All Original?

Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum

Help Support Rat Rod Bikes Bicycle Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Joined
Aug 25, 2008
Messages
415
Reaction score
9
Location
Mass
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey guys.I got this Hawthorne for $30.It was supposed to just be the frame but the guy shipped me everything because he couldn't get it apart.It appears to be all original but I don't know much.Serial # is c013804 and is located on the seat tube.I'm trying to decide if I should restore and flip it or trick it out for the stable.Any comments or info would be greatly appreciated.
get_crunk_004.jpg

get_crunk_005.jpg

get_crunk_006.jpg

get_crunk_007.jpg

I've got it all apart and freed up the chain.It really only needs new bearings and some TLC.Thanks for any help you can give. :D :D :D
 
Id clean up the bearings,do a mechanical restoration on it,and ride it as is.

You cant buy patina in a can like that!
 
Oh,man.I had planned on grabbing some rims for this thing (on the way) and rolling it as is until I decided what to do with it.It's been at my buds shop because I had to heat the seat post to free it up.Aparently he got bored and thought he would help me out and started sand blasting it.He did the chain guard and half of the front fender before I stopped him. :shock:
I'll have to see what is going on and come up with a game plan from there. :roll:
 
Generally speaking, the older the bike gets the tougher it is to find all the parts. The tank is always the first to disappear, then the fenders, then the chain guard. If you can get all or most of the parts in one shot, I would recommend fixing it up, even if it's not according to classic lines. Ride it for a while and if something else comes along that's better you can always sell this one and try something new.
 
Spray the chain guard down with muriatic acid and it will look good again in 24 hrs. Once it's rusty again rinse it in water, to get the acid to stop working it's magic.
 
I have a idea.

Just put the parts it needs on it and call it "Tetnus"

:mrgreen:
 
Hey guys.Went and got the bike.Chainguard is almost clean,the fender and front fork has light stripping.

SkidMark said:
Spray the chain guard down with muriatic acid and it will look good again in 24 hrs. Once it's rusty again rinse it in water, to get the acid to stop working it's magic.

I figured there would be a way to remedy it.That is probably what I will do just to get it to match.I'm not a big rust guy but I think it will be fun for awhile.I need to do some research.

Rustinkerer said:
Hawthorne only used that head badge from 1947-49 fyi. ~Adam

That's awesome.Thanks for the info. :D

Does anyone know if these came with tanks,springers,ect.? I also would like to find out the original markings.If anyone could point me in a direction to find info I would greatly appreciate it.This one will be in builds hopefully next week.

Thanks for the help and comments.You rule. :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
 
Does anyone know if these came with tanks,springers,ect.? I also would like to find out the original markings.If anyone could point me in a direction to find info I would greatly appreciate it.This one will be in builds hopefully next week.
Yes, they had deluxe models. Yours was built by D.P Harris/Rollfast, some were built by Cleveland Welding Co. Over at Classic Bicycle News, they've just come out w/a Rollfast book, with lots of vintage catalog pages, ads, etc. I've already ordered mine! There's also an Elgin/JC Higgins/Hawthorne book, which is my go-to guide for these kinda questions! I'm not sure if it's still in print, Scott McCaskey at the Cabe would likely know. They show up on ebay sometimes. ~Adam
 
Thanks Adam.I saw the Elgin/Higgins/Hawthorne book online but I think you are right about it being out of print.I was able to figure out the markings because the rust was different.I sprayed down the blasted parts with salt and vinegar and they are out in the rain right now,they are looking good.I will start a build thread when I can get pics.Thank you for the help. :mrgreen:
 
clear coat it and ride it! lol

seriously though, that's such a challenge I'd have to restore it.
 
I ride my (new) Worksman cruiser on charity rides and whatnot, and people are always amazed that anyone would ride any distance on anything less than a road bike. It would be cool to put new bearings or whatever it took on a bike like that, leave it just as-is cosmetically to whatever extent you could, and then show up and ride in some of these rides. You'd get more attention than somebody on a $10,000 carbon fiber bike.
 
I figured I'd do some stuff like that with the Higgins,thats why I went with the nexus 7.Stealthy sleeper. :mrgreen:
 
Leave it Rough!! They look cool. I turned this ..
0063.jpg

into this...
100_0493.jpg

No paint or clear or anything... :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
Hit it with a wire brush and your good to go :D :D :D
 
:shock: :shock: :shock: That's awesome.I can't belive the graphics held up like that.I love your bikes(one of the reasons I joined the site).
I started messing with it already viewtopic.php?f=21&t=11316 . I'm falling in love with it.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top