Brooks 1932 Catalog — The Brooks Book of Cycle and Motor Cycle Saddles and Equipment (List No. 158)

The Brooks Book of Cycle and Motor Cycle Saddles and Equipment for 1932, from J. B. Brooks and Co. Ltd. of the Criterion Works, Great Charles Street, Birmingham. Twenty-four printed pages, the year printed on the cover and the imprint on printed page 2 carrying LIST No. 158.

This book was opened to answer one question, and it answers it: when did the Brooks List No. convention begin. The series was known from 168 in 1933, 190 in 1934, 208 in 1935, 247 in 1937, 265 in 1938 and 280 in 1939, and neither the 1925 nor the 1927 book carries a List No. at all, so the convention was bounded only to somewhere between 1927 and 1933. Printed page 2 of this book carries LIST No. 158 at the foot of the imprint. The convention therefore begins in 1932 or earlier, and the bracket closes from 1927 to 1933 down to 1927 to 1932.

That is as far as the Ebykr collection can take it. The collection holds 1927 and then nothing until 1932: there is no 1928, 1929, 1930 or 1931 book. So 1927 to 1932 is the final answer available from these sources, and no future session should expect to narrow it further without a book from outside the collection.

The second finding is about the convention itself rather than its start. This book prints the year on its cover AND carries a List No. inside, which no previously read book does. The five dating conventions recorded by this project treated the printed year and the List No. as successive, one replacing the other. They overlap, for at least one year. Anyone dating a Brooks book of this period should check both.

The third finding is the B 28. Printed page 5 lists it among the release hammock and semi-hammock saddles, and describes a stranded wire looped frame terminating at the rear in an ingenious double rubber buffer device for the elimination of minor road shocks. So the rubber buffer is still the B 28 story in 1932, and the catalog now calls it double. The B 28 itself has a discontinuous history across this run: present in 1903, 1905, 1906, 1907 and 1908, absent from 1910, 1911 and 1912, and present again from 1913 onward. Its 1932 figures are 10 and a half by 8 and a quarter by 2 and three quarter inches at 2 lbs. 15 ozs., priced 19/9 in enamel.

The fourth is the B 90, which this project uses as a control. Its three sizes here are 10 and three quarters by 8 and three quarters, 11 and three quarters by 9 and a quarter, and 12 and a quarter by 9 and three quarters inches, each with a height figure of about three and a half inches. Set beside the earlier readings the B 90 grows steadily across three decades: Size 1 runs 10 and a half by 7 and a half inches in 1903, 10 and a half by 8 and a half from 1910 to 1916, and 10 and three quarters by 8 and three quarters here. Its weight runs 2 lbs. 6 ozs. in 1903, 2 lbs. 13 oz. in 1910 and 1914, 3 lbs. in 1916 and 3 lbs. 4 ozs. here. The saddle got bigger and heavier over twenty-nine years, steadily, and the wartime-stock explanation once offered for the 1914 to 1916 step is a small part of a much longer trend.

The book also shows the shape of the range at the bottom of the Depression. Every frame type is offered in several grades of top under separate names: Brooks itself at the top, then CHALLENGE, then LEGION, then KAYDEX, with PLYFLEX as a patent weatherproof alternative top and SUPLEX as a sprung mattress seat. Printed page 7 shows the pattern most clearly, offering one three-coil chassis as the B 85, B 75, B 73, Challenge C 31, Legion A, Kaydex K 2 and Plyflex P 205, at prices from 13/6 down to 5/3. Printed page 2 states the editorial policy behind it, that buying must in some cases submit to price limitations and that with cycle saddles the price is chiefly controlled by the grade of leather used for the top.

SUPLEX is spelled with one P, on printed page 11 and in every occurrence in this book, which is consistent with every other Brooks catalog read in this run.

Two conventions are stated outright on printed page 2 and are worth recording because they govern how the figures in this book should be read. First, all saddles of the same general type of frame are listed beneath one illustration, with any minor variations described in the text, so an illustration here does not correspond to a single model. Second, heights given are from centre of clip to under surface of seat immediately above, which is the first explicit definition of the height figure in this run; the older books declare only the bootmaker method for length.

The telephone is Central 3670, consistent with every book from 1913 to 1935, and the address is the Criterion Works, Great Charles Street, with codes given as Bentley’s Complete Phrase.

PROVENANCE AND A PAGE THAT IS NOT PART OF THE BOOK. This scan comes from the IceniCAM Information Service, and its final sheet is not a catalog page at all: it is IceniCAM’s own branding and credit page, carrying the magazine logo, a photographic collage and the address www.icenicam.org.uk. It has been excluded, exactly as the V-CC courtesy card leading the Harris 001 scan was excluded. The catalog itself is twenty-four pages. No content page carries a watermark or any burned-in mark; the scan was checked page by page.

NO SCAN DEFECT WAS FOUND. No two embedded images in the file are byte-identical, and the printed page numbers run continuously.

This record reproduces ten leaves: the cover, the imprint page carrying List No. 158, the full roadster saddles, the release hammock and semi-hammock saddles including the B 28, the three-coil saddles, the racing saddles and the B 17 Champion, the Suplex spring mattress saddles, the kit holdalls, the motor cycle saddles, and the Proofide page. The remaining pages, covering the tension coil saddles, the four-wire saddles, the further racing and champion models, the ponchos, cycling shoes, toolbags, pillion seats and cushions, galoshalls and leggings, leather coats, gloves and handlebar muffs, are held in the Ebykr collection but are not reproduced here.

The scan runs about 1,100 pixels across per printed page at 200 pixels per inch, and the images are presented at twice that, the house ratio for this run. The book is printed in red and black throughout on white paper, and reads cleanly at this scale. Shipped as scanned, with no white point normalization.

— Front cover —

[Front cover. Cream card, foxed at the edges, the lettering centred in the upper half. BROOKS is set in the house wedge-shaped red logotype.]

The
BROOKS
(REGISTERED TRADE MARK)
BOOK
of CYCLE and
MOTOR CYCLE
SADDLES and
EQUIPMENT
1932

— Printed page 2 — the imprint and List No. 158 —

[Printed page 2. The BROOKS logotype in red at the head, then the heading and five paragraphs of text, with the firm’s imprint at the foot. LIST No. 158 is printed in red below the codes line.]

SADDLES

Of no bicycle component can it be said with greater emphasis than of the saddle, that the best is cheapest. The saddle, due to its constitution and its usage, is the most vulnerable of a cycle’s many components. For the rider who values health, ease awheel, and durability, only the best is good enough.

Since, however, buying must in some cases submit to price limitations, saddles of Brooks manufacture are to-day available at prices suited to all pockets.

With cycle saddles the price is chiefly controlled by the grade of leather used for the top. The butts used in the manufacture of Brooks saddles are of the finest quality only.

In the present catalogue all saddles of the same general type of frame are listed beneath one illustration, with any minor variations described in the text.

Heights given are from centre of clip to under surface of seat immediately above.

J. B. BROOKS & Co. LTD.
CRITERION WORKS, GREAT CHARLES STREET
BIRMINGHAM – – – – ENGLAND
Telephone: Central 3670 Telegrams: “BROOKS, Birmingham”
Codes: Bentley’s Complete Phrase

LIST No. 158

— Printed page 3 — Full Roadster Saddles —

[Printed page 3. One photographic illustration of a sprung saddle in three-quarter view, captioned B 90 Size 3, above two columns of models.]

BROOKS FULL ROADSTER SADDLES

BROOKS B 90
Acknowledged the standard of luxury. Shapely leather top of Brooks butt hide, mounted on frame consisting of six-wire bracket, double loop front spring and stranded wire rear coil springs. Made in three sizes. Gents’ model only.

B 90/1 Size, 10 3/4 x 8 3/4 x 3 1/2 in. Weight, 3 lbs. 4 ozs. Price, 16/9 en. 19/6 nic.
B 90/2 Size, 11 3/4 x 9 1/4 x 3 1/2 in. Weight, 3 lbs. 8 ozs. Price, 18/9 en. 21/- nic.
B 90/3 Size, 12 1/4 x 9 3/4 x 3 3/4 in. Weight, 4 lbs. 2 ozs. Price, 21/- en. 24/- nic.

BROOKS B 76
Selected butt hide top; four-wire bracket; double loop front spring and plain wire rear coil springs. Gents’ model only.
Size, 10 3/4 x 8 3/4 x 3 1/2 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 12 ozs. Price, 12/6 en.

BROOKS CHALLENGE C 5
Six-wire bracket, double loop front spring and stranded wire rear coil springs. Gents’ model only.
Size, 11 3/4 x 9 1/4 x 3 1/2 in. Weight, 3 lbs. 5 ozs. Price, 13/9 en.; 15/3 nic.

BROOKS LEGION H
Four-wire bracket, single loop front spring, and plain wire rear coil springs. Gents’ model only.
Size, 10 1/2 x 8 1/4 x 3 3/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 4 ozs. Price, 8/3 en.

KAYDEX K 6
Four-wire bracket, single loop front spring and plain wire rear coil springs. Gents’ model only.
Size, 10 1/4 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 7 ozs. Price, 6/- en.

BROOKS PLYFLEX P 207
The top is of patent weatherproof construction, non-cracking, non-clinging, flexible and durable. Six-wire bracket, double loop front spring and stranded wire rear coil springs. Gents’ model only.
Size, 11 3/4 x 9 1/4 x 3 1/2 in. Weight, 3 lbs. 6 ozs. Price, 13/9 en.

— Printed page 5 — Release Hammock and Semi-Hammock Saddles, and the B 28 —

[Printed page 5. Two photographic illustrations, the upper captioned B 80 and the lower B 28.]

BROOKS RELEASE HAMMOCK AND SEMI-HAMMOCK SADDLES

BROOKS B 80
Release Hammock Saddle. A practical application of an ideal theory, i.e., the placing of the seat midway between the extremes of long springs. Movement is steadied by the intermediate controlling springs. Brooks butt hide top. Gents’ model only.
Size, 11 1/2 x 9 1/4 x 4 in. Weight, 3 lbs. 12 ozs. Price, 18/- en.; 20/- nic.

BROOKS CHALLENGE C 12
Similar to the B 80, but without the intermediate controlling springs. Gents’ model only.
Size, 11 1/2 x 9 1/4 x 4 in. Weight, 3 lbs. 4 ozs. Price, 13/- en.; 15/- nic.

B 595 Toolbag. Suitable for either B 80 or C 12 saddles. Leather, Cylindrical pattern, as illustrated. Price, 3/-

BROOKS B 28
A semi-hammock saddle, with Brooks butt hide top, having single loop front spring, stranded wire looped frame, terminating at the rear in an ingenious double rubber buffer device for the elimination of minor road shocks. This saddle affords a low riding position. Gents’ model only.
Size, 10 1/2 x 8 1/4 x 2 3/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 15 ozs. Price, 19/9 en.

— Printed page 7 — Three-Coil Saddles —

[Printed page 7. One photographic illustration of a three-coil sprung saddle, captioned B 75, above two columns. This page shows the grade ladder more clearly than any other in the book: one chassis, seven names, from 13/6 down to 5/3.]

BROOKS 3-COIL SADDLES

BROOKS B 85
A de luxe model with Brooks butt hide top. Similar as to frame to the B 75 illustrated, but with six-wire bracket and stranded wire coil springs.
Gents’ model. Size, 10 3/4 x 8 3/4 x 3 3/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 14 ozs. Price, 13/6 en.
Ladies’ model. Size, 9 3/4 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 10 ozs. Price, 13/6 en.

BROOKS B 75
As illustrated. With Brooks butt hide top, four wire bracket and plain wire coil springs.
Gents’ model. Size, 10 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 10 ozs. Price, 12/3 en.; 13/9 nic.
Ladies’ model. Size, 9 3/4 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 4 ozs. Price, 12/3 en.; 13/9 nic.

BROOKS B 73
The top is of selected butt hide. Springing as B 75.
Gents’ model. Size, 10 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 6 ozs. Price, 11/3 en.
Ladies’ model. Size, 9 3/4 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 5 ozs. Price, 11/3 en.

BROOKS CHALLENGE C 31
Frame is similar to that of B 75.
Gents’ model. Size, 10 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 8 ozs. Price, 7/9 en.
Ladies’ model. Size, 9 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 4 ozs. Price, 7/9 en.

BROOKS LEGION A
Frame is similar to that of B 75.
Gents’ model. Size, 10 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 2 ozs. Price, 7/- en.
Ladies’ model. Size, 9 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. Weight, 2 lbs. Price, 7/- en.

KAYDEX K 2
Frame is similar to that of B 75.
Gents’ model. Size, 10 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 2 ozs. Price, 5/3 en.
Ladies’ model. Size, 10 x 8 1/2 x 3 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 1 oz. Price, 5/3 en.

BROOKS PLYFLEX P 205
Similar to B 75, but the top is of patent weatherproof construction, non-cracking, non-clinging, flexible and durable.
Gents’ model. Size, 10 3/4 x 8 1/2 x 3 3/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 4 ozs. Price, 10/3 en.
Ladies’ model. Size, 9 3/4 x 8 1/2 x 3 3/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. Price, 10/3 en.

FOR CARRIER SERVICE:
BROOKS PLYFLEX P 208
As P 205, but with girder bracket and with larger and heavier coil springs. Gents’ model only.
Size, 10 3/4 x 8 1/2 x 3 3/4 in. Weight, 3 lbs. 8 ozs. Price, 10/6 en.

— Printed page 8 — Racing Saddles and the B 17 Champion —

[Printed page 8. Two photographic illustrations of the same saddle, the upper a plan view captioned B 17 CHAMPION. Plan View., the lower a side elevation captioned B 17 CHAMPION.]

BROOKS RACING SADDLES AND ROAD SPEED MODELS

BROOKS B 17 CHAMPION
Imitated by many, unequalled by any, and largely because cheaper saddles cannot afford Brooks quality butt hides. The retention of shape in this type of saddle which aims at reducing resistance to pedalling effort to a minimum, is essential. Unquestionably the favourite saddle for track racing or road speed work. Widely recommended also for touring use. Long, slender, well cambered shape, light yet strong 2-wire frame. Gents’ model only.

Brooks B 17 Champion, Standard. Size, 11 x 6 3/4 x 2 5/8 in. Weight, 1 lb. 12 ozs. Price, 13/6 en.
Brooks, B 17 Champion, Narrow. Size, 11 x 6 x 2 5/8 in. Weight, 1 lb. 11 ozs. Price, 13/6 en.
Brooks B 17 Champion, Sprinter. Size, 11 x 4 3/8 x 2 5/8 in. Weight, 1 lb. 8 ozs. Price, 13/6 en.

BROOKS CHALLENGE C 32
Similar in shape to the B 17 Champion Narrow. Gents’ model only.
Size, 11 x 6 x 2 5/8 in. Weight, 1 lb. 10 ozs. Price, 7/9 en.

BROOKS PLYFLEX P 209
Similar to B 17 Champion Narrow, but with a top of patent weatherproof construction, non-cracking, non-clinging, flexible and durable.
Gents’ model. Size, 11 x 6 x 2 5/8 in. Weight, 1 lb. 10 ozs. Price, 10/- en.

P 209 L
Has a slightly shorter top than P 209, and has a four-wire single loop frame, similar to B 18 Champion.
Ladies’ model. Size, 10 x 6 1/2 x 2 in. Weight, 1 lb. 9 ozs. Price, 10/- en.

— Printed page 11 — Suplex Spring Mattress Saddles —

[Printed page 11. Three photographic illustrations: a cutaway showing the sprung mattress top over its coil-spring frame, captioned S 20/2, and two further seats captioned S 20 NARROW and S 25 RACER.]

BROOKS SUPLEX SPRING MATTRESS SADDLES

For the cyclist who has a preference for resilience in the seat itself. The illustration above shows how the entire seating surface of the Brooks Suplex Saddle is sprung. This mattress top is available in various sizes and shapes, fitted to different frames.

BROOKS SUPLEX S 20/1
Spring mattress seat supported on three coil springs and four-wire bracket. The covering material is of stout weatherproof fabric with felt interlay. This saddle can also be supplied with girder bracket if specially ordered.
Gents’ model. Size, 10 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. Weight, 3 lbs. 2 ozs. Price, 14/- en.
Ladies’ model. Size, 9 x 9 1/2 x 4 1/4 in. Weight, 3 lbs. Price, 14/- en.

BROOKS SUPLEX S 20/2
Larger model of the S 20/1 available only with girder bracket as illustrated. Gents’ model only.
Size, 11 x 11 x 3 1/4 in. Weight, 3 lbs. 14 ozs. Price, 15/- en.; 17/- nic.

BROOKS SUPLEX S 20 NARROW
A narrow mattress top on three coil springs, with four-wire bracket.
Size, 10 3/4 x 8 x 3 1/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 14 ozs. Price, 13/6 en.

BROOKS SUPLEX S 25 RACER
A narrow mattress top on B 17 Champion type of frame. Gents’ model only.
Size, 10 1/2 x 8 x 3 1/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 3 ozs. Price, 14/- en.

BROOKS SUPLEX S 30 RACER
An inexpensive development of the mattress seat, similar to the S 25 but with girder frame. Gents’ model only.
Size, 10 3/4 x 7 x 3 1/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 4 ozs. Price, 11/6 en.

BROOKS SUPLEX S 35
Full width Mattress top as S 20/1, with simple girder frame.
Size, 10 1/2 x 9 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. Weight, 2 lbs. 8 ozs. Price, 12/6 en.

— Printed page 12 — Kit Holdalls —

[Printed page 12. A photographic illustration of an open holdall with its contents laid out beside it, and an inset drawing at the upper right captioned Quick Release Attachment. The bag is lettered B 953 beneath.]

BROOKS KIT HOLDALLS

TOURIST SOLO.
B 953 The tourist’s most popular bag, still further improved for 1932 by the introduction of a patent wire framework, which maintains the shapeliness of the bag, and ensures correct position on machine, also affords rigid and ample opening for packing.

The forward edge of the bag is built on a fibre foundation. Both pockets and lid have fully overlapping covers to prevent ingress of rain. Reinforced for seat pillar and saddle attachments. Cape loops on top. In black weatherproof grained fabric. Size, 13 x 4/9 x 7 in., exclusive of pockets.

Price, with Strap Fastening – 13/6
Price, with Patent Quick Release Device – – – – 15/-

TANDEM BAG.
B 2593 TANDEM Bag, similar to the B 953 but with fibre foundation carried underneath the bag, and mudguard reinforcement extended to rearward end of the bag. Edged with white piping.
Size, 13 1/4 x 4 1/2 / 9 x 7 1/2 in.
Price, with Strap Fastening – 17/-
Price, with Patent Quick Release Device – – – – 18/6

PATENT QUICK RELEASE DEVICE.
This Device permits instantaneous attachment or removal of Holdall. A great convenience for packing and when on tour. Now improved by loop end in place of knob. Available with many of the bags listed.
Also with nut and bolt attachments for fitting to existing bags. Price, 2/9

— Printed page 17 — Motor Cycle Saddles —

[Printed page 17. Three photographic illustrations: a large sprung saddle captioned B 180, a pan seat captioned B 194 shown beside its bare spring frame, and a smaller seat captioned B 196.]

BROOKS MOTOR CYCLE SADDLES

B 180
As illustrated. The motor cyclist’s seat with a refinement, having spring mattress seat supplemented by light compression coil springs which extend the resilience to the edge of the saddle, and obviate a hard ridge. Large diameter coil springs are designed for direct attachment to the frame of the motor cycle, whilst the third fixing point is at the peak. Covered with substantial black weatherproof fabric, with felt interlay.
Size, 13 1/2 x 15 in. wide. Weight, 5 lbs. 15 ozs. Price, 25/-

B 181
Similar to the B 180, but with girder bracket and clip fixing; coil spring at peak.
Size, 13 1/2 x 15 in. wide. Weight, 8 lbs. 15 ozs. Price, 27/6

B 194
Spring Pan Seat. Size, resilience and shape are combined to make this the most comfortable saddle in production to-day. The mattress seat of radiating coil springs merges into the deep concave shaped back. Clip fixing. Large compression coil springs; coil spring in peak. Covered with substantial black weatherproof fabric, with thick felt interlay.
Size, 13 1/2 x 17 1/2 in. wide. Weight, 10 lbs. 9 ozs. Price, 40/-

B 193
Similar to above, but designed for three-point attachment direct to frame. No coil spring in peak.
Size, 14 3/4 x 17 1/2 in. wide. Weight, 10 lbs. 7 ozs. Price, 37/6

B 196
A large Pan Seat. The rear of the saddle is deeply cupped, enabling the rider to sit in the seat. Comfort here depends entirely upon the large size and shapeliness of the saddle, and the large compression coil springs, operating on hinged pillars. Clip fixing. Covered in substantial black weatherproof fabric, with thick felt interlay.
Size, 14 x 17 1/4 in. wide. Weight, 9 lbs. 4 ozs. Price, 25/-

— Printed page 23 — Proofide —

[Printed page 23. A photographic illustration of a circular tin, lettered around its lid MADE BY THE MAKERS OF THE FAMOUS BROOKS SADDLES and around its rim BROOKS SADDLES GUARANTEED.]

[On the lid of the tin:] BROOKS LEATHER DRESSING. PROOFIDE. For CONDITIONING, PRESERVING and WATERPROOFING Saddles, Golf and Sporting Shoes, Footballs and all Leatherware exposed to the weather.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR SADDLE & ALL YOUR LEATHERWARE

Leather saddles, if their great durability and suppleness are to be appreciated and experienced, should be exposed to moisture as little as possible.

“PROOFIDE” is a leather dressing that preserves, weatherproofs and conditions leatherware. It is made by Brooks, and carries accordingly the assurance of dependability. Its use enables the natural greases to be retained, thus lengthening the life of all leatherware to which it is applied.

Obtainable from your cycle dealer in tins; Price – 6d. and 3d.