Sears Take- Apart Bike
 

I picked up this Sears and Roebuck Take Apart bike yesterday. 20 x 1.75 tires. Bendix Torpedo 3 Speed 28J Coaster Brake hub. Tires are cracked (New ones ordered)
I have some before and During pics. I will post completed bike pics once I get the tires. It is cleaning up pretty good. No major wear on anything. Paint chips everywhere... Patina??
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...30c1217b6d.jpg
8:30 pm Friday .. work began
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ab1b16a545.jpg
Shifter is on Seat tube
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3d94658b90.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f1810502dd.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...052ca41a80.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b3218518ac.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3514c35aa3.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4a6ca4bc66.jpg
Cleaning up nicely. Rear hub serviced,Chrome is shining
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...28bef9d56e.jpg
1:36am Saturday... Have to shut it down...

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these are called Totecycles

IIRC there may have been two vendors for them depending upon the year.

manufacturer also sold them under their own name.

here is another gold one which looks much like yours but note it has a different chainwheel.


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1646b5fa1d.jpg

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read an account of the history of production for these last year.

it gave names of manufacturers and years produced.

sadly, am unable to recall this information.

prior to posting made a search to see if i could find the account of their history again but was unsuccessful.

if am able to locate it will glue it in.

looks like you are doing a very fine job with the bike. when you are done it is going to look near new. ;)

sorry to be able to give only a nibble of information. :(

if you wish to explore a bit on your own just use the term Totebike.

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this example dated by owner as 1970-71

image large format; shows detail well

IIRC they were current in the 1960's and production ended in the early 1970's

more research needed! ;)


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b4b4d530d4.jpg

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I have one of those old Sears Tote Bikes (I think that is what they were called. Never got around to restoration, but I do keep it under guard, knight and day. Give me a shout if you need anything from the bike...
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5c1f2603e5.jpg

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...14f8bc6115.jpg

The chainring pattern on the OP's bicycle is that used on Huffy brand bicycles during the very early 1970s, so it was almost certainly contract manufactured for Sears by the Huffman Manufacturing Company.

I was shocked when I Googled sears tote bicycle. I had no idea that people actually like to restore and ride them. Perhaps I will put it on my project list, to be restored as soon as I finish my Rabeneick. Bianchi, Quintanna Roo, Pinarello, Cannondale and, of course my newly acquired Torpado Professional.

Anyway, different strokes for different fokes. Best of luck with the bike and, if you run across one of these, I will take it...
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...59f9f5b637.jpg

Those Sears take aparts so so cool. I will look out for one to add to my growing mini velo stable!

brianhamp

Be sure and start a thread on this Sears on the folding sub forum. We love seeing the old models!

Actually had one of those when I was a kid in the 1960s. Used it for my paper route and on weekends a group of us would ride to wherever usually around 60 miles or so round trip. Beat the crap out of it, never broke it. Like a Timex....takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Had it until around 1973ish. Do not remember what happened to it after I left for college.

your Torpedo hub was made by Sachs. German made. works every bit as well as
Sturmey Archer. give it oil now and then and it will outlast all of us.

Brian,

Did you ever get the Sears Tote back on the road?

Neat bike there does seem to be a niche market for 70's Sears tote and cargo bikes I like the early 70's Huffman built stuff much more than the ones from a few years later built by AMF. For lower end bikes they had nice paint and good chrome and seem to cleanup nicely.