srccon

Hey all,

First time poster and new guy to bike culture. My grandpa left a bike for my mother, it's been sitting in a garage for 20+ years. My mother says that he might have gotten it from a church where it had been abandoned some 30 or 40 years ago. I was going to tear it down to make a single speed, but when I took it to a bike coop for tools, they said that it might be worth something, surprising considering its appearance. From what I have gathered so far, the derailers are worth around 100 bucks alone (ebay) and place the bike around 1958.

All other details are unknown, no makers mark that i can find. The guys at the bike shop said it is in remarkable shape considering it's age, perfect rims, good hubs and crank (I have no idea what I am talking about). They said that there is a market for such bikes. The only issue is the handle bar is a little bent but fixable.

Please let me know what my grandpa left me.

SteveSGP

I don't think it's as old as 1958, the Alvit derailleurs on it were used from the mid 60s-70s.

Looks like a pretty basic department/hardware store bike, you might find decals under that repaint.

I had a Hiawatha road bike a couple years ago that looked similar, Hiawatha was the house brand for Gambles hardware stores.

Edit- Link to details on the derailleurs https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.as...m=108&AbsPos=3

Also most components will have production codes or dates which should help identify the age of the bike, my guess is mid-sixties.

T-Mar

The rear derailleur is the 3rd generation Huret Allvit, introduced in 1969. That, plus the Ashtabula style crankset and long reach, side pull brakes suggest a boom era (i.e. early 1970s) entry level manufacturer. The one piece cranksets were typical of USA manufacturers and based on the chainring style and components this could be a Columbia. This bicycle is nothing special and given it's current condition may be worth $25 in an average market.

SteveSGP

The crankset looked older to me, similar to early-mid 60s Schwinn, by the 70s they had lost most of their style and generally had built in chain guards although the guard could obviously have been removed at some point.

T-Mar

To their credit, Schwiin was in advance of the industry with repect to public safety. They had chainguards on most derailleur equipped models by the tail end of the 1960s. However, most other manufactuers waited until after the axe dropped with the formation of the CPSC in 1972. Some adopted them once they knew the regulations were coming and others waited until it became law. Consequently, many manufacturers did not install chainguards until the end of the boom and the lack of chainguards could be OEM. If those derailleurs are OEM, it's definitely not older than 1969.

zukahn1 

I would also say early 70's low end American not worth much. In its current condtition maybe 30-40 to the right buyer. As for Allvit derailleurs being worth a lot they are not. I'm really surprised any bike coop would tell someone this is might be worth something or that it is from the 50's.

srccon

Wow. Thanks for all the information. I am really floored that you all can tell so much from a couple phone pictures.

Regardless of how much the bike is now (not) worth. I am super excited to see how this thread has evolved.

To the credit of the guy at the bike coop who said the derailiers were worth something. He did a little research on his phone while we were standing there, and estimated from there. Maybe he did not spec it right.

Truly, it does not matter what it is worth.

What I am in need of is a bike for around town. I have this one and although it is really heavy for a road bike, the question I pose to you all is should I fix it or scrap/sell it. It is surprisingly in good shape and to get it going at this point all i need is new tires/tubes and to do a little maintenance on the brakes/shifters.

Is it worth it?

Rootman

It IS if it's worth it to YOU. Since it was provided at no cost and has sentimental value and might fit your needs then YES. If you seriously doubt it then keep it as a keepsake or donate it to some organization that might be able to give it to someone who can use it.

Remember the RUBBER is that old too and likely will need replacing, brake pads are probably old and hard too. Scour it up, air the tires and grease and lube it and ride it around for a bit. Put some tape on the bars if you like it and then decide.

srccon

It does not have any sentimental value, my grandpa was not a bike enthusiast, he just ended up with a bike.

I think I'll get new tires and tubes, ride it around and see if it fulfills my need for a bike. Better than dropping 200 on another bike, and I won't care if it gets stolen (unlikely considering what it looks like).

Maybe in the future I'll be able to afford nice things.

FastJake

I would donate it or try to get $20 for it on craigslist. It has essentially no value in that condition, and would have little value even in excellent condition since it's a bottom-barrel boom bike. I would not stick more than $10 into it.

If you are just looking for something to ride around I would search craigslist for a quality rigid frame MTB or hybrid. Either would be light-years ahead and probably 10-15 pounds lighter than the bike you have.

srccon

Since the tires and tubes are shot, just getting it working would cost $50. I went by a bike shop and they said it would be about the same cost wise to buy a new bike than to fix this one up.

I have a MTB Specialized Rockhopper Hardtail from about 2005 that I am going to put slicks on. Solid frame, a little heavy for road, but it's what I already have so it is my cheapest option.

This bike is going to be donated to the local bike coop (the ones who said it was worth something), maybe it will go to parts on other bikes.

My next project is going to be building a super light weight single speed... but that is for a different thread.

T-Mar

Hmm, I'd be going back to the co-op and offering it to them for the bargain price of $50. After all, the derailleurs alone are worth $100!

zukahn1 

Good one T-Mar. I'm wondering where they came up with this $100 price last I checked basic boom era shift groups are only going for around $20-30 in excellent condition for stuff that is significantly better than the Allivit stuff.

T-Mar

I'm pretty sure I know where the misinformation came from. Back in 2002, a 1958 first generation Huret Allvit sold on Ebay for $112.50. It's listed in the "Market Highs" on Classic Rendezvous. I didn't see the auction but wouldn't be surprised if it was in very good condition, possibly NOS and maybe even MIB. Given the $100 quote and 1958 date estimate, the co-op person probably just did an internet search on Huret Allvit and came up with the Classic Rendezvous listing, not appreciating the difference in generation and use.