I bought her yard art for $25

[The Black Monark]

It truly is an amazing transformation, well done

 

[oldfart36]

The decal is actually still there, just cant see it in the photo. No hurt feelings here. I have some bikes with very heavy, natural patina that I would never clean in any way. Then there are some, like this one, that I think are worthy of a clean up. To each his own, I do understand where you are coming from though.
Johnny

What did you use to clean her up? The after shots are amazing!

 

[dougfisk]

Oops, here's another pic with the tank.

Can we see pics of the fender tips? Did the "V's" make it through the process?

 

[Nightrider]

First I washed it with simple green and water. Next I sprayed it down with "Fluid Film" (love the lable on the can, looks as vintage as the bike) and let it set for 5 minutes. Then a light scrub (very light) with 0000 steel wool (our best friend). Last was a rubdown with an old bath towel.
The V's made it through, as did the decals. There wasn't a whole lot of them to begin with, so i'm glad there was very little to no loss on them.

The most I could make out is BEST, Best Bicycle, Memphis Tennessee, ???? Jackson Ave. Might say Tennyson on the top, which may have been a local hardware store back in the day.
Found the fluid film at the local John Deere/implement store. Its kind of like PB blaster, but a lot thicker/stickier and dosen't seem to evaporate very fast.

 

[dougfisk]

What is the outcome on the hub date code?

 

[Nightrider]

Hub is dated C3, 1933. Even though the wheels match, the rear hub must have been switched out. I seriously doubt that it's a '33. No serial # anywhere on the frame. There is the same frame w/tank on the bay right now. I think they are calling it a 38. Thiers has a horn in the tank and a rear dropstand (no shock-ease). I have read somewhere that the shockease was only made in '41&'42, is that correct?
Johnny

 

[dougfisk]

...Shelbys are harder to date than some others because they had varying components that they phased in and out seemingly at random, and in almost infinite and unexpected combinations... But I am betting it is a wartime bike.

The reasons I said wartime -

1) Around 1942, (post Dec 7, 1941), the "V's" as seen on your fenders became a popular cultural symbol of our national solidarity and focus on Victory after our entry into WW2.

2) I have seen many different fenders on Shelbys, but never before these. They sure look to me like Westfield (Columbia) fenders. I do not know if Westfield manufactured them or sourced them from another vendor, but here they are, OEM on a Shelby! I theorize that this could be a result of supplier disruptions caused by wartime maufacturing priorities.

3) Notice also, the fenders are attached to the braces with slotted screws instead of rivets. I have a wartime Shelby with this same feature.

 

[Sphinx]

Congrats on the cleanup. I hope mine cleans up as well.

 

[Nightrider]

Congrats on the cleanup. I hope mine cleans up as well.

Thanks. Yours looks better than mine off the bat. It should clean up as well or better. Post pics when its done.
Johnny

 

[schwidiot]

arrrrgh, please sell me the tank !! I bought a Shelby just like that 5 months ago and haven't been able to find the tank, let me know what you want for it and if you take paypal or you need a postal money order, Thanks
MERC