A little help here?

[Asam90]

Hey guys
I’m brand new here and looking to start a hobby while making a book. The only identification I could find on this bike was the number I showed you, which was a A90278. I know that it’s all original and that I’m pretty sure it’s pre-38 because it has the two separate bars and not tank. I haven’t gotten hard-core with the brush yet to try to find more numbers but soon I’m gonna have to.

 

[Asam90]

Take a watch and give me a reply please any help is awesome

 

[rickpaulos]

Hawthorne was Gamble's department store brand name. Many of the Hawthornes were made by Cleveland Welding company, later AMF. (Yeah, the same AMF that once owned Harley Davidson and ruled the bowling alleys).

In 1947, they started adding more letters that are often hidden under the paint. You might have to gently sand the paint off to see the full numbers & letters.

The old myth of "skip tooth is pre-war" isn't correct. Many brands continued to use skip tooth chain rings and chains into the 1950s.

I think I spotted a w inside a C in your video which would make it a 1949 bike.

The serial number chart.

 

[Wildcat]

Hawthorne was a Montgomery Wards brand, but the bikes were made by the big bike makers back then. This bike was made by CWC, Cleveland Welding Company, whose primary brand name was Roadmaster. Except for small differences in trim and paint they were the same bikes.
Hiawatha was the brand name used by Gambles, but also were the same bikes.

If that is a Cw by itself at the right of the number, with no letter "A", then it's a series 3 CWC bike, made from 47-49. With your A number, would make it made in March-Jun of 1947. If there is an A, then it's series 4, 1949.

 

[rickpaulos]

Oops, yes. Hiawatha vs Hawthorne. Same serial numbers on both. I have a 1950 but it's missing the head badge. The sprocket has a different pattern on the two names.

 

[Asam90]

Hawthorne was a Montgomery Wards brand, but the bikes were made by the big bike makers back then. This bike was made by CWC, Cleveland Welding Company, whose primary brand name was Roadmaster. Except for small differences in trim and paint they were the same bikes.
Hiawatha was the brand name used by Gambles, but also were the same bikes.

If that is a Cw by itself at the right of the number, with no letter "A", then it's a series 3 CWC bike, made from 47-49. With your A number, would make it made in March-Jun of 1947. If there is an A, then it's series 4, 1949.
View attachment 282685

The number is A90278

Hawthorne was Gamble's department store brand name. Many of the Hawthornes were made by Cleveland Welding company, later AMF. (Yeah, the same AMF that once owned Harley Davidson and ruled the bowling alleys).

In 1947, they started adding more letters that are often hidden under the paint. You might have to gently sand the paint off to see the full numbers & letters.

The old myth of "skip tooth is pre-war" isn't . Many brands continued to use skip tooth chain rings and chains into the 1950s.

I think I spotted a w inside a C in your video which would make it a 1949 bike.

View attachment 282683

The serial number chart.


View attachment 282673

 

[Asam90]

I think it feels like there might be some thing under where they were already scratching. But it’s an A90279 with the w inside the c

 

[Asam90]

And now knowing that it’s a 49 series 4. What on it is sellable