Lady Elgin

[Critter1]

Hey! I've been away from bikes for a while. Been spending my time building old VWs.
I was recently asked to build a girls bike so I found this Elgin Burning Man special...

I have a few questions before I get started. Hope you guys can help.




This is obviously not the original fender. My question here is.. Are the skirt guards usually offset like this when installed properly? (when looking down on them) They seem to fit nicely lower down by the chain guard & chain stay...



Also, I'd like to find another one of these fender braces that wrap around the outside of the fender. Anyone? Were these fender braces stock on Elgin? If not, which brands offered them?

 

[Critter1]

No Elgin skirt guard knowledge jumping out to anyone?

 

[Dr. Tankenstein]

I don't know about the skirts, but those wraparound fender braces look like the ones on JC Higgins bikes. Elgin was the Sears brand before they switched to Higgins after WWII, so......
What's the plan for the build restoration/rat/custom...?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Critter1]

Thanks Doc. It'll be a resto, but I won't be focusing on 100% original. Pearl white girly cruiser.

 

[Critter1]

Who can tell me if Elgin models were ever sold with non-skip tooth sprockets? ...and if so, what they look like. Thanks!

 

[Critter1]

Serial # SE 2959 - I'm pretty sure its 1940, but can anyone point me to where I can research this serial number further? I'm ot having much luck. Trying to narrow down the year, and what exactly it looked like new. I'd like to see what type of truss rods it had, and if it came with a drop stand or not.

 

[sludgeguy]

Let me begin with I know nothing about Elgins except they are sweet! http://classiccycleus.com/home/1940-girls-elgin/
this one has a close up of the skirt guard
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/25133-30s-elgin-bicycle
Hope these links help.

 

[Critter1]

Thanks Sludge! That Elgin girl is similar, but the differences are that the seat tube is straight and it has hub tensioners where mine doesn't. Other than this two things, its the same bike.

Was the curved seat tube specific to a certain year(s)?