Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Sears Bike from Probably the 50s

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Sears Bike from Probably the 50s

Old 07-20-19, 12:45 AM
  #1  
thriftyswift3
Roll Swift on the Thrift.
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 54

Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Fuji Grand, 1980? Scwhinn Le Tour, 1970 Concord Deluxe, American Flyer Emperor, 198(x) Cannondale road bike, Trek 720 Multi Trak, 198(x) Cannondale mountain bike, 198(x) Motobecane road bike, 196(x) Sears cruiser, 1960 Scwhinn Racer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times in 7 Posts
Sears Bike from Probably the 50s

Some years ago, my wife bought a Sears bike at a large antique flea market event.

We've kept it stored since then, as it's not a viably rideable bike on hostile city streets.

We are moving once again and so it has been uncovered from beneath a tarp in a storage area in our house. I posted it for sale once again, but no takers.

Tonight I rode it, my dog running alongside, to our new house so I could deposit it there. It actually is enjoyable to ride!

I searched this site for the word "Sears" and found nothing. I'm just curious about this bike.

I snapped a pic of the number stamped on the dropout tonight.
thriftyswift3 is offline  
Old 07-20-19, 05:14 AM
  #2  
T-Mar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 652 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,034 Times in 1,874 Posts
I don't know the serial number coding but the chainwheel pattern is consistent with the bicycle being contract manufactured by Murray. A male version of this bicycle surfaced a few week ago with the same dropouts and another member dated this feature from the 1960s though the 1980s. Given the light fairing, I'd place your bicycle to the early end of this time frame. See https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...r-dropout.html
T-Mar is offline  
Likes For T-Mar:
Old 07-20-19, 08:18 AM
  #3  
thriftyswift3
Roll Swift on the Thrift.
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 54

Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Fuji Grand, 1980? Scwhinn Le Tour, 1970 Concord Deluxe, American Flyer Emperor, 198(x) Cannondale road bike, Trek 720 Multi Trak, 198(x) Cannondale mountain bike, 198(x) Motobecane road bike, 196(x) Sears cruiser, 1960 Scwhinn Racer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by T-Mar
I don't know the serial number coding but the chainwheel pattern is consistent with the bicycle being contract manufactured by Murray. A male version of this bicycle surfaced a few week ago with the same dropouts and another member dated this feature from the 1960s though the 1980s. Given the light fairing, I'd place your bicycle to the early end of this time frame. See (...)
Oh thanks, T-Mar. I will look at that thread.

Best my eyes can read, the number is 462111 766863

I tried to post a couple pics last night, but I haven't (with this account) made at least 10 posts yet and thus wasn't allowed. FWIW, I have had more activity on Bikeforums in the past, but forgot my password and the process of recovering did not work, so I laboriously and finally was able to start a functioning new account after some failures. Phew.

Last edited by cb400bill; 02-15-20 at 01:19 AM.
thriftyswift3 is offline  
Old 07-20-19, 11:23 AM
  #4  
T-Mar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 652 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,034 Times in 1,874 Posts
Originally Posted by thriftyswift3
...I tried to post a couple pics last night, but I haven't (with this account) made at least 10 posts yet and thus wasn't allowed...
Here's a link to where I found your pictures; https://www.bikeforums.net/g/album/14581735
T-Mar is offline  
Old 07-20-19, 01:23 PM
  #5  
thriftyswift3
Roll Swift on the Thrift.
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 54

Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Fuji Grand, 1980? Scwhinn Le Tour, 1970 Concord Deluxe, American Flyer Emperor, 198(x) Cannondale road bike, Trek 720 Multi Trak, 198(x) Cannondale mountain bike, 198(x) Motobecane road bike, 196(x) Sears cruiser, 1960 Scwhinn Racer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times in 7 Posts
Oh, thanks!
thriftyswift3 is offline  
Old 07-20-19, 01:30 PM
  #6  
Murray Missile 
Senior Member
 
Murray Missile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: 700 Ft. above sea level.
Posts: 3,205

Bikes: More than there were awhile ago.

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 620 Post(s)
Liked 1,205 Times in 575 Posts
Early to mid 60's Sears branded version of a Murray Missile, here's a page from their 1962 Catalog. With the chrome fenders it might be a year or two newer. I had the red one at the top of the page, I rode that thing EVERYWHERE, hence my user name.

__________________
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
Murray Missile is offline  
Likes For Murray Missile:
Old 07-20-19, 10:41 PM
  #7  
thriftyswift3
Roll Swift on the Thrift.
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 54

Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Fuji Grand, 1980? Scwhinn Le Tour, 1970 Concord Deluxe, American Flyer Emperor, 198(x) Cannondale road bike, Trek 720 Multi Trak, 198(x) Cannondale mountain bike, 198(x) Motobecane road bike, 196(x) Sears cruiser, 1960 Scwhinn Racer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times in 7 Posts
Wow, Murray Missile, thank you! Looks like that's the bike we've got here!

Okay, this is interesting. Turns out my Sears (Murray) bike is a children's bike?

Thing is, we have another antique bike that was given to us by a neighbor back in Minnesota – a Schwinn Racer. I was really starting to like this bike that we've had for some years and stored away – now that I once again broke it out and rode it around. It's got city registration stickers from Normal, IL – one from like 1967 and one from like 1964. Well, I found out the Racer is a kids' bike too.

I guess my wife's wishes to sell them both just got shots in the arms.

BTW, the Sears (Murray) bike has a sticker on the back of the rear fender that says "Safety Club" and seems to be from the Optimist Club or similar.
thriftyswift3 is offline  
Old 07-21-19, 08:24 AM
  #8  
Murray Missile 
Senior Member
 
Murray Missile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: 700 Ft. above sea level.
Posts: 3,205

Bikes: More than there were awhile ago.

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 620 Post(s)
Liked 1,205 Times in 575 Posts
When you say "kid's" bike do you mean they're not 26" wheels?

Back then local organizations would put on bicycle safety courses for school children and you'd get some sort of "prize" for completing it and a sticker to put on your bike. Around here it was usually the Lions or Kiwanis clubs.
__________________
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
Murray Missile is offline  
Old 07-21-19, 08:56 AM
  #9  
T-Mar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 23,233
Mentioned: 652 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4719 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3,034 Times in 1,874 Posts
Originally Posted by Murray Missile
When you say "kid's" bike do you mean they're not 26" wheels?

Back then local organizations would put on bicycle safety courses for school children and you'd get some sort of "prize" for completing it and a sticker to put on your bike. Around here it was usually the Lions or Kiwanis clubs.
In the 1960s a 26" wheel bicycle could be considered adult or junvenile. If it was coaster brake with a camel back top tube, it was typically considered a junvenile bicycle. If it was 3 speed with a straight top tube, it was generally considered an adult bicycle.
T-Mar is offline  
Likes For T-Mar:
Old 07-21-19, 09:28 AM
  #10  
BigChief 
Senior Member
 
BigChief's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,240
Mentioned: 103 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 103 Times in 85 Posts
Schwinn did offer the Racer in a tall frame, 23" I think, but you don't see many today. Bikes were pretty much considered kids toys back in the 50s and early 60s, at least where I grew up in NJ. I think many adults considered them a relic of the depression and war years that they were happy to move away from.
__________________
Inflate Hard
BigChief is offline  
Likes For BigChief:
Old 07-21-19, 11:17 AM
  #11  
Murray Missile 
Senior Member
 
Murray Missile's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: 700 Ft. above sea level.
Posts: 3,205

Bikes: More than there were awhile ago.

Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 620 Post(s)
Liked 1,205 Times in 575 Posts
Originally Posted by T-Mar
In the 1960s a 26" wheel bicycle could be considered adult or juvenile. If it was coaster brake with a camel back top tube, it was typically considered a junvenile bicycle. If it was 3 speed with a straight top tube, it was generally considered an adult bicycle.
Yeah, I remember, I was there . I guess it's a matter of perspective, here in Podunk in the early 60's diamond frame bikes were quite a rarity, I don't think anyone in town had a 10 speed until '67 or '68 although the preacher's kid did have a 3 speed "English Racer, he was a spoiled brat, we couldn't stand him LOL. When an adult did ride a bike they usually borrowed their kid's bike but an adult on a bicycle was also a rarity, now sadly it's the other way around. So to me a "kid's" bike would be a 20 or 24 inch, once we got big enough to ride a 26 inch bike we didn't consider ourselves "kids" any more even though we were.
__________________
".....distasteful and easily triggered."
Murray Missile is offline  
Likes For Murray Missile:
Old 07-22-19, 02:15 PM
  #12  
thriftyswift3
Roll Swift on the Thrift.
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 54

Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Fuji Grand, 1980? Scwhinn Le Tour, 1970 Concord Deluxe, American Flyer Emperor, 198(x) Cannondale road bike, Trek 720 Multi Trak, 198(x) Cannondale mountain bike, 198(x) Motobecane road bike, 196(x) Sears cruiser, 1960 Scwhinn Racer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times in 7 Posts
Originally Posted by Murray Missile
When you say "kid's" bike do you mean they're not 26" wheels?

Back then local organizations would put on bicycle safety courses for school children and you'd get some sort of "prize" for completing it and a sticker to put on your bike. Around here it was usually the Lions or Kiwanis clubs.
I say "kids'" because in looking into it online, it was said that they were kids' bikes. Our Schwinn Racer has 26" wheels. It is a rather short bike.

I also see that in the old advert. that you posted here (thank you, by the way!) it lists those Murray bikes as boys' and girls' – including the 26" wheel ones.
thriftyswift3 is offline  
Old 02-15-20, 12:53 AM
  #13  
thriftyswift3
Roll Swift on the Thrift.
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 54

Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Fuji Grand, 1980? Scwhinn Le Tour, 1970 Concord Deluxe, American Flyer Emperor, 198(x) Cannondale road bike, Trek 720 Multi Trak, 198(x) Cannondale mountain bike, 198(x) Motobecane road bike, 196(x) Sears cruiser, 1960 Scwhinn Racer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times in 7 Posts
Here's a question: Where is a good place to buy caged bearings? I need some for the front hub of this bike. Thus far, I've only gotten them from the co-op. I would love to have my own source for parts so I'm not dependent solely on the co-op.

Shifting focus to the front hub today: I realized as I rode that the front hub really needed attention. I know, not surprising. So, I opened it up tonight. What a simple setup!

The nut that locks the bearing adjustment is the mounting nut!

So, this hub really needed service! One of the caged bearings came apart as I opened things up.
thriftyswift3 is offline  
Old 02-15-20, 06:23 AM
  #14  
Trakhak
Senior Member
 
Trakhak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 5,338
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2429 Post(s)
Liked 2,888 Times in 1,646 Posts
The oldest bike shop in your town probably has hub rebuild kits compatible with the hub you're talking about. The manufacturer is Wald. If no one has them in stock, the shop can order them from a distributor.

However, the only advantage to using caged bearings is that they reduce assembly time in factories. Most experienced bike mechanics replace caged bearings with free bearings. Using free bearings usually means that you get to increase the number of bearing balls per race by at least one. More ball bearings = better.
Trakhak is online now  
Likes For Trakhak:
Old 02-15-20, 05:09 PM
  #15  
wrk101
Thrifty Bill
 
wrk101's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Mountains of Western NC
Posts: 23,570

Bikes: 86 Katakura Silk, 87 Prologue X2, 88 Cimarron LE, 1975 Sekai 4000 Professional, 73 Paramount, plus more

Mentioned: 96 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1236 Post(s)
Liked 957 Times in 624 Posts
Forget using caged bearings for wheels. Just use loose ball bearings instead. Typically a front wheel will take 3/16” bearing balls and the rear 1/4”. 10 front per side, 9 rear per side. I buy them in balls of 144 at a time for around $3.
__________________
Please don't confuse ebay "asking" prices with "selling" prices. Many sellers never get their ask price. some are far from it. Value is determined once an item actually SELLS. Its easy enough to check SOLD prices.
wrk101 is offline  
Likes For wrk101:
Old 02-18-20, 12:22 AM
  #16  
thriftyswift3
Roll Swift on the Thrift.
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 54

Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Fuji Grand, 1980? Scwhinn Le Tour, 1970 Concord Deluxe, American Flyer Emperor, 198(x) Cannondale road bike, Trek 720 Multi Trak, 198(x) Cannondale mountain bike, 198(x) Motobecane road bike, 196(x) Sears cruiser, 1960 Scwhinn Racer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times in 7 Posts
Thank you, Trakhak and wrk101 !! So, where do you buy those loose bearings??

I am a slow and cautious kind of guy when learning, so I pretty much knew I should ditch the caged bearings but my hesitant side said "find exactly what you took out." I have seen the RJ the Bike Guy video on replacing caged with loose and it makes total sense why it's better. So...

...tonight I hunted around my very disorganized parts stash on the off chance I'd find a few ball bearings. Lo and behold, I found two of them! The front hub on this Sears bike had 7 bearings in the cage. I was able to fit 10 loose ones in. These are small bearings. So now I just need to come up with 4 more from somewhere and I'll be good to put that hub back together!
thriftyswift3 is offline  
Old 02-18-20, 06:33 PM
  #17  
thriftyswift3
Roll Swift on the Thrift.
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 54

Bikes: Nishiki Olympic, Fuji Grand, 1980? Scwhinn Le Tour, 1970 Concord Deluxe, American Flyer Emperor, 198(x) Cannondale road bike, Trek 720 Multi Trak, 198(x) Cannondale mountain bike, 198(x) Motobecane road bike, 196(x) Sears cruiser, 1960 Scwhinn Racer

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Liked 14 Times in 7 Posts
Okay, Ace Hardware! Picked up some ball bearings. Now, my question is: Is it okay that they are "Chrome Ball Bearings?" Is this standard naming? It seems to me chrome is a plating, and one wouldn't want a plated bearing in their hub because plating comes off. Or, are all ball bearings considered chrome ball bearings?
thriftyswift3 is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Mishapopkin
Classic & Vintage
7
08-15-17 11:09 PM
d5912
General Cycling Discussion
42
03-22-13 12:12 PM
pdxtex
Road Cycling
1
11-05-12 05:27 PM
webike4fun
Classic & Vintage
75
07-25-11 10:40 PM
carlosar75
Classic & Vintage
6
03-08-10 09:43 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.