Old Bike ID
 

I recall having a 3 speed as a kid, and of course it's long gone. But I've been reading through Sheldon Brown's pages on the subject, and I'm not so sure what it was I had. I recall mine not having cottered cranks (I think it may have more like a cast crank?), and the gear selector was a pin that went into the hub, not a chain. Was it some cheapo knockoff, or just a later model? I recall my parents having some nice looking 3 speeds, I'm guessing those are long gone too. I know that's about zip for ID, but for the heck of it, I'm wondering just what was it--some Sears model?

Hub was probably Shimano and several companies used one piece American cranls on these bikes. More info might help. Year you got it? Roger

Long time ago, and it was used at that. I woulda gotten it around, oh, 1988 maybe? I know I rode it in 90-92, and it had quite the patina even "new". Went well though.

There were a lot of bikes that had 3 speed rear units, and bike brands changed what they used for components all the time, so trying to isolate the bike by the kind of gear selector would be impossible. But Sears, Wards, Schwinn, Ross, Huffy and others that I can't think of at the moment could all apply.

Back in the 60's I went to school on a Schwinn Archer 3 speed that used a chain. That shifting system was virtually bulletproof as long as you kept oil in the hub.