warrantchief

Here's the bike I picked up this weekend. I haven't had any luck tracking down manufacturer info. Anyone recognize it? I'd like to get it back into a stock-ish, ridable state. The bottom bracket is actually pretty smooth, but the diameter is not the "normal" cotter pin crank size. This is my first foray into restoration, so feel free to point me to the manual for some RTFM.

Thanks guys!

roughrider504

Bendix kick back hub, nice.

divineAndbright

Never saw that type of bike with that type of bottom bracket before.. They usually have uncomplicated-make sense-why doesnt every bicycle in the world use it 1 Piece cranks.. strange!

cudak888 

Looks like one for the balloon-tire fans at the Schwinn forum.

Mind you, while the fork style and frame joint treatment may scream Schwinn, this bike is most definitely NOT a Schwinn - the rear drop and triangle treatment are evident of that, same for the BB.

Just thought I'd point this out before someone begins yelling "Schwinn." Incedentally, flat blade forks were rather common on other manufacturer's bikes in the '40s/50s.

What comes off as a surprise to me more then anything else is the German origin. Most of the German bikes of this era were similar to the English roadster design, their main difference being 559mm/26" rims with 26X2.0 tires as opposed to the English EA3s. Possibly American influence during the rebuilding of Germany in the post-war years?

-Kurt

Mariner Fan

Kool bike.....

Bikedued

Very cool. Has Columbia looking dropouts and upper stay yoke, with a built in seatpost clamp like an Elgin. I can say I have never seen a ballooner from Germany, it's just not there style yah know? There's a WHOLE bunch of Cleveland Welding influence, for sure.,,,,HD

Try over at www.thecabe.com and then go to the forums. They don't allow direct linking anymore.....

tolfan

way cool bike. I have nothing inteligent to add

frameteam2003

Bet those BB cups screw in.Do they have a hole for a spanner someplace on the rim of the cup?

Grand Bois

If it was mine, I'd build a klunker. The top tubes remind me of a Schwinn Excelsior, the classic klunker frame. With those fat knobbies, it looks like someone made a stab at it.

new_dharma

What color are the bands on the rear hub?

warrantchief

Thanks for the feedback. I'm pretty excited to ride it. I took a couple measurements. The seat tube is tiny. It's like 24mm and change (my digital calipers were out of juice, so I was eyeballing the hashes).

The hub is a yellow stripe, which dates to the mid to late 60's, according to the intarweb.

Here are some pics of the bb. It's a weird one. The left side has a lock nut of some sort, and the right end of the axle appears to be threaded into the cup? I dunno.

Stacey

A great place to start would be; hack out that top tube extension that runs from the seat post to the arch of the seat stays then bending the chainstays up at the bottom bracket to make the seat stay arch contact the seat post, then weld it up.

This throws a real nice rake into the frame.

Sammyboy

Suhweeeeet. I almost bought a bike that had been done up to look like a board-racing motorbike in just this way. It got no bidders at £20, but even at that price, I had nowhere to put it, it looked like hella hard work to ride (knees up round your ears), I didn't HAVE £20 to spare, and I'd have had to go to London to fetch it!

divineAndbright

uhh.. don't hack it up like that, I dont understand why someone suggested it, how many like that are around to justify ruining it?

Ive got a similar bike in the basement, only the extra middle bar is curved like the top rather than straight which is more stylish if you ask me.. real mess though, holes in the chainstays from bent crank arms from dinging the frame (both sides!), even worse the whole frame is contorted and bent, the head tube isnt straight - the down tube is crooked which sends alignment off, I think while pedeling my foot woulnd bang up against the front fender, covered in rust.. thinking of building er up and riding anyway!

kemmer

How exactly would that ruin it? In general I agree that it would be cooler to leave it alone, but I think you should do what you want with it. How come nobody freaks out when a guy chops up a 50s Olds or a Model T, but modifying a bike frame is somehow a crime against bikedom? If that's true I think I like the car gods better.

divineAndbright

Just a matter of taste here.. I dont like seeing the chopped mercs and messed up old cars either, not that im a car guy, but it just doesnt make any sense to me, they look beautiful before they were mucked with. If you wanna mess up a bike take one of those new "choppers"; they are hideous already, and theres a ton around, turn that thing into something else, at least you won't be losing a relic from times pass.

Bikedued

If it was a rusted out basket case, I could see it. I would leave it as is, and make it ridable, with as close to stock parts that you could find info on. With that said, I LOVE that chopper Stacey. I could make those out of 90's Huffy's any day of the week and not feeel guilty. HMMM< I have a nineties Huffy, lol.,,,,BD

new_dharma

not the best photo of my bike...plus it lacks tires, fenders, chainguard and a kick stand...but it's getting there!

kemmer

...and in 40 years people will be mad that you chopped up a classic. Chopping a bike doesn't ruin it (unless you don't have the skills to do it right). Chop it and ride it if that's your thing, ride it stock if it's not. If I had a bike that was already 90% original and in really good condition or if it were worth big bucks, I'd leave it alone. Otherwise I'd chop it if I wanted to.

Bikedued

A nineties Huffy a classic 40 years from now? Better chance that an OCC schwinn chopper would be worth more, unfortunately. Just like the old schwinn too. Mild steel, flashy, nice paint colors, and weigh a ton Not that I'm hating on them, cause I have five, lol.,,,,BD

divineAndbright

you mean one of em huffy "good vibrations" cruisers.. they sell em at Kmart for about $100..? yeah total POS, but if they sold those here I'd be buying one every year to replace the one I rode into the ground the previous!