Old Leader kids banana seat bike | ||
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Posted 7 years ago
Beardsmore
(1 item)
We were given this old bike. I'd love to learn more about it. It as a sticker on the front which says "Made in Canada", "LEADER" and "Victoria Precision Works Co. Ltd. - Montreal". On the side it says "Seville". See the photos.
Any info would be much appreciated.
Thanks
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The banana seat says 1970's - the rest is fairly obvious as to who made it and where.
Victoria Precision Works started mass production of bicycles under the Leader/Minelli brand in Montreal in 1945. They were in stiff competition with CCM, the biggest manufacturer in Canada in the 1970's to early 1982. After that, actual production in Canada all but ceased, with only top-end precision bicycles being made. Other bicycles were made by Asian manufacturers and assembled in Canada. Victoria Precision Works ceased all bike production (assembly) in the early 1990's and went into reorganization bankruptcy in 2004. They now produce only precision metal products.
Essentially, from what I've found, this particular bicycle ended production in the mid-70's with the public's frenetic interest in BMX-style bicycles, so this one went by the wayside, so to speak.
You have an excellent, nearly pristine short-lived production model, in my opinion, and well worth cleaning it up (where needed).
Wow, thanks for all that information, RCassano. Very interesting and helpful!
@MacDaddyRico - LOL - I barely noticed that shield. It's similar to the Cadillac logo, but not exactly the same. Maybe it's an off-handed reference to this being the "Cadillac" of bicycles ?