Estate Sale Rust/Lichen Bucket

[MazdaFlyer]

Not sure what this is other than it had skiptooth drivetrain and sorta cool frame and chain-guard.

They had a nice Cleveland Welding frame in the pile but it looked like someone had set off a large firecracker in top tube.


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[deorman]

The dropouts on that one look CWC to me.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

The chainring with three blades radiating out from center may have been used on Roadmaster, Western Flyer and Firestone bikes.
Another local bike knowledgable guy thinks it is a Shelby frame. I don't really know, I primarily bought it for the chain, chainguard and frame.


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[KJV]

CWC. nice find.

 

[MazdaFlyer]

I started taking this bike apart today. I managed to get the stuck stem out in order to save the fork. It was really tight. I had saturated the stem and fork with various rust penetrants since hauling it home, as well as leaving it out in the weather.
Everything else eventually came loose except the seat post and rear fender. I'll just grind the bolt heads or nuts off to get the fender off.

Still unsure how it might have been badged or age. I'm going to mock it up using some parts from a girls '55 JC Higgins which has a good wheelset, chain, stem, crank. I'm going to retain the rust and lichens initially.



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[MazdaFlyer]

Here's a photo of the serial number. The 54C has a small w inside the "C".

What do the numbers mean???


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[kirkpatrick]

Should be a 54 CWC., probably a Western Flyer like you said. Like to see an old bike saved from the trash, p.s. what's lichens?

 

[Muttley]

p.s. what's lichens?

HAHA, I had to Google it too.

 

[Fv2]

You know, deep inside that little dog mind there's screaming...... PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE,OH PRETTY PLEASE BUILD A SIDECAR, I WANNA GO FOR A RIDE!!!

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[kirkpatrick]

I've honestly never heard that word before, learn something every day.

 

[Fv2]

I've honestly never heard that word before, learn something every day.

It's like a forest barnacle.

 

[1oldbikelover]

I started taking this bike apart today. I managed to get the stuck stem out in order to save the fork. It was really tight. I had saturated the stem and fork with various rust penetrants since hauling it home, as well as leaving it out in the weather.
Everything else eventually came loose except the seat post and rear fender. I'll just grind the bolt heads or nuts off to get the fender off.

Still unsure how it might have been badged or age. I'm going to mock it up using some parts from a girls '55 JC Higgins which has a good wheelset, chain, stem, crank. I'm going to retain the rust and lichens initially.



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I'm Likin' lichen!

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Should be a 54 CWC., probably a Western Flyer like you said. Like to see an old bike saved from the trash, p.s. what's lichens?

Organic "rust", mostly on the fender.


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[user 135]

I had a girls Hawthorn with that chainring on. One of my favorite chainrings for the modern and simplistic style... Need to find a shiny one to make into a clock.

 

[sludgeguy]

Nice bike, kinda amazing how much paint is on the bottom in the serial number photo. makes me wonder if there is more elsewhere on it...

 

[MazdaFlyer]

Nice bike, kinda amazing how much paint is on the bottom in the serial number photo. makes me wonder if there is more elsewhere on it...

On first glance the exposed surfaces look pretty toasted. Some paint still shows on fork legs and bottom side of tubes. The chain was tricky getting off, only a few links wanted to move. It would just about stand on end.


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[MazdaFlyer]

Lichens...they show up better when wet.

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[MazdaFlyer]

I did some mockup today after raiding the girls JC Higgins for parts. This is a test assembly. I need to get a skip tooth link and connector to get the chain to fit. The smaller chain ring will be slower but then I'm "OLD".

The bike was obviously red the chainguard clamp preserved some color.


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[kirkpatrick]

Dang, was hoping the lichens could have preserved some more paint. How about an oxalic acid soak? I've done it only once to some fenders and it worked really well.

 

[kirkpatrick]

I've been using that word all day, so thanks for that, haha.