Craigslist find, pre-pickup ID please JC Higgins

[yoothgeye]

Bike has been purchased and can be seen in Fresh Finds now: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=50213

Going to get this bicycle tomorrow, owner knows nothing about it, they say it's JC Higgins, I'm sure they read it somewhere on the bike since they say it was in the shed when they bought the house. Tank, truss rods, fenders, chainguard, what do we know about this bike? Fork may be bent, this is the only photo:

 

[axsepul]

I will like to guess. Western flyer or jc higgins murray built.

 

[yoothgeye]

Well, since I know the bike must say JC Higgins, I'm not worried about brand, I'm curious about the year, late 50s early 60s?

 

[axsepul]

Well tires look middle weight but the fenders look balloon so I'll have to say 50's (maybe)

 

[nwt76]

1955-56 JC Higgins. Found these pictures for you but no real info othere than this. Looks to be the same bike.
The second picture looks like an all original parts bike to me.

 

[yoothgeye]

Thanks guys, I did a little google image research myself, the best thing I realized is that this is not a cantilever frame, which is cool, I've already got canti. I'm going to try picking it up for $40, but I'll have to do 170 miles round trip.

 

[nwt76]

That tank is probably worth $125 to someone if it's not rusted through.
I've got a higgins frame like that that I just built up but mine is a jet flow.

And this is what it is supposed to look like :roll:

 

[SCHWINNRAY69]

That's cool! I see your build off 7 frame there... 8)

 

[Rustinkerer]

From what I can make out in your pic YG, I think it's the European built version from '56, same as the all red one posted above. It has the same chrome cap on the forks, and it kinda looks like the same 3 piece crank. A fairly rare bird, especially w/the tank! -Adam

 

[yoothgeye]

From what I can make out in your pic YG, I think it's the European built version from '56, same as the all red one posted above. It has the same chrome cap on the forks, and it kinda looks like the same 3 piece crank. A fairly rare bird, especially w/the tank! -Adam

Thanks, why would it be built in Europe as opposed to the previous year American bike? Where can I get more history on this?

The bike is now in Fresh Finds: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=50213

 

[Rustinkerer]

Thanks, why would it be built in Europe as opposed to the previous year American bike? Where can I get more history on this?

The bike is now in Fresh Finds: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=50213

Short answer, factory strike in 1956. -Adam

 

[yoothgeye]

If anyone hasn't seen what's been going on with this bike, look here: viewtopic.php?f=67&t=58840