miyata37

I have what I believe is a 1937 Miyata in really beautiful original condition, it may even have the original tires on it. Does anyone have any idea what a bike like this is worth?

Barrettscv 

This thread is worthless without pictures

wrk101

$3.50 without a pic.

Wulf

There are so few old examples that finding a true value will be difficult. It's true place is in a museum if it really is that old. I cannot believe that any were imported into the US before the war. Check with the company to verify the age, model equipment etc. Contact an auction house like Butterfield or Sothbys.

miyata37

Pictures:







I know the seat isn't original (would like to know what type of seat it originally had) but I believe most of everything else is original, including the paint.

Dave

Doohickie

Why do you think it's a 1937 model?

miyata37

The serial number is R937531, I was told that it was a 1937. It appears that it could easily be that year or a year close to it, but then again, I am not a bicycle expert.

miyata37

It has the Miyata logo on the pedals, rubber flap on the front fender, pedals, etc. All the brake system is mechanical, no cables. Although the chrome is in good shape for what I believe the year is, it is somewhat pitted. The bike is not light, it's a heavy bike.

Dave

miyata37

A couple of more pictures....

Doohickie

I have a similarly-equipped Raleigh and I know Raleigh made rod-brake bikes into the 1980s. I know nothing of Miyata serial numbers (a search here says T-Mar is the authority but couldn't find a single authoritative thread), but the equipment on your bike just looks more modern than that of my 1966 Raleigh DL-1. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice bike, but I don't think it's as old as the 1930s. My uneducated guess would be 1970s, maybe even later.

Did you say what size tires it has? 26"? 28"?

miyata37

Hi Doohickie,

I'm no expert on bikes and you could easily be correct. Not being an expert, it sure looks old to me, especially in the way it was made, but then again, the condition of the bike, doesn't appear to be a 72 year old bike, that being said; I have a 1929 Roosevelt that only has 15,000 miles on it, and it still has the orignal logo on the rubber floormats and is easily in the same condition as this bike. Honestly, I don't know, when I acquired it, it was disclosed as a 1937 and the serial number does have a 937 in it's first three numbers, which isn't too much of a leap to assume that could represent the year.

I'm hoping someone here may know the answer.

Thanks,
Dave

wrk101

+1 Bike looks very interesting, but also looks a lot newer than 1937.

Doohickie

It's impossible to know what's been replaced on it, but looking at the seat, the rear light, the headbadge, and the little cover on the crank arm, they just don't look that old. Find BF user T-Mar and maybe send him a personal message. He has done a lot of serial number research. I looked through some of the threads but didn't find a definitive decoding of Miyata's serial numbers. And even if there was, it might not include your number if it really is a much older bike (1960s or earlier), simply because there may not be enough specimens to prove out the serial number scheme.

Regardless of how old it is, it's a gorgeous bike in nice shape.

You mention the rod brakes and the weight of the bike; many bike companies made a similar bike for many years; Flying Pigeon of China still makes them. They are built for transportation, not performance, and so are not race optimized in areas like weight and performance. But they get you from point to point dependably. My 1966 Raleigh weighs about 50 lb. but it rides like a Cadillac.

miyata37

Hi Doohickie,

Your reply certainly makes sense. Naturally, I would like it to be what was represented, but then again, I want to know the truth. Taking into consideration of what you've said, it certainly could be a newer bike of an older design. It certainly has a dated look to it, when up close to the bike, one can believe it's a 1937, but then again, there are some items on it (excluding the seat), that appear to be newer than 1937.
As far as riding like a Cadillac, this one does that too, I was amazed on how smooth and quiet it rode, like a swiss watch.

The serial number should tell the story, I just need to find someone who can de-code it.

Who is BF user T-Mar?? Remember I know very little about bikes.

Dave

Doohickie

This is T-Mar.

I'll tell you what: I know very little about bikes, too. I knew even less when I started hangin' around this forum last year. Stay around; you'll start picking up some information.

miyata37

I know this is a superficial point, but even the color looks more like something out of the 30's than something out of the 70's.

pacificaslim

This is the Japanese company Miyata, right? Were they selling a lot internationally in those days? If they were mainly domestic, I doubt they would use serial numbers using the western calendar years, especially in the 1930s when sentiment in Japan was very anti-west.

So.."937": 9 could be September and the 37 could be the year. In the Japanese calendar, the only 37 that could make sense would be Showa era year 37 and that is 1962.

Just a guess.

jim-bob

I will be very very very surprised if that bike turns out to be from 1937.

miyata37

I googled 1937 Miyata and this picture came up...

brianinc-ville

The headbadge seems like the real giveaway -- I'd be very surprised if that turned out to be a '30s design. Looks like '60s or '70s to me. The plastic parts (grips, mudflap, crank-center dustcaps) look postwar, as well.

But back to your original question: what it's worth depends greatly on where you are. People are digging old roadsters in most of the big US cities right now and will pay quite a bit; not so much demand elsewhere.

sykerocker 

Big objection to the bike in your Googled pictures - the wheel reflectors. That's something that came about in the early 1970's, I believe. Late 60's at the earliest. Which shows that pre-war styles were still quite evident post war.

miyata37

As much as I would like it to be a 1937, trust me, I can see and understand all that has been stated. Hopefully, I can breakdown the serial number. I appreciate the educated guess'es, but now, more than ever, I truly want to find out exactly what I have.

BTW, I live just south of Fresno, CA.

miyata37

I thought I would take a few more pictures, maybe it will help...

miyata37

Also note: all screws are the flat head design that was used prior to phillips head and note the last picture of the emblem (without the flash) it diffinately looks old to me.

SingeDebile

its interesting the rear rod brake goes to a drum.... kinda cool.

Wouldnt a bike of this era usually be a skip tooth? (cant tell in the photo's but would be worthwhile to know)