Buying a few bikes I haven't id'd yet

[Laxbeaver]

I've arranged to pick these up today, I have just the pic to go by. I can't i.d. any with confidence. Curiosity is killing me, any id would be cool. Wondering about the extra thing on the down tube of the front one.
P.s. less curious about the 10 speeds I guess I have to take them lol.
More pics when I get them home

 

[RustyGold]

I would guess that the front one is CWC...and probably '38 or older (I'm not strong on early to mid 30s ID yet ). The blue and yellow... probably 60s AMF, and then what looks like a Roamer branded Snyder against the building in the back (Rollfast).

Jason

 

[Laxbeaver]

Yeah I think you got 'em, thanks. I only know because of the badges on the CWC and Rollfast haha. the blue one doesn't have a badge I have a few pics of it. Didn't get these up yesterday because I got em home and starting cleaning them of course . I started taking apart the CWC with my eyes wide open, this is my first old one... I got the wheels off and the rear fender, gotta let the penetrating oil sit for the rest.

Anyway, here's what I got, 50 bucks for the lot. He was gonna scrap them but thought he'd try CL for a few bucks more. I gave back the 10 speeds.

The real target:

after some rough cleanup...

and the Rollfast 24" sorry for the rotated pics

and the one with no labels...

The trike is still in my truck lol

 

[SILVERKINGPC]

Great score on the old Roadmaster!

 

[Laxbeaver]

Thanks, I'm really excited over it. I didn't have an interest in these bikes until I saw them here so that one was saved thanks to you guys! I was looking since spring and missed 2 before finding it.
So what I know is it's a CWC roadmaster. That's it haha. Any more info would be great, especially the year. Did they become AMF?
I'll start new threads for specific questions, I'll need guidance to do it right. Thanks!

 

[Laxbeaver]

Here's the others that completed the deal, a 24" Hiawatha girls and the trike. I wasn't into trikes, but this ones fun to look at, I'm sure I'll pick it up some day. I just now was able to make out the name, looks like it's a Murray, which is cool with me!

 

[Wildcat]

The prewar Roadmaster is great! CWC made. In the early 50's AMF bought Roadmaster and moved to Arkansas, but yours is way before then, made in Cleveland! Might be a 1936 model:

The red Hiawatha was made by Huffy, the dropouts are definitely Huffy from the 50's probably. The blue and yellow AMF is probably mid to late 60's, going by the chain ring, as is the Rollfast mid to late 60's again the chain ring being the best ID. Those 2 frames are good to customize.

 

[Laxbeaver]

Thanks that's all great to know.
Yeah I see lots of possibilities with em. I can't believe the construction of the CWC its so heavy duty. Nothing is bent except one of the things on the forks which i can get back if i can get it out. Really tough bikes wow. And the size of that chainring !

 

[Laxbeaver]

That 1936 sure looks right. Other than the handlebars, only the rack is different. Would the long bars be original? I'd like to ride it with those, at least at first.

 

[Wildcat]

None of those bikes came with the ape hangar handlebars, but the CWC looks to have the original stem. I looked at a 1938 pic that looked like it also. That's all I know, maybe someone else here can ID it.

 

[deorman]

The blue and yellow is a Roadmaster most likely built in the CWC plant after AMF bought them out.

 

[RustyGold]

I call the blue and yellow, the 'big-bellied AMFs' due to the very curvy downtube. Definitely CWC legacy frame, with model names such as Jet Pilot, Skyrider, Missle, etc...that chainring places it more at the end of the 60s.

Jason

 

[RustyGold]

Great score! The 30s Roadmaster is definitely the head of the class, though...that thing is AWESOME!

Jason

 

[Wildcat]

Agreed on the 30's Roadmaster! I'd love to find one of those. I've had a few of the 60's AMF frames, they are laid back more than the Schwinn cantilever frames. Good to ride all day long.

 

[SILVERKINGPC]

If you are new to this, I would suggest dumping the other cheap bikes and focus on the Roadmaster. Ditch the meaningless ape-hanger bars for some long 30's steer-horn bars of similar patina, cover the seat with some leather, true the wheels, put some new condition black-wall tires on and ride it. Afterwards, you will be able to really admire what you have. Trust me on this one...skpc

 

[Laxbeaver]

Standing tall on some temporary wheels...

I'm in love
You guys have got me bustin with pride, thanks!
No worries, skpc, I'm thinking down the same road, no way would I customize or paint or otherwise ruin it. The bars were designated to the Rollfast once I knew not original (never liked em on a 26" anyway). I got some 60s bars for now and I don't do whitewalls. Probably will leave the fenders off is all. I'll keep the other bikes for painting and other fun stuff.
Speaking of rims, is this usable?
Maybe sandblast it?

 

[SILVERKINGPC]

They (rims) and wheels do look rough, but back one looks og to the bike with that rim. Spokes seem to be toast, but the rusty scale on the rims means nothing until you clean them up to see what is underneath. Try to get one spoke out of the og rear wheel intact for measurement, get new spokes the same length & have it re-built by someone who cares. (Save the old brass nipples)
If the spokes are ok, re-use them when re-building the rear wheel. 1st things first! I would endevour to get the original ND wheels back onto it if you can. It may require you to buy a matching-era front wheel...

 

[jimbo53]

The high rise bars could be cushion bars with a shock absorbing spring at the point the bars attach to the stem. There looks to be a sleeve over the bars at this point which would cover the spring mechanism. Here is the patent for the cushion bars and a set of cushion high riser bars I got off a mid 30’s Schwinn. I’m running them on a Firebolt Rat Bike and they look and ride great! If indeed they are original cushion bars, they are worth $75-150 depending on condition. Great find on that Roadmaster!

 

[Laxbeaver]

That would be great, but I think they're just regular ones...

 

[Laxbeaver]

Sorry, skpc, what are ND rims? The murrays on it are all I have right now just to keep it standing.
Yeah I'm leery of 'summer help' at the bigger bike shops, I'll have to be picky about who works on the rim and hub.