Junk Store Elgin?

[Alienbaby17]

A friend of mine went 'up nort' for the weekend and picked this up for me from an antique/ junk store.

It's obviously been cobbled together with pretty much every imaginable incorrect part but I think it still has good bones.

The friend that got it for me has been in the bicycle business for most of his life. He's probably forgotten more about old bikes than I currently know, however he's been out of the vintage bicycle scene for a few years. He was under the impression that the frame was probably an Elgin. I did a little research and have seen some Elgin models that look very similar.

Any thoughts from the experts?

 

[Wildcat]

I'm no expert, but the chain ring is a late 50's early 60's Rollfast (Snyder). The frame is earlier than that.

 

[Crassly]

I don't think it is Elgin, the welds don't look right.

 

[Jpromo]

Frame appears to be a '39 HP Snyder (Rollfast) and the fork is Colson. Frame geometry is similar to a Westfield built Elgin but the long, fluid frame arch is distinctly Snyder.

 

[Alienbaby17]

Thanks for the information, all. I can't say I'm not a little disappointed that it's not an Elgin. I even had a couple girls bikes to use as parts to put this one back together.

At 1939 though I think this might be the oldest bike I have so I still think that's pretty neat.

 

[DoubleL]

Looks like a early possibly pre 1940 frame. maybe a Cleveland Welding Company CWC frame. They made frames for several companies. Usually rear slide-outs indicate pre WWII . By mid forties most were designed with slide-outs facing towards the crank-housing instead of away from it as indicated by this frame. My 2 cents worth!

 

[DoubleL]

Jpromo ...has it right. just found one like it.

 

[Alienbaby17]

Last night I took a little sand paper to the bottom of the frame and found the serial numbers. It reads, "14EH" and under that, "6430".

I have some slightly newer Hawthornes (that I believe were also Snyder built) that have very similar numbering system and in my experience with them the first two numbers are a reversal of the last two digits of the year. So in this case I believe the bike would be a 1941 model. Thoughts?

 

[Rustinkerer]

Last night I took a little sand paper to the bottom of the frame and found the serial numbers. It reads, "14EH" and under that, "6430".

I have some slightly newer Hawthornes (that I believe were also Snyder built) that have very similar numbering system and in my experience with them the first two numbers are a reversal of the last two digits of the year. So in this case I believe the bike would be a 1941 model. Thoughts?

You're correct, '41 Snyder. I think 40 was the first year for the reverse year stamp. -Adam