Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle - Re-engineered as a Trike

[oklaheathen]

Well, I thought I would document this build.


I plan on doing it up as a Columbia/Huffman WWII "clone" of sorts.

The third pic is Cpl Ed Hillmans bicycle and probably the direction I will go.

Columbia:

Huffman:

It was a civilian bike that ended up being pressed into military service.

Well here is what I started with, thanks to ohdeebee:
Oops, I'll have to dig around and find a different picture of it.

And here it is again after hours of sanding and a first coat of primer:

I will update as I progress.

Parts needed for this build:
At this time, truss rods and bracket as seen in the first pics.
A Delta Winner - I missed the one on the board here..
Hairpin seat.
Better fenders.

 

[Buster1]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

Really cool. Where did you get the old photos? Are they family or just Internet finds? Looks like a really cool idea!

 

[scott brownsey]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

very cool

 

[OUTLAW]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

looks like skip tooth, ya goin that way? will be a fun build.

Outlaw 8)

 

[oklaheathen]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

Pics came from here:
http://www.theliberator.be/militarybicycles.htm

 

[oklaheathen]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

As she sits tonight, waiting on the fenders (already have), truss rods and delta winner (in the mail) and hairpin seat (still need).

Wheels are temporary. The last minute addition of the 3 speed with suicide shifter is permanent.

Still needed:

Torrington bars as seen in the pics in the 1st post and the hairpin seat.

 

[oklaheathen]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

Permanent front wheel in place.

 

[oklaheathen]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

Torrington bars located.
Possible alternate set of fenders located.
Delta winner in the mail.
Truss rods in the mail.

I will be hand making the leather seat pack, air pump and military designation bar hanger.


Still needing:

Hairpin seat.

 

[oklaheathen]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

Seat acquired.

I suppose I should point out that I am doing a full rattle can dress-up first, to ensure the desired final product, and will then be disassembling the bike to get its permanent powder coating.

 

[josh_from_ga]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

i love the military themed builds. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product.

 

[oklaheathen]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

With everything on the way, the correct olive drab coloring has begun.

 

[oklaheathen]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

With most of the parts in and olive drab in place, the final assembly has begun.

 

[oklaheathen]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

Left to do:
Re-cover the seat.
Make tool bag.
Military Designation hanger.
Decide on which wheels and fenders I am going to go with.

 

[jackdaw]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

What a terrific build. The military bikes are really cool. So utilitarian, no nonsense. I love the old pictures too.
I don't guess there are too many bike in todays military.

 

[InTheFade]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

Cant believe i just found this thread. Im in the middle of a similar westfield columbia build... Great progress so far, looks great!

-Ed

 

[deorman]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

http://rinienterprises.com/
WW II ORIGINAL ARMY HANDLEBARS
Item Number: HB-3-ARMY

 

[InTheFade]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

http://rinienterprises.com/
WW II ORIGINAL ARMY HANDLEBARS
Item Number: HB-3-ARMY

Wow, wish i had seen that sooner... Thats a great price!

 

[Land O Aches]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

Looks good o'Heathen! Keep posting pictures.

Lando
Seattle

 

[Gdcast]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

Great build, I was into this stuff not long ago, used to be obsessed with my old Willys Jeep, built a military bike too.
After debating in other forums about military vehicle restoration, I found several things, let me share the most important ones (IMO) with you :
1- If you want a real war look on it, don´t make the paint flaw less, don´t remove all the dings and bings,
people in the military didn´t ride museum pieces but war tools.
2- Don´t hang from it all the military stuff you can find. You usually see canteens, musette bags, ammo cans, ammo rounds,
weapons, etc. put on. Found out that unless you were moving long,
long distances you would keep all the stuff on safe location otherwise other GIs would probably steal all the stuff to use it them selves.

Now, correct me if I´m wrong but this would be a Base/HQ bike right? If it is, you would´t need too much stuff on it.
If it´s a front line bike, stuff makes noise... noise is bad for health in the line, unless you´re intentionally make in it, say fairing a 50.cal for instance :lol:

Now if you decide not to take care of what I say, PM me, I´ll send you some Browning M2 plans and show you how I built mine :wink: :roll: :shock: :lol:

 

[oklaheathen]

Re: Hawthorne to WWII Service Bicycle

Okay, I am through my radiation and chemo and I'd say fully recovered so it is time to get back to work on this build. I will see where I am with it and start back up on it. More pics coming soon.