Classic & Vintage - skiptooth western flyer. fix or parts & year ?

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whitefiretiger
04-28-12, 07:32 AM
I just picked up a old women's western flyer for $15. It's a skip tooth drive train that works. The only parts that don't move freely are the peddles. But here's the kicker ... The seat post tube is partly cracked lose from the BB. I found a guy that said he can weld it back good and straight.

Here's my ?s;
Any idea what year this thing is?
Is it worth trying to get the frame fixed or should I just part it out?

So far the only thing I've found for numbers on this thing is 45590 on the bottom of the BB.
The hubs say. New Departure Model D.

http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff427/whitefiretiger87/western%20flyer/Photo04271241_1.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff427/whitefiretiger87/western%20flyer/IMAG0074.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff427/whitefiretiger87/western%20flyer/IMAG0082.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff427/whitefiretiger87/western%20flyer/IMAG0079.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff427/whitefiretiger87/western%20flyer/IMAG0087.jpg
http://i1235.photobucket.com/albums/ff427/whitefiretiger87/western%20flyer/IMAG0080.jpg

sloar
04-28-12, 08:50 AM
i've dealt with a lot of vintage fat tire bikes, hate to say it but dont waste your time with that, you can never get your money back on a girls bike if you restore it. you can visit ratrodbikes.com or thecabe.com and part it out, thats where your gonna make the most money...
whitefiretiger
04-28-12, 09:13 AM
I was figuring on parting it out. Any idea of a year range on this thing tho?

dbakl
04-28-12, 02:03 PM
I've always heard skip tooth is pre WWII.
sailorbenjamin
04-28-12, 05:59 PM
Some cheaper bikes used it up till the early 50s. I'd find a man's frame and swap out the parts, or let the Ratrod guys have at it. They'd have a better idea of the year, too.
bikemeister
04-28-12, 06:47 PM
I came across a ladies Western Flyer. It was pretty bad off. But, I'm a sucker for hard luck cases, so, I tore her down to the underskirts and rebuilt her. Sold her to a woman who appeared to appreciate old quality. I say go for it and restore the old lady!
Here are some before and after pics.
whitefiretiger
04-28-12, 09:29 PM
Thanks everybody I appreciate the input. I pumped up the front tire and its holding, put a new tube in the rear and lifted the seat, lubed the chain. Just rode it around the block and had a blast. An old lady stopped me and was telling me she had a bike almost identical in 1942.

I'm going to have a friend weld the frame so I can ride it on the next rat ride the bike kitchen has. After that I'm going to strip it and use the parts on another bike.

It measures out and seems to use 559 tires which makes things easier.

Update: Ok I've been researching and asking about like crazy... consensus is its a 1940 or 1941 made by Huffman