Seidel & Naumann from Dresden, Germany started building top class bicycles in 1887. You can see this quality also in their safety bicycle. It was one of the biggest German bicyle factories of the 19th century. The firm started in 1870 and built Singer-patent sewing machines. In 1887 they started building bicycles; the last bicycles were built in 1939. After World War II Dresden became part of the DDR (Eastern Germany) and the firm focused on the well known Erika typewriters.
This highwheel with serial number 223 must be one of their earliest models and experts see a striking similarity with the CMC Special Club. But if you look closely, there are numerous small differences. It must have been built with a license from CMC - and they couldn't have found a better bike to copy!
This German bike is a marvellous ordinary, with its oval backbone, profiled (fluted) hollow front and rear forks and hollow rim on front wheel. This is really the top, and I can tell you from my own experience: it is a sublime and very firm bike to ride. It has been completely restored, without overdoing it - leaving some of the original patina. The only fault we know of, is the replica brake lever. It is a CMC replica, while the S&N bikes had other models. Look at the other S&N bikes I have pictures of.
What all S&N ordinaries have in common is the fact that the serial number is engraved at the left side of the neck, not horizontal like CMC did, but sloping or vertical.
Thanks Maarten Waarlé for the pictures.
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