divineAndbright

Almost a year ago I bought this double bar frame with a few parts from someone online from old roads . com, we didnt really get bicycles like this in Canada, and I wanted one quite bad.. so I was quite desperate just to get whatever I can cheap and fix up, so I got this POS, no clue what it was (Missing headbadge), but possibly a JC HIggins or a Elgin (same company depending on what year you're in) going by the cranks chainring (though that "bathroom floor drain" design was pretty popular and used on various bicycles at the time as well, so who knows what it is).



There were holes in both chainstays from bent crank arms dinging the frame which I knew about, when I got the bike in the mail the frame was also mysteriously contorted/warped which I didnt know about.

I tried to put the bicycle together shortly after getting it with some parts from a girls 50s mercury bicycle on ebay, but I didnt have the needed skip tooth chain (the original one on the bike had a link ruined). I rode the bicycle for about a day with a normal drive chain using a CCM crank, but it didnt fit properly so it would just come loose all the time. My foot also banged against the front fender from pedalling due to the bentness, so I eventually said the hell with it, took it apart and hucked it in the basement and forgot about it.

I managed to get a skip tooth chain during that time, so about a week ago I was bored and figured I'd build it up again. I shoved a piece of steel in the frame and jumped on it to straighten it out (hehe!) then brought it up the street to an auto body shop to get the chainstays welded.

And today it was put together, yay!









Comfy seat! She weighs a good 45 pounds and is uglier than anything, I call her "The goon". I might put the original black fenders on over those red ones I put on, I was just kinda in the mood for some kinda weird clown bike look.

Anyways, thats the story of this thing. These bikes arent fast or the most forgiving to ride, but are neat in their own way.. just dont spend too much money on one if you're interested in getting one someday!

Keep on, keep on!

cyclodan

That's definitely a Murray built bike. Could have been badged as Murray, Mercury, J.C. Higgins or a number of other brands. The "bathroom floor drain" style chainring as you say is a dead giveaway and the skip tooth type puts it pre-1950 or so. I love the gentle curve of the frame's downtube, more elegant than Schwinn or Columbia IMHO.
Here are a couple of examples of similar bikes. The black one is mine and originally had the cranks like your originals but were bent. I just happened to have a ladies Schwinn lying around in excellent condition and robbed it of the drive train and wheels for this build. I was going for a '70s Klunker look here.
I picked it up at a swap meet for $15 and the donor bike came from a garage sale, also $15. I didn't spend too much did I?

divineAndbright

Nice, do you have fenders for that thing? $30 is a great deal of course, I put a lot of money into mine seeing that I got various crud off the internet from Americans (high shipping costs), which is amusing to learn when you look at the bike, but I dont mind, I like it. I'll probably huck knobby tires on it and use it as a main winter bike this fast approaching winter.

The other bike you showed is neat as well, that frame style looks kinda neat with the tank off:

Serendipper 

Klunkers are the best. I have the original article about them written for the Whole Earth Catalog (jog any memories? It was the first "internet...in newsprint form!).

Sammyboy

Wow divineandbright, it's like the ultimate rat-bike!

bigwoo

Wow does this bike have character! Where and what did you get "The Goon" off of?? (Because I'm gonna make sure I never hurt myself w/ one of those

n4zou

Add a motor to one and they look even neater. The photo below is of a new frame made to accept various bicycle engine kits and utilizes the old style frame design. You don’t need the engine kit as it will perform just fine as a bicycle and you can retain the tank for that really antique bicycle look as well.

mswantak

Now that's too cool. All it needs is an acetylene headlamp.

n4zou

One of these!
https://www.jkdey.com/cycle.htm

mastershake916

That bike is so awesome, love the rear rack.

oldy57

Here is a pic of my frankenstein bike. I started on it a few years ago but have not decided what paint to finish it in. Maybe semi gloss black. Rat Rod style. Whitewalls? It has a Bendix 2 speed hub, headlight, dual tail lights.

divineAndbright

Say.. is that a old ladies bike frame flipped upside down? Thats quite a good idea.. If you welded a down tube on it it would look even cooler, though less unique I suppose. If I had my own welding stuff I'd take on a project like that!