PreWar what is it?

[450redrider]

Picked this up today and trying to get a idea what it is

 

[udallcustombikes]

Looks alot like my '34 Colson Flyer, minus the drop-stand tangs.

 

[brentville]

Is anyone really that far off by saying it looks like CWC frame? Isn't that the "most likely to be right" guesstimate?

 

[Unchained]

Some good pictures of the seat clamp area, rear dropouts, rear stay brace, lower stay brace, bb, and head tube would probably get you a 100% ID.

 

[450redrider]

 

[Rustinkerer]

Is anyone really that far off by saying it looks like CWC frame? Isn't that the "most likely to be right" guesstimate?

CWC didn't start building bikes until 1935, and as far as I know, never made a motobike style frame, since they were on the way out by that time. Seems like most of these were either made by Westfield/Columbia, Colson, Dayton, Shelby, or Snyder. -Adam

 

[Unchained]

The dropouts look a bit Shelby-ish to me. I *think* the lugged bb joints are also a Shelby thing... and the bottom bracket cups look like those from the Shelby bikes I've had. (Shelby did seem to use their own / different BB cups... not that they don't take the same bearing sizes, I don't know about that, the cups just look different- they seem deeper and more square on the inside than most bb cups.) I am not really sure on that though. Hopefully someone can else deny or verify that.

For what it's worth, all the joints look nice and clean! It looks like a well made frame...

 

[Rustinkerer]

I just remembered that I have a bike like that, and the general consensus is it's a Shelby!

It's been rebuilt as a rat, but does seem to have similar frame joints, plus a Shelby chainring. -Adam

 

[450redrider]

Thank you guys for the help , I'm going to take it over tomorrow and have it media blasted to see what kind of damage is really done :roll:, Now I need to find a truss rod fork for it or make one

 

[rms37]

Most likely the frame was produced by H.P. Snyder. all of the general fittings and geometries are most in keeping with their Moto-Balloon frames and the manufacturing at the bottom bracket is not the same as that shown on the Shelby frame. The Shelby joints have an internal tube alligning and connecting the tube and the bracket, the Snyder bottom bracket fittings have a larger diameter, shorter length lug into which the tube is inserted.