I recently acquired a very cool JC Higgins. Bendix 3 speed and the shifter is unlike any I have seen. It is NOT a skip tooth. There is a faded sticker on the seat tube that I believe states "Sport Elite" Clearly stamped on the bottom bracket is "MOD502479021Y" and below that is "578395"

Chrome fenders are nice and there is a very cool Wald springer front rack. The red paint that says "Bendix" on the coaster brake is very nice too. Good looking rear rack too.

I will get some pics and add them soon. Any help dating and identifying this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
-wmsiniowa

Bendix 3 speed?

I'm curious!

Yes, the coaster brake arm says "Bendix" and so does the shifter. But it is unlike any shifter I have ever seen. I am in the process of cleaning her up and will post pictures soon. Thanks, -wmsiniowa

The rear hub has no markings. It was very grimy and I cleaned it to very nice chrome. The coaster brake arm says Bendix as does the shifter. "Bendix Aviation Corp Made in USA" I am new to this stuff and apparently my pictures are too large. Send me an email and I will forward. Thanks!

wmsiniowa@hotmail.com

Are you sure it is not a 2 speed? Bendix did make manual shift 2 speeds. Roger

Thanks, you may be right. I assumed it was a 3 speed. If they have a neutral then yes. I seemed to have caught it between gears and the crank spun around. I have compressed the pictures and will attach.

Thanks,
-wmsiniowa

Undoubtedly a Murray built bike. The styling looks early '60s.

Thanks for the replies. Wondering if anyone has a link to a serial number database for these. As stated I have a SN and a model number clearly stamped on the bottom bracket. Any suggestions> -wmsiniowa

Possibly, A Bendix Torpedo hub, which was 3 speed. I think that Sachs, Germany, made the hub. I am sure it is rare!

Thanks for all the input. From our good friends at Old Bicycle...

What you actually have there is a 2-speed Bendix hub from the 1950s, which in fact is older than the bicycle. Bendix called the hub The Multispeed and lots of them were sold in the 1950s. They changed this design at the end of the 50s and went to the Bendix Automatic (a non-cable-operated 2-speed).