firerabbit

I was disposing of some junk bikes -- decided this one was too pretty to trash. Asked my Mom about it and she told me it was Oma's, so it's got to be a least 45+ yrs. old. Being a n00b, I can't give all the specs, nor a picture, because I have dialup.
What I've got is:
It's BMA/6 certified. There's a decal on the front with the name 'Free Spirit' surrounded by the words 'Sears Roebuck and Co'. It's a three speed coaster (according to another label on the side). Oma was around 6' in her day. It's got a dynamo powered headlight/taillight set, unkown condition, and a bell that still works but sticks somewhat. Oh, and whitewall tires. It's cherry red, with tan handlebars and seat. The seat is fairly generous. It's got a sprinkling of rust, but only one large spot of it. The chain is def. shot.
I'd be most grateful for possible histories of the bike, and price estimates if possible. Also, can you tell me what I should be looking at to identify further?

blaise_f

Standard department store bike, likely. Free Spirit did have some Reynolds tubed bikes, so you might check for stickers hinting at such (though I'm thinking their 3spds were pretty typical clones of Schwinn Sprint, etc). It's unlikely that it's 45+ years old - 1970s yes; bike-boom-era.

Tuned up and ready to ride, with no concerning flaws (i.e. rotted tires, saddle, etc), in most markets it should bring $100. In a strong market, maybe $150.

wrk101

I bought some similar Free Spirit 3 speeds (in needing TLC condition) from that era for $10 each, and I overpaid for them. It really depends where you live, but around here, in needs TLC condition, value is minimal. All fixed up and sparkling, $75. The challenge is even if the bike is free, it can take $75 in parts and consumables to get it back on the road.

Some were Austrian made (mine are) which makes them a tad better. Still nothing special.

BMA/6 sticker went on a lot of department store bikes.

FastJake

+1

These bikes don't sell, forget making a profit. If you like it, ride it. If not dump it on CL for a few bucks. Or take off the dynamo lights and other parts you want to put on another bike.

lostarchitect 

Unless it's one of the Reynolds 531 models, I don't know if you could get $150, even here in NYC, but you never know.

randyjawa 

The bike in question is, indeed, a department store issue and, in extra nice shape, worth about a hundred bucks.

As for what to look for. You can figure out the bicycle's vintage by applying some of the information contained in How Old Is The Bike? Or, you can work towards determining how much it is worth buy studying Vintage Bicycle Value.

Sorry that I can't help with the history of the bicycle, or anything else. Simply put, to get the best quality answers on the forum, pictures are almost a must.

wrk101

BMA/6 went on a lot of the Huffy or Murray bikes back then. If yours has a Shimano 333 three speed system, then it is likely made in USA by one of these two. The better Free Spirits were made in Austria, and will have an Austrian 3 speed system.

Huffy or Murray three speed with rust? Donation fodder.

vintagebicycle

Sounds like a 1970's model judging by the BMA/6 decal which came about in or around 1972.
They did offer some decent Austrian built bikes back in the early 60's though, those were nice rides and on par with most other European bikes of that time.
Without pics its tough to say what you have though.
If the bike is complete and it looks like something you want to fix and ride, go for it, but it will never be a bike that will bring a profit if your looking to resell it.

Free Spirit is a store brand of Sears, they buy everything from the lowest bidder on any contract so the issue there is that quality often came second to price. I've seen Free Spirit bikes made by Austro Daimler, Raleigh, Columbia, Huffy, and by Murray. Those made in Austria used a hub that was usually marked Sears right on it, the later bikes used Shimano hubs.
You can usually tell the better quality bikes by whether or not they used a lug type frame.
I do remember them selling a dark red model with a tan seat and tan hand grips in the late 70's, those were Murray built bikes.
If you can find the Sears part number for the bike itself you can find out who made it. These numbers were often on the headbadge or on a decal on the seat tube.

There was also one with a lugged frame called the Brittany, which used alloy three piece cranks and a lugged frame. These were sold in a candy apple red with tan saddle and grips. These were older. They were very similar to some Hercules bikes of the day. If the bike has a Sturmey Archer hub, there will be a date code on it which should give a better idea of the bikes age. However, those bikes would not have had the BMA/6 decal on them.