The Renaissance Man
__CERTIFIED DIVER__ (Open Water & Open Dumpster)
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With the 1939 New York World's fair in full swing, and with all of the attention on futuristic styling,
![Fair1.jpg Fair1.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/30/30622-Fair1.jpg)
the designers at Murray Ohio Manufacturing Company set out to produce an all new Art Deco inspired deluxe bicycle like no other.
The project dubbed 'DECOLUXE' was very secretive although rumors of the new design began swirling around the industry in late 1940.
The first prototype was built in the summer of 1941 and was shown to the executives of the Sears and Roebuck Co. who quickly jumped at the chance to be the sole retailers for this new and innovative two wheeled stunner! After two years of planning and delays, the new 'Elgin' branded offering was set to begin production sometime in the first quarter of 1942. However, before tooling at the Ohio plant for the new bicycle could be completed, the Japanese launched an attack on Pearl Harbor thrusting the United States into World War II.
![arizona_pearlharbor.jpg arizona_pearlharbor.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/30/30621-arizona-pearlharbor.jpg)
With the country focused on the war effort, the 'Deocoluxe' project was shelved and was eventually scrapped. The one prototype stayed at the Murray facility and reportedly was even used by couriers to move about the plant when needed.
Years later these rare never before seen photographs surfaced and are the only known photos of the original bike.
![101_1483.jpg 101_1483.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/30/30626-101-1483.jpg)
![101_1484.jpg 101_1484.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/30/30627-101-1484.jpg)
![101_1486.jpg 101_1486.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/30/30628-101-1486.jpg)
![101_1489.jpg 101_1489.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/30/30629-101-1489.jpg)
![101_1490.jpg 101_1490.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/30/30630-101-1490.jpg)
![101_1492.jpg 101_1492.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/30/30632-101-1492.jpg)
![101_1488.jpg 101_1488.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/30/30649-101-1488.jpg)
![101_1515.jpg 101_1515.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/30/30633-101-1515.jpg)
![101_1532.jpg 101_1532.jpg](https://cdn.imagearchive.com/ratrodbikes/data/attach/30/30634-101-1532.jpg)
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