JC Higgins but what year?

[NICK1985]

I picked this bike up last week and I was wondering what year it was from. It has a skip tooth chain so does that mean its a 40's bike?

 

[B607]

Late 40's or 50's would be a good guess. I think that one was built by Murray. Considering you're in the UK, that is a super find. Heck, it would be a super find around here. Gary

 

[Flying Zombie]

Badge photo/s?
Skiptooth went to '53.
Gonna do a number run now if I can find my pages.

 

[Flying Zombie]

"That numbering system in the Cabe post is off (the pre '65 numbers anyway). ABC Services recently reprinted a western auto parts catalog from 1959, with invaluable frame dating info. 'MOS' is actually 1953, 'MOL' would be '47. 218 is the Sears model #., and MOD 502 is a Murray code on all built for Sears bikes. Probably, 'MOS-L' is still '53, it's typical of mid 50s JC Higgins. They're numbered slightly differently than bikes made for Western Auto. Later in the mid-late 50s, they started stamping theSears catalog # on the bb, so you can often match that up to a specific year catalog page. -Adam/ Rustinkerer"

http://thecabe.com/vbulletin/showth...-project&highlight=western+flyer+strato+flyer

http://ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/detailed-higgins-serial-number-decoder.51973/

 

[NICK1985]

Late 40's or 50's would be a good guess. I think that one was built by Murray. Considering you're in the UK, that is a super find. Heck, it would be a super find around here. Gary

Yeah its very strange to find one over here! They pop up now and again on ebay but not very often. Thanks for the reply

 

[NICK1985]

"That numbering system in the Cabe post is off (the pre '65 numbers anyway). ABC Services recently reprinted a western auto parts catalog from 1959, with invaluable frame dating info. 'MOS' is actually 1953, 'MOL' would be '47. 218 is the Sears model #., and MOD 502 is a Murray code on all built for Sears bikes. Probably, 'MOS-L' is still '53, it's typical of mid 50s JC Higgins. They're numbered slightly differently than bikes made for Western Auto. Later in the mid-late 50s, they started stamping theSears catalog # on the bb, so you can often match that up to a specific year catalog page. -Adam/ Rustinkerer"

http://thecabe.com/vbulletin/showth...-project&highlight=western+flyer+strato+flyer

http://ratrodbikes.com/forum/index.php?threads/detailed-higgins-serial-number-decoder.51973/

Amazing! Thank you for taking the time to reply. Ill have to go check my other bike now

 

[Rustinkerer]

Thanks AZ, my work here is already done! -Adam

 

[Flying Zombie]

No trouble at all, Happy to help where I can