NOTE: Started this under gallery but moving it to post as more appropriate to go through this build there. Thanks.
My first build was a 1961 Huffy Eldorado which I finished as a rat rod beach cruiser in May. For my second build I wanted a semi-rare prewar bike so went searching on ebay. After about a month of looking on ebay & at other great rat rod builds on this site, one bike (a 30 day listing) kept saying buy me / rebuild me. What I kept coming back to was the simple design & the amazingly neat head badge. It screamed to be turned into a Touring style rat rod bike since the frame will not accommodate fat tires. So on day 29 of the listing I contacted the seller & made a deal for the complete frame with fork, crank, & handlebars. He threw in the original fenders as part of the deal. It was this 1930 (serial number starts H4) Hartford by Westfield Manufacturing Company. so it is essentially a 1930 Columbia rebadged as Hartford. I think it is probably a rare bike with not many surviving but not sure. I have not seen any Hartford's on the internet and have read they were sold as a cheaper version of the Columbia's. I would not think many survived however I do see similar Columbia's on ebay a lot. Any information anyone has on Hartford's would be greatly appreciated. The ebay seller was parting it out due to the number or super rare / hard-to-find accessories and parts on it. He sent pics of the bikes I'll also share before he dissasembled it. The super rare parts/accessories I did not get include:
(1) The pedals were stamped J.H Graham Co. 'The Inventor of Torrington Pedals' which have been sold,
(2) Patent Pending Persons Speedo,
(3) Persons Majestic siren,
(4) Delta light and canister, and finally
(5) the one thing I really would love to have gotten my hands on was the saddle which was a Troxel long spring with red (Cordovan that matched the bike paint) leather, also rare!
I got the parts/frame yesterday, now my dilemma will be what I want to do with it. The paint except the white and pinstriping is in amazingly great shape. No rust at all. The Pope decal on the frame is intact & complete. The fenders are a little rough but will clean up well again except the white stripes. I will probably debate what to do the rest of the year and would like any suggestions from fellow rat rodders.
My current thoughts on the build are:
- Leave the frame alone except clean, straighten fenders, and polish and leave the character it has intact.
- Try to make it look as original as possible with the exception of new rideable components.
- Maybe paint head tube only back original white.
- Either rebuild a 1930s era Troxel saddle and stain the seat red like the one that was on it or maybe a new Brooks saddle in honey to match the headbadge????
- Rechome the handlebars & crank (the plating is pitted).
- Build either new 700cc or 28" wheels with 8 speed Shimano Nexus coaster brake rear hub (I live in North GA where hills will kill an old man LOL)
- Schwalbe Delta Cruiser tires in cream
- Find a 1930s vintage light & convert to LED
My only caveat with any build is it has to be rideable in North Georgia hill country for an old man & it has to be comfortable and enjoyable. I don't need a museum piece to collect dust, I want to ride any bike I own regularly. Any input or suggestions or just comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Gary Mc.
Here's what I got yesterday:
Here is the head badge that kept me coming back to the listing on ebay:
More pics:
Before the ebay seller parted it out. (this will make some people sick, ashamed not to have been restored intact but to each his own, sellers/pickers sell to make profit, & I am very glad I got the parts I did!!!!!!!)
Finally, the one piece I am sick I could not get, that original matching Troxel long spring with red leather. At least glad I got the pic as I know what the original looks like if I decide to try to rebuild one just like it. Now I know a red (cordovan) troxel saddle existed & was originally on this bike.
My first build was a 1961 Huffy Eldorado which I finished as a rat rod beach cruiser in May. For my second build I wanted a semi-rare prewar bike so went searching on ebay. After about a month of looking on ebay & at other great rat rod builds on this site, one bike (a 30 day listing) kept saying buy me / rebuild me. What I kept coming back to was the simple design & the amazingly neat head badge. It screamed to be turned into a Touring style rat rod bike since the frame will not accommodate fat tires. So on day 29 of the listing I contacted the seller & made a deal for the complete frame with fork, crank, & handlebars. He threw in the original fenders as part of the deal. It was this 1930 (serial number starts H4) Hartford by Westfield Manufacturing Company. so it is essentially a 1930 Columbia rebadged as Hartford. I think it is probably a rare bike with not many surviving but not sure. I have not seen any Hartford's on the internet and have read they were sold as a cheaper version of the Columbia's. I would not think many survived however I do see similar Columbia's on ebay a lot. Any information anyone has on Hartford's would be greatly appreciated. The ebay seller was parting it out due to the number or super rare / hard-to-find accessories and parts on it. He sent pics of the bikes I'll also share before he dissasembled it. The super rare parts/accessories I did not get include:
(1) The pedals were stamped J.H Graham Co. 'The Inventor of Torrington Pedals' which have been sold,
(2) Patent Pending Persons Speedo,
(3) Persons Majestic siren,
(4) Delta light and canister, and finally
(5) the one thing I really would love to have gotten my hands on was the saddle which was a Troxel long spring with red (Cordovan that matched the bike paint) leather, also rare!
I got the parts/frame yesterday, now my dilemma will be what I want to do with it. The paint except the white and pinstriping is in amazingly great shape. No rust at all. The Pope decal on the frame is intact & complete. The fenders are a little rough but will clean up well again except the white stripes. I will probably debate what to do the rest of the year and would like any suggestions from fellow rat rodders.
My current thoughts on the build are:
- Leave the frame alone except clean, straighten fenders, and polish and leave the character it has intact.
- Try to make it look as original as possible with the exception of new rideable components.
- Maybe paint head tube only back original white.
- Either rebuild a 1930s era Troxel saddle and stain the seat red like the one that was on it or maybe a new Brooks saddle in honey to match the headbadge????
- Rechome the handlebars & crank (the plating is pitted).
- Build either new 700cc or 28" wheels with 8 speed Shimano Nexus coaster brake rear hub (I live in North GA where hills will kill an old man LOL)
- Schwalbe Delta Cruiser tires in cream
- Find a 1930s vintage light & convert to LED
My only caveat with any build is it has to be rideable in North Georgia hill country for an old man & it has to be comfortable and enjoyable. I don't need a museum piece to collect dust, I want to ride any bike I own regularly. Any input or suggestions or just comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Gary Mc.
Here's what I got yesterday:
Here is the head badge that kept me coming back to the listing on ebay:
More pics:
Before the ebay seller parted it out. (this will make some people sick, ashamed not to have been restored intact but to each his own, sellers/pickers sell to make profit, & I am very glad I got the parts I did!!!!!!!)
Finally, the one piece I am sick I could not get, that original matching Troxel long spring with red leather. At least glad I got the pic as I know what the original looks like if I decide to try to rebuild one just like it. Now I know a red (cordovan) troxel saddle existed & was originally on this bike.
