Can anyone identify this very old bike?
07-04-18, 10:36 PM
#1
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Can anyone identify this very old bike?
I was at my uncles house for the 4th, and he showed me his bike he's had since the 40's he thinks. Unfortunately it's in the rafters of his garage and I could only see part of it. He couldn't remember what make it was. Just because I'm curious, does anyone recognize what this is?
He also still has his Varsity he bought new, and it still looks new.
He also still has his Varsity he bought new, and it still looks new.
07-04-18, 11:20 PM
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It might be helpful to get some better/more complete photos of the first bike. But I would take those pictures to the Cabe. Those guys could look at an axle nut and tell you what month it was made and by whom!
07-05-18, 07:00 AM
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The rafter bike could be a Shelby.
07-05-18, 08:11 PM
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The blue bike appears to be USA made from either the 40's or up to late 50's. It appears to have a skip link drivetrain. Cannot tell what brand, but best info I can give from pics.
07-04-19, 11:46 PM
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One year later, and he let me take the bike so I can restore it for him. It turned out to be a Wards Hawthorne. I'll have a more thorough look at it tomorrow to see if I can pinpoint what model but I know it's pretty deluxe. He thinks he bought it around 1941, and stuck it in the rafters of his garage around 1956. Today was the first day in 63 years it saw the light of day. Pics soon.
Last edited by 76SLT; 07-05-19 at 10:24 AM.
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07-05-19, 09:42 AM
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Pre-war makes it even more desirable. (Well, pre-US-in-the-war....)
07-05-19, 10:01 AM
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I guess that this is because so many bikes were melted down to procure materials for the war effort.
Some were spared because their owners apparently thought it was better to keep them hidden during those years, though surely some bikes that were used for utilitarian purposes would have been excepted.
It kind of makes sense that some of these would have remained in good condition, since (even years later) people might not have wanted to be seen riding a bike was supposed to have been surrendered for scrap.
The Campus Green Varsity looks to be from about 1965, so I'm betting that it has downtube levers and an aluminum stem with the former 22.2mm quill diameter. Old thread I know, but wondering what became of it(?).
Some were spared because their owners apparently thought it was better to keep them hidden during those years, though surely some bikes that were used for utilitarian purposes would have been excepted.
It kind of makes sense that some of these would have remained in good condition, since (even years later) people might not have wanted to be seen riding a bike was supposed to have been surrendered for scrap.
The Campus Green Varsity looks to be from about 1965, so I'm betting that it has downtube levers and an aluminum stem with the former 22.2mm quill diameter. Old thread I know, but wondering what became of it(?).
Last edited by dddd; 07-05-19 at 10:07 AM.
07-05-19, 10:21 AM
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The Varsity was there but I didn't mention anything to him about refreshing that one. After I complete the Hawthorne and bring it back to him, I'll offer to take care of the Varsity. He was reluctant to let me take the Hawthorne but I showed him pics of bikes I've worked on and assured him it would be done right.
07-05-19, 01:43 PM
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Man, that is too cool!!!!
love the jewel reflectors and springer.
Not too bad under the dust.
love the jewel reflectors and springer.
Not too bad under the dust.
07-06-19, 09:59 AM
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So what's the plan? Just clean and lube everything, and straighten the fork?
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07-06-19, 10:36 AM
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That's the plan but you know how that goes. I just want to freshen it up for him. He certainly can't ride it anymore so I may not even put new tires on it. If it rolls ok, I may leave the fork too. The nice thing is it's all there in it's original unmolested form.
07-06-19, 01:11 PM
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Pictures WITH Vintage Uncle win the internet today.
Last edited by Reynolds 531; 07-06-19 at 03:05 PM.
08-03-19, 08:18 PM
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I finished my uncle's bike. I haven't brought it back to him yet though. I want to ride it a bit.
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08-03-19, 08:48 PM
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That's really cool! Great background and the Hawthorne seems like the perfect candidate for such a sympathetic restoration. Good job. Do you like how it rides?
-Gregory
-Gregory
08-03-19, 08:48 PM
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You did a fantastic job, balancing restoration with preservation! I'm usually the guy who wants a shiny new finish on everything, but this one is in such great shape that refinishing it would be a shame. Even the patina on the bright work is presentable.
Those forks were used at least into the 60's however, and can still be readily found. They're especially plentiful on step-through frames. I'd be tempted to look for a replacement, while squirreling the original away for history's sake. The bike will steer/handle the way it was intended that way.
Again, great job!!!
Those forks were used at least into the 60's however, and can still be readily found. They're especially plentiful on step-through frames. I'd be tempted to look for a replacement, while squirreling the original away for history's sake. The bike will steer/handle the way it was intended that way.
Again, great job!!!
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08-03-19, 09:45 PM
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It rides wonderfully. I was surprised how easy it is to ride. It's a big bike with lots of steel, and it just floats down the road. The only new parts are the tires and tubes, and the brake clamp on the nds chainstay. There wasn't one on the bike. The old tires actually hold air and are not rotted, but I thought it would look better with whitewalls.