How old are these grips?

[shadaboot27]

I found this pair of Dunlop grips in a job lot of old tools I bought. My guess is that they are NOS 1930's racing grips. They are definitely NOS, they have never been used they just have a few small marks from storage. I just want to know for definite how old they are and also what they would be worth? Sorry for the low quality pictures. My phone camera decided recently that it doesnt like to focus anymore.

 

[Drago]

Probably worth about what you paid for them...? IE, not a lot.

 

[steve50]

they are worth whatever a potential buyer is willing to pay for them, if they are rare and someone is looking for them then they have a price.

 

[Drago]

Sought after, rare, historically significant. If they tick 2 of the 3 boxes they might be worth something.

 

[shadaboot27]

Sought after, rare, historically significant. If they tick 2 of the 3 boxes they might be worth something.

I would say they are all of those things. 90% of the time, grips like this that have been left on a bike sat in a shed are usually perished, rotten or melted by the sun. To find a NOS set is certainly rare, and there is a high demand for such rarities among serious bicycle collectors. Especially Dunlop items as they are sought after. I'm almost certain that they are from the 30's but I'm unsure if they are for a bicycle or motorbike? They are quite long, but the width does seem too thin to be for a motorbike. I'm going to look through some 30's parts catalogs now and see if I can find them.

 

[raleighnut]

Are you sure they're not off a wheelbarrow.

 

[shadaboot27]

Are you sure they're not off a wheelbarrow.

They could be ahah, did they use grips like this on wheel barrows?

 

[mikeymustard]

They could be ahah, did they use grips like this on wheel barrows?

Only Reynolds framed racing wheelbarrows

 

[rhm]

I would not say wheelbarrow (my wheelbarrow has wooden handles), but some kind of lawn maintenance equipment is possible. I have a push mower with similar grips (not the same, to be sure). If they measure 7/8" then they could fit any number of things, including a bike handlebar. Does it matter? They'd look great on a bike.

 

[shadaboot27]

Old thread I know but I have managed to identify the grips. My original thought of 1930's was correct. I found a parts catalog from the 30's and they are in there. I also found some pictures of an untouched RRA from the era with these exact same grips. So I'm guessing they were for the top of the range racing type bikes. I think the grips would be worth something but I'm going to keep them in case I ever get my own RRA!