Century

This is my first post and I am new at old bicycles too. I picked up an oldie at a garage sale for $5. I thought I would clean it up and paint it for my daughter. Now I am interested in finding out the age and any other info. The brass badge on the front reads "Century" made in USA. It has a blue and white seat with a "S" on it. It is a Schwinn seat but I'm not sure it is original to the bike. The serial number is on the bottom under the pedal bearings. It is: 52847 and under that is has J9. It also has FAC or EAC just to the right of the serial number but at a slant not in line with the other number. The Lady told me that she got it from a friend of hers when she was a kid. She told me that her friend bought it at a used bicycle shop. So, it was bought twice used and the lady I got it from is about late 70's. I am thinking it is from the 30's or 40's. Not too sure. I have completely taken it apart. The fenders and chain guard are chrome. The handle bar is not chrome. It looks like copper pipe under the grips. All of the frame is brazed. The Clamp that holds the seat rod is brazed to the bike frame. Can anyone help me inlearning more about this, what will be a, beautiful vintage bicycle. Could it be "Century Cycle Co."
Thanks in advance.

cb400bill

Pics?

Century

I tried to post some pics. Don't know if it worked or not.

pastorbobnlnh 

The Schwinn saddle is from the '60s to the '70s. The frame is significantly older. Schwinn did make frames for others before WWII. But those rear dropouts don't look like a Schwinn. But I'm not an expert.

darkmagus

Curious, did you mask off the head badge or just paint over it?

Century

The badge is masked. I originally was going to have the frame sand blasted but I was affraid they would mess up the badge. I didn't want to take it off either. I cannot find any info on "Century". Is Century the make or could it be the model? Can anyone identify the year by the serial number. the picture shows the number pretty good.
Thanks for the replies.

USAZorro

Pretty sure the brand is Century. I know nothing of Century, but it looks 30's or 40's to me.

darkmagus

Whew, I was hoping that was the case. I think the patina of the badge will look great when it's finished. What color are you going to paint it?

Fletch521

The dropouts look to me like they could be Schwinn but the rest of the bike doesn't. The seat stays on the older Schwinn often met the seat tube at the top and became part of the clamp.

These examples are Meads (Schwinn made frames)

Century

I found a 40's Schwinn pic that is a baby blue. Thats the color I chose. Best I can tell the original color was a darker
blue. When I started sanding and got past the rattle can blue there was another blue then a white'ish color then metal. Are there other areas
that I can take close up pics of to help ID it?

Fletch521

Do a search on "Cleveland Welding Company Bicycles. ;-)

Fletch521

FYI, typical formatting for pre war Schwinn frames would look like this
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