Looking for help identifying American Pre-war Lightweight

[Motopecane]

Hi all,
I recently visited my wife's old family farm in Billings Montana. I was able to leave with a handful of cool old bikes. One in particular everyone seemed to think was he grandmothers bike. She got very excited when I said I could absolutely make it ride able. I have two questions I am hoping you folks can help me with.

The first is obvious: What manufacturer is this bike?

The second: Should I do a full restore (paint ect. ) or keep the patina. I work at a bike shop and am fully versed in everything it would take to make this bike look new, I just don't know if that's the best option.

Here is what I know so far:

-Black new departure hubs front and rear
-26 x 1.375 tires
-Pedal blocks are wood
-Spokes are double butted
-Nipples are made of steel

I don't have the serial number on me but will get that as well. Other than hubs the bike has no other brand markings.

 

[Motopecane]

Well I did a little more searching at found it looks to be a "victory" bicycle most likely made by Dayton-Huffman.
http://www.questmasters.us/Bicycles.html

I also found what looks like uploads from a Firestone catalog. The chainring, paint job, and optional chain guard matches.
https://hiveminer.com/Tags/1940s,firestonecatalog

 

[Dizzle Problems]

Cool bike and rad it was a family members. I vote for a cleaning, and overhaul, but absolutely not to repaint.

 

[sandman]

A bike is only original once . If you restore it you can never go back

 

[Wildcat]

A war model Huffman as seen in the ad. The blackout hubs and everything proves that. And was grandma's bike? That's great and should be kept original as it is. Looks like no one repainted it, so that's a big plus. It can be kept in the family and rideable for many years. It's a heirloom.

Huffman's serial numbers had an "H" followed by a digit indicating the last digit of the year. I'm not sure if 40's bikes were that way. The number should be on the bottom bracket.

 

[Motopecane]

So this is what it would have looked like had it not lived on a farm for all these years. I am glad you folks were my voice of reason as I was all ready to strip this thing down for paint.

 

[rickpaulos]

Picture fame with photos of the bike cleaned up, grandma and the catalog page for the bike. Hang that on the wall. Of course the crown jewel would be a photo of grandma with/on the bike.