What year?

[dennyblock]

I just got an older boys bike, I think from the early 50s maybe? Its a Sterling 26" cruiser and in the nameplate it says "Built like a watch" and "Westfield MFG. Co. Westfield Mass." Stamped on the bottom of the frame by the crank is M131925 Can anyone tell me the year of this thing?

 

[Wildcat]

Going by the Columbia (Westfield MFG) serial numbers, 1948. A pic showing the bike from different angles would give a better guess. Lots of info on this webpage:
http://vintagecolumbiabikes.com/id79.html

 

[dennyblock]

Thanks for answering so fast, I will post some photos in the morning. On the link you gave they say this is a cheaper bike but it seems very well built to me. I bought it at a yard sale just on a lark but now I like it so much I sold my mountain bike and ride this one

 

[dennyblock]

 

[dennyblock]

 

[dennyblock]

 

[dennyblock]

 

[dennyblock]

The paint is original, I put the light on the fender cause there were holes already, and changed the seat and added the bell

 

[Wildcat]

Great looking bike. Here's a page from the 1948 Columbia catalog on Daves's Vintage Bikes webpage. It looks like yours is a model M69 Standard Motobike. If the original seat isn't too far gone, you might try to recover it.

 

[dennyblock]

The original is in good shape, the leather is cracked but the horsehair? pad is great and so are the metal parts. I was thinking about recovering it if I can find someone to do it.

 

[Wildcat]

Check the How To forum here, some members have recovered their old seats. I did it with my build off bike last year, it's not too hard to do. I went to a fabric store to find vinyl or other material that would work.

 

[deorman]

Cheap as in inexpensive bare bones model.

 

[Rustinkerer]

That's cool! I have an identical frame without a badge, as well as the right dropout has fallen out at some point! I always thought those frame darts look like post hole diggers! -Adam

 

[dennyblock]

I have now added truss rods and a rear rack I found on ebay, at the Howes show tomorrow I hope to find a mirror and some reflectors