Old Columbia tank bike I D
11-21-23, 09:57 AM
#1
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Old Columbia tank bike I D
Is anyone knowledgeable about old Columbia tank bikes? This one was donated to the Bike exchange and I have taken it home to work on.
I have been trying to I D it without success. One unusual thing is that the head badge is actually a glue on sticker, not a rivited metal badge.
That has me thinking it might not be old, possibly made in China.
The fenders are rusty chrome painted over and someone also painted the rusty chrome rims . The handle bars are also rusty.
I just gave the frame and tank a coat of paint but am not interested in spending too much time on it if it doesn't have much value.
I am thinking of making it into a Klunker if that would be easier for us to sell.
I have been trying to I D it without success. One unusual thing is that the head badge is actually a glue on sticker, not a rivited metal badge.
That has me thinking it might not be old, possibly made in China.
The fenders are rusty chrome painted over and someone also painted the rusty chrome rims . The handle bars are also rusty.
I just gave the frame and tank a coat of paint but am not interested in spending too much time on it if it doesn't have much value.
I am thinking of making it into a Klunker if that would be easier for us to sell.
11-21-23, 10:12 AM
#2
I don't know.
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That was probably made in the Westfield factory (previously Pope). Looks to be a late 50s-early 60s bike? Is it a midweight (1.75" wide tires), or a ballooner (2.125")?
There should be a number on the bottom bracket. Check it here:
Columbia Serial Numbers (cardiffbikeshop.com)
There should be a number on the bottom bracket. Check it here:
Columbia Serial Numbers (cardiffbikeshop.com)
11-22-23, 11:21 PM
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No serial numbers on the bottom bracket shell (I scraped off the paint to check )
single speed coaster brake
No button on tank. no internals for light or bell.
Coaster brake Mattatuck USA
Single wall chrome wheels
Chrome fenders. There are holes in the front fender where there was probably a head light originally .
I wound up repainting the frame , tank and chain guard, removed the paint from the fenders and wheels.
I will probably paint the fenders and replace the wheels with some black rim, black spoke wheels I have at home.
single speed coaster brake
No button on tank. no internals for light or bell.
Coaster brake Mattatuck USA
Single wall chrome wheels
Chrome fenders. There are holes in the front fender where there was probably a head light originally .
I wound up repainting the frame , tank and chain guard, removed the paint from the fenders and wheels.
I will probably paint the fenders and replace the wheels with some black rim, black spoke wheels I have at home.
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11-27-23, 08:36 PM
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I finished up the bike today and took some pictures. After removing the old paint from the chrome fenders I cleaned them up, treated the rust with Naval jelly and installed them.
I rebuilt one of the pedals with new bearings and grease. The chain was rusty but not stretched so I cleaned it with a cup type wire brush mounted in my drill press and oild it.
The original steel wheels were badly rusted along with the spokes so I substituted a pair of black rims and tires with a kick back brake I had laying around.
In the end I did a lot more work on this bike than I has intended. I was tempted to strip off all the vintage parts and build it up as a custom clunker but in the end I chose to just preserve as much of its originality as I could
.
I rebuilt one of the pedals with new bearings and grease. The chain was rusty but not stretched so I cleaned it with a cup type wire brush mounted in my drill press and oild it.
The original steel wheels were badly rusted along with the spokes so I substituted a pair of black rims and tires with a kick back brake I had laying around.
In the end I did a lot more work on this bike than I has intended. I was tempted to strip off all the vintage parts and build it up as a custom clunker but in the end I chose to just preserve as much of its originality as I could
.
Last edited by capnjonny; 11-28-23 at 05:12 PM.
