Another one lost to powder coating/ "restoring"

[Scribble]

Hey hey Rat Roders haven't been around much lately.... But figured this one should go up for posterity, kind of stepped back from collecting/projects the last year. But every once in a while my reputation precedes me locally, I basically begged the owner not to powder coat this/"restore" this '50s Huffy branded Higgins in survivor condition. But I failed another one lost to time.

One of the cooler middleweights I've seen. Sadly I couldn't save her.

 

[RustyGold]

It's a bit rarer than a Huffy...at least on our side of the country. That's a Ross (Chain Bike Corp) built bike similar to this one (not mine)...

 

[Wildcat]

That's the first Ross made Higgins I've seen.

 

[RustyGold]

It seems that there was a blip in the Murray-Sears relation in '56. There is often mention of a strike, but I've found no evidence of that happening. 1956 was the year that Murray transferred production from Ohio to the new plant in Tennessee. Regardless of reason, '56 seems to be the year sears started sourcing a lot of bikes from other suppliers...notably imports from Germany and Austria. I'd be curious if this CBC is '56 (or later), as it seems at around this era Monark, CBC and others start showing up with JC Higgins badging.

 

[Wildcat]

And the graphics look(ed) great on that Higgins! At least we have a pic.
Chain bike was in New York if I recall. CWC moved to Little rock Arkansas right around that time also. Ohio was where the best bikes were made back then.

 

[clamdigger]

Reminds me of the CBC Thunder Jet . Joe - AKA Yeshoney had posted pics here of his. May have entered one in a build - off.

 

[RustyGold]

@yeshoney 's 24" Thunderjet when acquired...

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

We're all experts now with the internet at hand .lol

 

[RustyGold]

Internet Fu. I would like to hope that the student becomes the master...but, the master has the much superior memory.

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

Need to know something? Just Google it , at least that's what the kids say....a lot is lost these days along with things gained ,.
In my day I spent countless hours, days, miles, up and down alleys, yard sales , swapmeets , thrift shops, peering into open garages as I drove buy, following leads buy others reading newspapers ect.ect.ect. now if you have the money, just click.