A treasure trove from the Cap’s Cycles Museum for auction. | Catch My Job

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When Cap’s Cycles sold its private museum in 2002, more than 1,200 people descended on the shop in New Westminster for auction.

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They walked away with hundreds of vintage bicycles. Cool vintage cars and motorcycles. and many collectibles From typewriters to dental equipment and fire trucks.

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But the family that owns the caps doesn’t sell everything — they keep some of the treasure for themselves.

Two decades later, Grant, the son of Gerald “Cap” Hobbis, decided it was time to sell. On Oct. 25, online auction Mad Picker will sell more than 200 items from his collection. It is on display at Cap’s Cycles’ Langley, 20306 Logan Ave.

The highlight was a rare 1928 Henderson motorcycle on Thursday morning. Online bidding up to $8,100

“It’s an American-made, four-cylinder bike,” Hobbs explains, “one of the few bikes that can handle Bonnie and Clyde. The Chicago Police Department bought 45 that year, essentially to catch Bonnie and Clyde.

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“This is from a museum (Cap’s) has been there for 50 years. (Hat) traded it for a bike.”

There’s also a 1926 Durant Star, which was only $140 on Thursday. This could be because they had to be put back together — radiators, running boards, and other parts. is packed in the back seat

“Obviously “Some of my friends’ sons took it off for a hot rod,” Hobbits said. “Then they traded it for a bike because his father didn’t want him to have a hot rod.”

The Durant is a Canadian-made car. and traditional to the wooden floor That’s why they are called slabs – they were originally made of wood.

You learn all this by walking around with Hobbits, who has been working on bicycles, cars and antiques his whole life.

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There are some rare motorcycles for sale, including the 1898 Hendee Indian, which was made by an Indian motorcycle company before being made into motorcycles.

The 1898 Hendee Indian badge recently sold for $300, but what it brings is unknown — it survived a relatively crisp 1981 fire at the Cap’s Cap store in Sapperton.

“It’s very rare,” said Hobbits, who has owned a Langley Cap store for two decades. “The only way to set a price is through an auction.”

So rare that it might end up at another museum in the US.

“This never happened,” he said. “Those who have big museums[sent]with their representatives with cameras to take pictures.”

Most of the collection is what they call old stock mopeds. which is several decades old but has never been used

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“We have a brand new stock from the 1970s that never drives 10 speeds,” says Hobbs, “a new 60s stock Mustang or a tall, muscle bike.”

overlooking things It’s like a time travel through the history of cycling in Vancouver. You see things you’ve never seen, like a 1930s CCM equipped with a cool chrome “reinforcement strut” for the fork.

“This is made for balloon tire delivery bikes. when bakers and butchers are making deliveries,” he said.

There are several 1960s-70s Mustangs (mini bikes with high handlebars and banana seats) with the Fred Deeley logo from pre-Treve eras. Fred’s son will be famous for selling motorcycles.

There are all kinds of beautiful 1970s European mopeds, including the 1971 Gitane Professional Tour de France, the same model as Hobbis’ first bike.

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“I rode everywhere,” he said. “I went to the Caribbean with it.”

He stopped and laughed. “I don’t recommend doing that.”

There is also Several other Penny-farthings, 19th-century bicycles with giant front wheels and small rear wheels. Penny-farthings It’s Cap Hobbis’ favorite — he often rides them in parades.

“Riding is not a problem. But starting is tough,” says Grant Hobbis. “It doesn’t have brakes. You have to step on the accelerator. You step on your foot until you reach a small step (behind) and hope you don’t go too fast.”

Cap’s Cycles began in Cap’s garage in 1932. Cap and his brothers Bert and Tom opened their New West store in 1940 and now have locations across the lower mainland.

Grant was the last of Cap’s seven children to open a shop. He recently sold his Langley store to his son Graham, who will continue to run the family business 90 years after its inception.

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