1938 elgin oriole, 1941 Cadillac, 1979 spitfire

[kram]

I haven’t posted any new finds in here for a while. I had these three finds come up all pretty recently.

The oriole year is a bit of a guess, but it should be close. This one was a long drive to get but worth it. It’s kind of an odd one because it’s a Monark built version. Most of the parts are original, but missing some of the bb parts.

The 1941 schwinn built Cadillac should make a cool klunker. The frame, fork, crank, and sprocket appear to be original. The wheels are s7’s and the original paint has been sanded off.

Also picked up the April of 1979 spitfire. It was made a few months before I was born. Pretty clean bike and mostly original. The grease on the entire bike had basically solidified. The rear wheel wouldn’t turn. Currently going through and regreasing everything.

 

[RustyGold]

Wow! That's three wins for sure!

 

[Wildcat]

Three great finds, especially the Oriole. How can you tell it's Monark? I thought they only used Murray and Westfield for Elgins.

 

[RustyGold]

I see bolted seat stays, lugged frame, and monark chain ring.

They definitely more similar than the five bar frames made by Monark, Westfield, and Snyder.

 

[Wildcat]

I think they changed out the chain ring for the newer Bendix red band hub. A prewar bike would have had a skip tooth chain ring I think.

 

[RustyGold]

1/2" pitch chain goes waaaaay back. Fauber sold 1/2" rings, Mead bikes in the 20s, Black Beauty Bikes in the 20s... I've seen 1/2" Monark pastel chainrings going back to '36 at least.

Mostly higher end bikes had the option very early on...just like some lower end bikes still had skiptooth up to ~1950s.

 

[Wildcat]

I have a list of Monark serial numbers going back to 1934. In 46 they went to the BB plate, but this bike is older than that. I continually gather info and keep notes. Every bit helps.

 

[rat krate orange]

I haven’t posted any new finds in here for a while. I had these three finds come up all pretty recently.

The oriole year is a bit of a guess, but it should be close. This one was a long drive to get but worth it. It’s kind of an odd one because it’s a Monark built version. Most of the parts are original, but missing some of the bb parts.

View attachment 191912View attachment 191913

The 1941 schwinn built Cadillac should make a cool klunker. The frame, fork, crank, and sprocket appear to be original. The wheels are s7’s and the original paint has been sanded off.
View attachment 191914View attachment 191915View attachment 191916

Also picked up the April of 1979 spitfire. It was made a few months before I was born. Pretty clean bike and mostly original. The grease on the entire bike had basically solidified. The rear wheel wouldn’t turn. Currently going through and regreasing everything.
View attachment 191917View attachment 191918View attachment 191919

Really cool old bikes.. The Monark Silver Kings as far back as 35 had the 1/2" pitch chains...

 

[kingfish254]

Great scores. I especially love that Oriole. It's such a sexy frame. I still have a crusty one to build someday.

 

[kram]

@Wildcat like other people said the 1/2” pitch chain is original. I have the original rear wheel and it is 1/2”. @RustyGold pointed out all the parts that point towards it being Monark built. It’s definitely not a common version of this bike. Though I did find one other over on the cabe. Here’s the serial.