Detailed Higgins serial number decoder?

[clerkkent]

Does anyone have a detailed JC Higgins serial number database? I have a Girl's 26" Higgins frame with the following on the bottom bracket:

MOS-L
MOD502 218
181348

Based on the info from this thread:
http://thecabe.com/vbulletin/showthread ... #post32212

This is a 1955 Murray built bike for Sears.

But I'm trying to find out what package the 218 indicates, and if the 6 digit serial number had any built in intelligence, or if it just a plain ole sequential number.

 

[roadmaster]

Serial numbers for J.C. Higgins are usually looked up one of two ways... is it Murray built or Huffy built. Most of all JCH bikes i've seen are all Murray build, and alot of people around here can decode Murray serial numbers like opening a candybar. Any number that is on a JCH/Sears bike built by Murray that isn't on a Murray badged bike is probably the cataloge code.

Huffy built bikes badged as J.C. Higgins follow the Huffy serial number system, usually starting with a "S" designating it a Sears/JCH bike, an "W" for Western Flyer, but some of those "W" bikes ended up being JCHs, like my 61' J.C. Higgins Deluxe built by Huffy with a "W" ser#. Then the first number of that ser# would be the last diget of year of make (i.e. W1673635 would be a 51', a 61' or 71', just see if the rest of the bike has matches that decade). Any numbers left over are guide/cataloge numbers.

 

[Rustinkerer]

That numbering system in the Cabe post is off (the pre '65 numbers anyway). ABC Services recently reprinted a western auto parts catalog from 1959, with invaluable frame dating info. 'MOS' is actually 1953, 'MOL' would be '47. 218 is the Sears model #., and MOD 502 is a Murray code on all built for Sears bikes. Probably, 'MOS-L' is still '53, it's typical of mid 50s JC Higgins. They're numbered slightly differently than bikes made for Western Auto. Later in the mid-late 50s, they started stamping the Sears catalog # on the bb, so you can often match that up to a specific year catalog page. -Adam

 

[Lowjack'r]

Reading this topic, means that my bike,which i've got yesterday as a late birthday gift.


Could be a Murray built bike from '53.


But as the serial # MOS-Q MOD 502-286 90586 is stamped @ the bb, means that it's from around the mid/late 50's.

 

[joel.romeo.79]

I have a good one for you. Rod brake JC Higgins made by Phillips. That wrights olympic saddle helps but he does not know where to find the frame number. I will get it from him tomorrow if I do not just mug him for those 26x 1 3/4 wheels for mine.

Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

 

[Wildcat]

That bike may have a date stamp on the rear hub shell if it is a Sturmey Archer. Month and year in 2 digit code, ex: 11 56 would be Nov 1956

 

[Justin Brunelle]

The stamp on a Higgins I just grabbed is M.U.I.S.V
Mod-502. 4584
179514
So what I gathered from above is that the MOD-502 is Murray built for Sears. But what about age? Any info would be great.
Thanks

 

[Wildcat]

The stamp on a Higgins I just grabbed is M.U.I.S.V
Mod-502. 4584
179514
So what I gathered from above is that the MOD-502 is Murray built for Sears. But what about age? Any info would be great.
Thanks

A pic may be a big help if the year can't be determined. Whether a 50's, 60's, or 70's bike at least.

 

[Justin Brunelle]

 

[Justin Brunelle]

Stamp

 

[Wildcat]

Nice bike! It's a Murray made frame, most probably mid-late 50's. They went to a cantilever frame in the 60's I think

. I gave one of the cantilever style bikes to my brother, it was probably early 60's. J C Higgins was the name Sears used until 63, then they were all badged Sears after that. Your chain guard looks 50's and the chain wheel looks 50's also.

 

[Rustinkerer]

The stamp on a Higgins I just grabbed is M.U.I.S.V
Mod-502. 4584
179514
So what I gathered from above is that the MOD-502 is Murray built for Sears. But what about age? Any info would be great.
Thanks

That's actually a lightly stamped 'MOTS-V', which is 1956. -Adam