Info needed about jch 3speed

[someguy83]

I just bought what was thought to be a Sturmey Archer 3speed. However, after doing some cleaning to find out exactly what model of SA3, I find that its not an SA3!
Instead it says
J.C. Higgins
50320

3 SPEED (small 6)

Any help from the peanut gallery is greatly appreciated will post pics later if possible
Thanks for your time

 

[someguy83]

oh and don't know if this helps or not but the engraved lettering was filled in with red

 

[Wildcat]

I have the same hub on my 63 Sears 3 speed. It is identical to a SA from what I have seen. The shifter is just like a SA on my bike and the shift cable and chain is also the same. It shifts the same way and has the open area between 2nd and 3rd. Same gear ratio too.

 

[someguy83]

Yep thats what it looks like but yours says SEARS where mine says JC HIGGINS.
Does anybody know if a new shift chain is available? UPS broke mine in shipping :x

 

[X-RAY]

maybe s/a made them for jc higgins(and sears)?

 

[someguy83]

Here is the hub in question:

 

[caffeine7]

I have the same hub on a free spirit 3 speed stamped steyer. A generic SA cable and shift chain I ordered from Amazon worked great. They are licensed sa copies.
http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index ... 97563.html

 

[Wildcat]

Sears bikes went by the name JC Higgins until 1963, then they named them Sears.

 

[someguy83]

Well here's the bike it came from:http://www.ratrodbikes.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=36547
The headbadge says Sears and Roebuck Co. on it.
Any thoughts on the age of the hub though?

 

[Wildcat]

A 2 digit date is stamped on mine right after the word "speed" on the hub. 63. Yours looks like it just has a "6", but maybe the other digit is hard to see.

 

[caffeine7]

Mine says sears on the head badge and is stamped Steyr made in Austria on the rear caliper frame mount.

 

[SSG]

Steyr Puch is who built the bike for Sears. I was under the impression it was a sachs torpedo based hub, but I've never seen the two compared.