1930's Barb brochure (issued 1935)

The following information is taken from a Finlay Brothers Barb brochure, issued in 1935, listing the specifications of four different models of Barbs.

All punctuation is as found in catalogue:


1930's Barb brochure illustration.  Courtesy of Warren Meade

Catalogue details for The Barb Clubman include:

Price £10-19-6
Terms 5/- Weekly

The Bicycle for the Sportsman

The Barb Clubman is the bicycle designed by a racing man for the racing man.  There is nothing superfluous about the Barb Clubman.  It is an out-and-out thoroughbred racer - designed for speed and speed alone - amazing in strength - reduced in weight to an unprecedented figure - rigid as a bridge - and guaranteed for 25 years.  There are two important reasons why the Barb Clubman is the greatest racing bicycle ever built.

1.  The Barb Monotype exclusive one-piece welded frame, with the short wheel base, is designed by Bob Finlay to dimensions used by leading racing men, with an ideal racing position that inspires speed and encourages endurance.

2.  The lightness and quality of materials used in construction.  Renolds double-butted "A" grade tubing only is used throughout.

Two exclusive Barb features - the single crown patented front fork design, and the Barb one-piece cross-over welded rear stays - proved to be nearly twice as strong as ordinary forks and stays when these two features were tested in the laboratories of the Melbourne University.  Thus the two weak points of ordinary bicycle construction are Barb's two strongest.

For amazing strength, for lightness, for the last ounce of speed when you require it most - ride a Barb Clubman.

Specifications:

1930's Barb brochure illustration. Courtesy of Warren Meade

Catalogue details for the Barb Utility include:

Price £9-10-0
Terms 5/- Weekly

For the Everyday Cyclist

Barb represents the most outstanding bicycle value.  It is designed with many features that are obtainable only on Barb itself.  The Barb "Utility" is the bicycle with the 25 year guarantee, designed and built to last a lifetime - to give trouble-free service and easy pedalling - for the man who appreciates the better bicycle value.  The Barb "Utility" is constructed on sound principles of engineering practice, and is the result of years of thorough and practical experience.

Bob Finlay, the well-known personality in cycling circles, personally designs and supervises Barb construction.  Here are some super-value features that only Barb can give you:- Barb "Monotype" one-piece frame, with the special cross-over rear stays; "Barb" single-crown front forks.  Both these features designed by Bob Finlay are patented, and therefore obtainable only on Barb bicycles.  To prove their great strength the Melbourne University subjected these two features to vigorous tests.  Figures proved that a Barb "Monotype" frame has almost twice the strength of ordinary frames.  When you ride a Barb "Utility" bicycle because of its exclusive features you ride the strongest, yet lightest, touring bicycle on the road.

Specifications

Frame	Special Registered Barb Design, four point welded cross-over rear stays. Renolds "A" Grade double-butted tubing with straight, tapered and fluted rear forks and stays.
Forks	Barb registered design front forks with drop forged single crown of special nickel-steel, and fitted with Renolds round tapered fluted front forks.
Wheels	28-in. x 1 3/8-in. steel rims with fixed gear.  Eadie free wheel extra..
Tyres	Olympic tyres guaranteed 12 months.  Barnet Glass or Dunlop if specified.
Pedals	Rat-trap type.
Handle-bars	Major Taylor Bars with Diamond extension.
Saddle	Leatheries Tourer.
Mud-guards	Heavyweight steel guards, enamelled to match machine.
Finish	Barb Utility Bicycles now have the new two-tone style finish with choice of black, blue or red tonings. Bright parts heavily nickel-plated.
Equipment	All Barb Utility Models are equipped with tool bag, spanners, tyre levers, repair outfit, pump and pump clips.

1930's Barb brochure illustration. Courtesy of Warren Meade


Catalogue details for the Barb Roadster (illustration above) include:

Price £6-19-6
Terms 3/6 Weekly

The Low-price Bicycle in the High-class Field

The Barb Roadster value is outstanding.  No Bicycle yet, with all the quality features of the Barb Roadster, was ever offered at such a low price.

The frame is of British Renolds tubing throughout, Major Taylor handle-bars, steel mud-guards enamelled to match frame, and full equipment of tools and repair outfit in tool bag.  The Barb Roadster is the quality Bicycle in the low-price field.

Specifications

Frame	Renolds tubing with trapped ends brazed solid; best English lugs available in 21-in. and 22-in. frames.
Forks	Renolds front fork blades with trapped ends brazed solid.
Wheels	28-in. x 1 3/8-in. steel rims with fixed gear.  Eadie free wheel extra.
Tyres	Olympic tyres, six months' guarantee, fitted standard.  Barnet Glass or Dunlop if specified.
Pedals	Rat trap type.
Handle-bars	Major Taylor up-turned bars with ideal extension.
Saddle	Leatheries Tourer.
Mud-guards	Special steel guards enamelled to match machine.
Equipment	Equipped with tool bag, spanners, tyre-levers, repair outfit, pump and pump clips.
Finish	Barb Roadster Models now have the special two-tone finish with choice of black, blue or red tonings. Bright parts heavily nickel-plated.

1930's Barb brochure illustration. Courtesy of Warren Meade


Catalogue details for the Barb Sports (illustration above) include:

Price £8-19-6
Terms 5/- Weekly

Speed, Safety and Low Price Combined

You may pay more, but you can't safely pay less for a Sports Bicycle than the Barb Sports Model.  Everything that is essential to safety, speed and easy running is found in this machine.  A good brake, a strong but light frame with unbreakable front forks and smooth frictionless bearings.

It is the Bicycle that brings speed with safety into the low-price field.  It's guaranteed 10 years too!

Specifications

Frame	Renolds tubing with trapped ends brazed solid; best English lug available in 21-in. and 22-in. frames.
Forks	Renolds front fork blades with trapped ends brazed solid.
Wheels	28-in. x 1 3/8-in. narrow steel rims; double sided hub, one fixed, one clutch sprocket.
Tyres	Olympic tyres, 12 months' guarantee.  Barnet Glass or Dunlop if specified.
Pedals	Special Celtonia racing pedals.
Brake	Philco rear rim brake.
Handle-bars	R.S. Finlay or Miliken bars with HL31 extension.
Saddle	Leatheries Racing.
Equipment	Equipped with tool bag, spanners, tyre-levers, repair outfit, pump and pump clips.
Finish	Barb Sports Models now have the special two-tone finish with choice of black, blue or red tonings. Bright parts heavily nickel-plated.

Source: Finlay Brothers, For Outstanding Value... Barb Cycles, catalogue issued in 1935 (Melbourne: McCarron, Bird & Co).  Courtesy of Warren Meade.