roadmaster pilot
- Thread starter hstavn
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I'd say 63 ish, but there isn't any sure way to date them exactly post-1956. -adam
Roadmaster moved from Arkanas to Illinois in 1962, and that looks like an Arkansas decal on the seat tube.
Here is a quick clarification to something that may have come from some of my earlier postings on this subject.
AMF moved its Wheel Goods Headquarters to Olney Illinois in 1962. I believe that the production of junior wheel goods such as sidewalk bikes and tricycles was also moved to Olney around that time but the bicycle factory that had been constructed in Little Rock Arkansas continued to function and produce all of the full size AMF bicycles into at least the 1970’s.
The bike in this thread is typical of 1960’s AMF production that was produced in Little Rock and could roughly date from anytime in the 60’s.
In recent talks with Leon Dixon, I found out that he has extensive production records for Cleveland Welding and AMF and through his services at NBHAA he will probably be able to date any CWC or AMF bike to its production year with more certainty than my serial number model allows.
He also stated that, in general, CWC bicycle production and the attendant serial numbering was not entirely linear in nature with monthly production waxing and waning based on seasonal demand and the filling of contracts to various distributors. While my model is a reasonable overview of production, without factory documentation it cannot represent these fluctuations so I would recommend that anyone wanting a certain production date (to the exact year and perhaps month) for their CWC/AMF bike send an inquiry to the NBHAA.
For what my model is worth, I have laid out patterns for the serial numbers that were used from 1935 through 1957 and I am working on decoding serial numbers for bicycles through 1970. I believe the letter preceding the serial number on the rear dropout is a year code and I have been building a chart for these codes. I have picked up post 57 serial numbers as they turn up without soliciting them and correlated them to the AMF catalog information I have been able to locate. The outcome is that the letters used were not used consecutively and appear to repeat themselves. I currently have an information hole in the mid 60’s that I am trying to fill and I will need to collect more numbers and bicycle pictures to feel that this portion of the project is finished.
The information Leon shared was really a breakthrough for me, allowing that there is enough surviving factory information to close the gaps of dating these bikes. While it makes my modeling somewhat superfluous, this is a project I initially took on to satisfy my own curiosity and I have learned a great deal about the bikes and the company along the path.
AMF moved its Wheel Goods Headquarters to Olney Illinois in 1962. I believe that the production of junior wheel goods such as sidewalk bikes and tricycles was also moved to Olney around that time but the bicycle factory that had been constructed in Little Rock Arkansas continued to function and produce all of the full size AMF bicycles into at least the 1970’s.
The bike in this thread is typical of 1960’s AMF production that was produced in Little Rock and could roughly date from anytime in the 60’s.
In recent talks with Leon Dixon, I found out that he has extensive production records for Cleveland Welding and AMF and through his services at NBHAA he will probably be able to date any CWC or AMF bike to its production year with more certainty than my serial number model allows.
He also stated that, in general, CWC bicycle production and the attendant serial numbering was not entirely linear in nature with monthly production waxing and waning based on seasonal demand and the filling of contracts to various distributors. While my model is a reasonable overview of production, without factory documentation it cannot represent these fluctuations so I would recommend that anyone wanting a certain production date (to the exact year and perhaps month) for their CWC/AMF bike send an inquiry to the NBHAA.
For what my model is worth, I have laid out patterns for the serial numbers that were used from 1935 through 1957 and I am working on decoding serial numbers for bicycles through 1970. I believe the letter preceding the serial number on the rear dropout is a year code and I have been building a chart for these codes. I have picked up post 57 serial numbers as they turn up without soliciting them and correlated them to the AMF catalog information I have been able to locate. The outcome is that the letters used were not used consecutively and appear to repeat themselves. I currently have an information hole in the mid 60’s that I am trying to fill and I will need to collect more numbers and bicycle pictures to feel that this portion of the project is finished.
The information Leon shared was really a breakthrough for me, allowing that there is enough surviving factory information to close the gaps of dating these bikes. While it makes my modeling somewhat superfluous, this is a project I initially took on to satisfy my own curiosity and I have learned a great deal about the bikes and the company along the path.
That's great info, rms37. I've been trying to get more info for a long time and couldn't find anything new. I was wrong about the manufacturing moving to Ill, I thought everything went to Olney. Thanks for the clarification. My AMF was just the frame, I don't know if it was Roadmaster or WF or another name, but it did have the Arkansas decal on the seat tube and has the seat stem that tightens like a handlebar stem and star sprocket with red and green reflectors on it. Serial number P254443.
