 80, 18/6 · B 70, 15/- · B 86, 17/6

ALL SPEAK IN THE HIGHEST TERMS OF THE COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE OF THESE SADDLES.

Brooks’ “International” and other Saddles and Springs ARE NOW SO WELL KNOWN, AND HAVE MET WITH SUCH UNPRECEDENTED APPROVAL OF THE CYCLE WORLD, THAT IT IS NOW SCARCELY NECESSARY TO ENTER INTO DETAILS OF THEIR MERITS. WE WOULD, HOWEVER, MENTION THAT FOR THE COMING SEASON, THE WHOLE OF OUR SADDLES HAVE BEEN IMPROVED IN DETAIL, AND LIGHTENED AS FAR AS CONSISTENT WITH STRENGTH, AND STILL REMAIN BY FAR THE MOST PERFECT AND COMFORTABLE IN THE MARKET.

[Three saddles are engraved across the head of the cover: a sprung “International” at left, a long low pattern on a lever frame at center and a sprung “Imperial” at right. The trade mark roundel, a bee over the word CRITERION, is printed at each upper corner.]

— Page 2 —

[The opening letter, on the right leaf. The left leaf is blank.]

January, 1890.

IN presenting our Illustrated Book of Cycle Saddlery for 1890, we would mention that therein will be found some additions; also improvements of existing patterns.

Special attention has been given to the general construction of Combination Saddles and Springs, as to lightness in conjunction with strength and durability; and we have succeeded in materially reducing the weight of most of our standard patterns, as also in producing a safe Saddle and Spring lighter than any yet on the market. We trust and think our efforts in this direction will be appreciated.

Style, finish, and quality of material of our Goods generally will be maintained, if not surpassed, which in some directions certainly will be the case.

Thanking our friends for their support during the past, and assuring them that every effort shall be made to retain it for the future.

J. B. BROOKS & CO.

[A telegraphic address is printed in small type at the head of the sheet.]

— Page 3 —

BROOKS’ PATENT “INTERNATIONAL” SADDLE & SPRING. IS MOST EASY AND ELASTIC, PRACTICALLY NON-VIBRATING.

No. B 70. 15/-

UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST BICYCLE SADDLE EVER MADE. HAS MET WITH UNIVERSAL COMMENDATION FROM THE CYCLE WORLD. SPRINGS MADE FROM SPECIALLY PREPARED STEEL. NOT ONE IN THE B 70 SADDLE HAS TO OUR KNOWLEDGE BROKEN.

THE DISTANCE FROM THE HEAD, ALSO HEIGHT AT THE HEAD, MAY BE ADJUSTED AS REQUIRED. WHEN FIXED TO THE BICYCLE, THE LEATHER OF SADDLE IS CLOSER DOWN TO THE BACKBONE THAN IS POSSIBLE WITH ANY OTHER SADDLE. MAY BE SET OR PITCHED TO ANY ANGLE. MAY BE TENSIONED WITHOUT REMOVING THE SADDLE. HAS REGISTERED CUTTING THAT IS A CERTAIN PREVENTIVE TO ALL PERINEAL PRESSURE.

J. B. BROOKS & CO., PATENTEES AND SOLE MANUFACTURERS, “CRITERION” WORKS, GREAT CHARLES STREET, BIRMINGHAM.

[The B 70 is engraved in side elevation on its sprung frame. This is the page the flagship article cites for the B 70 and the backbone clearance, and the printed page number agrees with that citation.]

— Pages 4 and 5 —

BROOKS’ PATENT “INTERNATIONAL” SADDLE & SPRING. No. B 80. 18/6. An exceptionally large size, 22/6.

NUMBERS OF TESTIMONIALS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED SPEAKING IN THE HIGHEST TERMS OF THEIR COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE. SPRINGS MADE FROM SPECIALLY PREPARED STEEL, AND IN COMBINATION WITH THE STRONG AND EFFECTIVE STAY ARE PRACTICALLY NON BREAKABLE. PATTERN FOR 1890 CONSIDERABLY REDUCED IN WEIGHT.

FOR EXCELLENCE OF WORKMANSHIP AND MATERIAL; FOR EASE AND COMFORT; AND FOR GENERAL CONVENIENCE AND DURABILITY THIS SADDLE FAR EXCELS ALL OTHERS. FOR TRICYCLES AND REAR DRIVING SAFETY BICYCLES. HAS SPECIAL STEEL FRAME GIVING ELASTICITY TO THE SADDLE. MAY BE SET OR PITCHED TO ANY REQUIRED ANGLE. HAS IMPROVED EASY TENSION, ALSO REGISTERED CUTTING AS A PREVENTIVE TO PERINEAL PRESSURE.

BROOKS’ PATENT SEMI-RACING “INTERNATIONAL” SADDLE & SPRING. B 82. 16/6.

IMPROVED TENSION AND REDUCED WEIGHT. This is our well known SEMI-RACE SADDLE, mounted on springs, similar to the B 80. It is of the very best quality throughout; may be tilted to any angle; and is just the thing for those who like a small saddle.

BROOKS’ PATENT RACING SADDLE AND SPRING. B 83. 10/6.

Made throughout from the best Steel, with our Spring Saddle Frame and Tension. Extremely light, weighing well under 3lbs. The “Ovule” front spring steadies the saddle and prevents excess of play. Springs from our Special Steel practically unbreakable.

[Three engravings, one to each pattern.]

— Pages 6 and 7 —

BROOKS’ PATENT SADDLE & SPRING. MOST EASY AND ELASTIC. PRACTICALLY NON-VIBRATING. SPRINGS FROM SPECIAL STEEL, THE FINEST QUALITY PRODUCED.

B 105. 15/- — A NEW SADDLE OF BEST QUALITY THROUGHOUT. THE WHOLE OF THE FRAMEWORK IS OF BEST SPRING STEEL. HAS PATENT TENSION, AND PATENT RAISING AND LOWERING ARRANGEMENT AT BACK, WITH EFFECTIVE STAY, PRACTICALLY UNBREAKABLE. LIGHT AND DURABLE.

B 100. 15/- — A SADDLE AS OUR WELL KNOWN B 84, BUT WITH A NEW TILTING ARRANGEMENT AS ILLUSTRATED. IS LIGHT AND DURABLE.

B 84. 14/6, With Boss. B 84. 14/6, With Slot.

DURING THE PAST SEASON WE HAVE SOLD MANY THOUSANDS OF THESE SADDLES, AND THEY HAVE MET WITH UNIVERSAL APPROBATION. THEY ARE MADE WITH OUR PATENT TENSION, AND STRONG EFFECTIVE STAY, AND ARE PRACTICALLY UNBREAKABLE. FOR LIGHTNESS AND DURABILITY ARE UNEXCELLED.

[Four engravings. The B 84 is shown twice, once in each of its two mounting forms.]

— Pages 8 and 9 —

BROOKS’ PATENT “IMPERIAL” SADDLE AND SPRING. A MOST COMFORTABLE AND RELIABLE SEAT. No. B 86. 17/6.

SADDLES FROM THE VERY BEST SELECTED ENGLISH BUTTS ONLY. SPRINGS FROM THE FINEST QUALITY STEEL IN THE WORLD. IS LIGHT AND DURABLE. SPRINGS ARE MOST EASY AND ELASTIC, ABSORBING ALL VIBRATION WITHOUT CAUSING LOSS OF POWER. SADDLE CAN BE TILTED TO ANY REQUIRED ANGLE. HAS REGISTERED CUTTING, A SURE PREVENTIVE TO ALL PERINEAL PRESSURE. THE ABOVE SPRING MAY BE HAD SEPARATELY FOR ORDINARY SADDLES.

PATENT “RELEASE” SADDLE AND SPRING. With Slot, 16/-. With sim. Boss, 16/-.

1890 PATTERN, IMPROVED AND VERY CONSIDERABLY REDUCED IN WEIGHT. AS ITS NAME IMPLIES, THE CHIEF FEATURE OF THIS SADDLE IS THAT IT CAN READILY BE RELEASED FROM ITS FRAME-WORK, AND THAT WITHOUT THE USE OF ANY TOOL. SPRINGS GIVE A MOST ELASTIC AND EASY SEAT, AND THE LEATHER HAS OUR REGISTERED CUTTING, A PREVENTIVE TO ALL PERINEAL PRESSURE.

[Three engravings.]

— Pages 10 and 11 —

BROOKS’ PATENT SADDLE & SPRING. MOST EASY AND ELASTIC. PRACTICALLY NON-VIBRATING.

B 93. 10/6 · B 95. 12/- · B 97 (smaller size). 10/6

THE PATENT “OVULE” FRONT SPRING STEADIES THE SADDLE AND PREVENTS EXCESS OF PLAY IN ANY DIRECTION. THESE SADDLES HAVE PATENT TENSION, AND ARE WELL-MADE AND RELIABLE. THEY ARE NOW MADE WITH BEST STAMPED STEEL FRAMEWORK THROUGHOUT, RENDERING THEM VERY LIGHT, BUT STRONG. B 97, AS B 93, BUT SMALLER, IS A SPECIALLY LIGHT SMALL SADDLE.

B 74. Somewhat similar to B 70, but without the adjustment for height at front, 12/6. B 70. As illustrated, 10/6. HAS CONVENIENT TENSION. SPECIALLY PREPARED STEEL SPRINGS. IS CONSIDERABLY CLOSER DOWN TO BACKBONE THAN WITH ORDINARY SPRING. No. B 74 can be fitted to any angle.

B 94. 7/6. FOR CHILD’S MACHINE. A light neat Saddle, combining perfect ease and comfort, with safety and durability.

[Engravings to each pattern.]

— Pages 12 and 13 —

BROOKS’ PATENT LADIES’ SADDLES, WITH OUR SPECIAL DRESS PROTECTOR, WHICH, WHILE NEAT AND UNOBTRUSIVE, IS THOROUGHLY EFFECTIVE, AND RENDERS IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRESS TO CATCH. SPRINGS FROM SPECIALLY PREPARED STEEL, PRACTICALLY UNBREAKABLE.

B 80 L. 18/6 — Our celebrated “International,” allowed by all competent authorities to be the finest saddle in the world, with Improved Tension for 1890, light and DURABLE.

B 83 L. 11/6 — A smaller and lighter saddle than B 80 L. Is made of best steel throughout, with our special spring saddle frame. Is a very light, neat saddle, and is extremely appreciated.

B 105 L. 15/- — A new saddle of best quality throughout, with the whole of the frame-work of best spring steel. Has patent Tension and Tilt, and is an extremely comfortable seat, with effective stay. Is light and durable.

B 93 L. 11/6 — Is a well-made reliable saddle, but has not spring frame, as in the better ones. The frame-work is all of best stamped steel, making it at the same time very light and strong.

[Four engravings.]

— Pages 13 and 14 —

BROOKS’ PATENT LADIES’ SADDLES [continued].

B 40 L. 12/6 · B 20 L. 10/6

No. B 40 L IS SUSPENDED BACK AND FRONT ON RUBBER, WITH PATENT TENSION; SIMILAR CONSTRUCTION TO GENT’S B 40. No. B 20 L HAS RUBBER BEARING TENSION FRONT. BACK REST CAN BE HAD WITH No. B 20 L. Price: PLAIN, 2/6. ADJUSTABLE, 4/6.

J. B. BROOKS & CO.’S PATENT “SPEEDWELL” RACING SADDLE. THE LIGHTEST RACING SADDLE MADE.

No. B 13. WITH BAR FOR SPRING, 5/6. WITH CLIP FOR BACKBONE, 5/6.
B 16. FOR ⅞in. PILLAR, 7/6. FOR ⅞in. TUBE, 7/6.

THE LIGHTEST AND MOST COMFORTABLE RACING SADDLE EVER MADE. HAS YIELDING SIDES, AND NO CONTACT WITH FRAME OR PLATE. THE RIDER, THOUGH ONLY SUSPENDED A SHORT SPACE FROM THE FRAME, IS KEPT FROM CONTACT WITH IT. FITTED WITH BOSS ON SPRING WIRE RODS, WITH PATENT TENSION, AS ILLUSTRATED. SAME QUALITY SADDLE AS B 13, BUT SLIGHTLY LARGER.

[Note the run of printed page numbers. The ladies’ section runs across three printed pages, 11 through 13, and carries six distinct catalog numbers in total: B 20 L, B 40 L, B 80 L, B 83 L, B 93 L and B 105 L.]

— Pages 15 and 16 —

BROOKS’ PATENT “LITTLE GEM” RACING SADDLE. No. B 12. PRICE, 5/- FOR SPRING, WITH CLIP, 6/-.

Is much appreciated by all on the Path. Has Gusseted Flap, which prevents close contact with metal plate. Is made for Spring, or with Clip for Backbone.

BROOKS’ PATENT “SEMI-RACING” SADDLE. No. B 14. PRICE, 6/6 EACH.

Has Rubber Bearing Tension Front. Has Registered Skeleton Plate. Is extremely Light. Is made for Spring, or with Clip for Backbone.

BROOKS’ PATENT LONG DISTANCE SADDLE. B 20.

HAS PATENT RUBBER BEARINGS, WHICH MINIMISE VIBRATION. IS AN ELASTIC, AND EASY SEAT. HAS REGISTERED SKELETON PLATE, MAKING IT REMARKABLY LIGHT. HAS REGISTERED CUTTING THAT IS A CERTAIN PREVENTIVE TO ALL PERINEAL PRESSURE.

BICYCLE: No. 1, 7/6. No. 2, 8/6. TRICYCLE: No. 1, 8/6. No. 2, exceptionally large size, 10/6. HAS PATENT SCREW TENSION.

THE RUBBER BEARING GIVES A SOFTNESS WHICH IS APPRECIATED BY ALL LONG DISTANCE RIDERS.

[A patent number is engraved on the plate in the B 20 illustration.]

— Pages 17 and 18 —

BROOKS’ PATENT “CLIMAX” SADDLE. No. B 50. BICYCLE, 12/6. TRICYCLE, 12/6.

HAS NOT ITS EQUAL FOR COMFORT AND LONG DISTANCE RIDING. IT SWAYS WITH EVERY THRUST, GIVING GREATER REACH AND POWER TO THE RIDER. ALL POSSIBLE FRICTION AVOIDED. IS SUSPENDED BACK AND FRONT ON RUBBER BEARINGS. HAS REGISTERED CUTTING THAT IS A CERTAIN PREVENTIVE TO ALL PERINEAL PRESSURE. CAN BE READILY FITTED TO OUR IMPERIAL SPRING.

BROOKS’ PATENT “LEVER TENSION” SADDLE. No. B 40.

HAS REGISTERED CUTTING, A PREVENTIVE TO ALL PERINEAL PRESSURE. HAS SWIVEL ACTION FRONT. IS ENTIRELY SUSPENDED ON RUBBER BEARINGS. HAS ELASTICITY BY LEVERS ACTING ON THE RUBBER BEARINGS. IS NON-VIBRATING. HAS PATENT SWIVEL BACK, BY WHICH MEANS THE SIDES GIVE TO THE MOTION OF THE RIDER BY AN INWARD AND OSCILLATING MOVEMENT. CAN BE READILY FITTED TO OUR “IMPERIAL” SPRING.

BICYCLE SIZE: No. 1, 10/6. No. 2, 12/-. TRICYCLE, 12/-.

[Three engravings to the Climax, showing it from the side and from each end. This is the “Climax” the flagship article singles out. Note that the printed page number here is 17, not the page number the article gives.]

— Pages 19 and 20 —

BROOKS’ PATENT ORDINARY LONG DISTANCE SADDLE. WITH REGISTERED SKELETON PLATE. No. B 15.

In Best Stout Hide, Bicycle No. 1, 6/-; Tricycle 1, 6/6. IF WITH PATENT TENSION, No. B 18: Bicycle No. 1, 7/-; No. 2, 8/-; Tricycle 1, 8/-.

BROOKS’ PATENT ORDINARY LONG DISTANCE SADDLE. No. B 60. In Good Stout Hide, Price 4/6. IF WITH PATENT TENSION, No. B 65, 8/-.

BOYS’ LONG DISTANCE SADDLE. With Skeleton Plate, B 64. 3/9.

BROOKS’ PATENT BRAKE-HOLDERS. FOR RELIEVING THE HANDS OF ALL STRAIN WHEN DESCENDING A LONG HILL.

No. 1 — Price 8/6. No. 2 — Price 4/-.

THEY AUTOMATICALLY FIX THE BRAKE WHEREVER IT IS PUT. RELEASED INSTANTLY BY A SINGLE PRESSURE. CAN BE THROWN OUT OF ACTION WHENEVER IT IS DESIRED TO LEAVE THE BRAKE LEVER FREE. No. 1 HAS ALSO A LOCK FOR LOCKING ON THE BRAKE WHILE A MACHINE IS LEFT STANDING.

[The saddle section of the book closes here at printed page 19. Printed page 20 begins the accessories, and pages 21 through 37 carry straps, carriers, camera cases, tool bags, touring bags, cyclists’ hold-alls, watch belts and the Patent Handle Bar Luggage Carrier or Leg Rest. Those pages are held in the Ebykr collection but are not reproduced in this record, which covers the saddle range.]