Pro Crastinator…1919 Schwinn built Hawthorne Deluxe Flyer

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I know…. I know…. nothing like the last minute for an entry. I don’t think my class two will be done for the time line with my present life’s schedule. i have built several bikes as of late, but I did t really feel like throwing them in the ring. That is until this past weekend, I found one worthy. More like it found me.
I was at the OBC swap selling some of my collection, the vendor next to me had a bike he insisted was a 1918 HD mens bike. There were some things that were admitted like after market sprocket. About a half hour before the show ended, he threw me a price I couldn’t refuse and a bit of trading, the bike was mine. i did t plan on picking one up, but I came home with another bike.
I started diving into the research and discovered that it wasn’t an HD motorbike. Contacted seller and we worked something out to both of our satisfaction. Lesson here is…just because someone says it is…doesn’t mean it is as such. 😀

Bottom line is the bike turns out to be a 1919 Schwinn built Hawthorne Deluxe Flyer. Not really a disappointment, and worthy bastardizing for the RRBBBO Class 1.
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i begsn to tear it down and get through what will be saved and what will be sold to recoup some of the investment. I threw a few different wheel sets on it and am thinking that I will run 700c wheels with old school hubs. modest tread for some gravel riding if needed. I plan on riding this as much as my other bikes. First thing is the fake HD chainring. It isn’t even machined to proper dimensions that a chain would actually work on it…..definitely would have been skipping teeth. So the chainring will eventually become a part of a guitar or bass.
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I picked up several items at the swap meet. I decent Akisu fork. A haro fusion stem, takagi MX crank, some other miscellaneous BS that will possibly end up on the bike. I threw a set of Araya on the bike to roll it around on the ground. I think the 28s will keep the ancient vibe on the bike.
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Here is the funny part of the entire story.I went through the sellers badge collection that was for sale, and grabbed the Deluxe Flyer badge. Only because it was in great shape and I loved the Americana feel it had. Well, after I worked things out with the seller, I started bicycle forensics. Removed the Hd badge that had been poorly anchored and secured with silicon. I started to sand and scrap to reveal the remnants of a white oval and found the location of the original mounting rivets.

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I then began some more research and found this image at the Cabe. Had some help from Beric as well on this Hawthorne catalog for 1919 displays the bike exactly as it sits color graphics and I found another reference for the badge.
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low and behold, the badge I had purchased was the correct badge for the bike. What are the odds.

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so I messed around a bit more. And put tougher a roller with the 26 wheelset. I’m thinking the fenders need to be incorporated somewhat. Therefore, the 700cs will replace the steel clad wooden 28s.

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I have an aftermarket Shelby tank that will get sectioned for fitment.

Now I have to get busy and get this done in a month. But I think I can accomplish that.
stay tuned….

Mike
 

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Sorry the bike wasn't quite correct, but glad it still turned out to be a very cool score for you.
Glad to help brother. Have fun with this. You have almost a month to play around with it.
 
It amazes me that a bike from 1919 can fit a modern headset and fork and maybe cranks. This is a really nice looking frame. I really like your headbadge. Big fan of proper screw on headbadges. I have siliconed on a headbadge after losing the tiny screws. Siliconed headbadge is still leading that bike down the road.
 
If the other set of rain gutters have the same profile, you could combine them for a street sweeper set like @Skipton did with Bellowing Yellow for BO6

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Love those fenders Beric, but I’m really twisting my arm to put these bobbed ones on. 😀. Mounted the 700s tonight, bobbed two fenders out of one. Will mount them tomorrow. Running the 175 Takagi Cromoly crank with early pre war Hawthorne skiptooth chain ring. Running a midschool Peregrine stem For now, May throw the vintage flyer stem in it. Will have crossbar on the bars. Odyssey shark bites will get the pedal action. I have a prewar Shelby re pop tank that I will be putting under the knife to fit between the bars.
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I dig them. I also like the truss rods on the forks too.
 
That might be an original HD sprocket as current chain sizes should not fit, as they were designed for a chain with what is now an obsolete tooth pitch.
 
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That might be an original HD sprocket as current chain sizes should not fit, as they were designed for a chain with what is now an obsolete tooth pitch.
It does not have the typical bevel around the outer portion of chain ring and you can see where it was water jet cut, Matti has it exactly. I will make a guitar based around the sprocket one day.….
 
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The waterjet HD chainrings are still pretty slick. I'd use it on your bike.

I was lucky enough to score an original HD chainring on a Davis bike a few years back.

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The waterjet HD chainrings are still pretty slick. I'd use it on your bike.

I was lucky enough to score an original HD chainring on a Davis bike a few years back.

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Unfortunately, the pitch on the ring is not correct for any of the chains I have. I was lucky that the seller had an original Hawthorne chain ring that belonged on the bike, 😀
 
It does not have the typical bevel around the outer portion of chain ring and you can see where it was water jet cut, Matti has it exactly. I will make a guitar based around the sprocket one day.….

It would be awesome for a dobro

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Love it when stuff goes as planned. I drilled and split the punch marks that anchor the bottom tray to the sides of the tank. I measured how much needed to come off the bottom. I used a paint scraper blade to pry open the part of bottom tray that secured the sides. Left the door for now. Will weld up the old punch marks using a special set of vice grips I use for metal work. Fits nicely now. This was an aftermarket tank that fit 34Shelby motorbike.
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This evening, I finalized the tank. I soldered the old punch holes solid, drifted new ones to lock it all down. Then I made the catch mechanism on the door by using the punch with a dolly. Worked out great . Filled it with solder. Good to go.
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I found these spacers for the fenders, not happy with the radius of rear fender . Will see if I have on that fits better. Hate chopping them up, but oh well. One rear fender is enough for entire bike when I’m going to Bob them.
 

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I went with some retro fenders. Not sure what they came off , but similar styling to the original rain gutters. The radius works better with these wheels. Took a bit of messing around with the fork to get this all to work. Liking it so far. Will get most knocked out over weekend. Have a cool idea for bracing and lighting. Stay tuned. Tic. Toc. Tic. Toc.
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LOVE the excellent tank work !!!
 

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