what is this?

[metal obsession]

Hi all-Im new to the group and looking for your expertise. What I do know about this bike (I think) is that:

• Its a J.C. Higgins pre war model?
• Its a skiptooth?

My questions are:

• Are the holes in the side of the tank where the horn use to be OR is there a missing description plate?
• This is not a color flow bike because it does not have the portholes in the side. What is it called?
• In its present condition (owner said it rides well) what is it worth?
• Is there any advertisement (original) that would help me figure out what year it is?
• Total newbie question-there is no springer front end-is that because its a cheaper model or not old enough to have that feature.

Thanks for your time,
Laura

 

[ChimeraCycle]

Someone will probably correct me, but I believe it to be a post war skip tooth. Higgins are tricky. If it were prewar It would be an Elgin, I believe. I have the same model in men's. Colorflow is the name. No springer was just a "price point" option as the reps like to say.

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[ChimeraCycle]

Looks very original. That headlight could be worth a fair bit. Seat & truss bars a great. If I was looking for an antique, slightly ratty ladies bike in rider condition.. and it's in your price range. Id get it.

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[SSG]

I think there was a model under the color flow that was about $10 cheaper. Late 40's seems to be a safe estimate. I think JC Higgins continued to use skip tooth chain until mid-late 50's on some models.

 

[Fv2]

I recently read something about pre/post war Elgin, Higgins. I don't know about this bike or its value, but someone here does.
Welcome to the site, don't forget to put something on the intro page.

 

[ChimeraCycle]

I forget the year, 56 I think, but mine is post war.

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[ChimeraCycle]

After putting them side by side, I really like your rack & lamps.

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[deorman]

If you haven't already discovered, Elgin and J. C. Higgins are Sears brands, and were made by a couple of different manufacturers. The blue one shown by ChimeraCycle was made by Westfield, nearly identical to their own Columbia brand. Not sure about the original post, but I think it's a different maker. A good look at the dropouts and bottom bracket joints would help to ID it.

 

[SSG]

The one in the original post was made by Murray.

 

[heartlandcruisers]

I was going to say Hawthorne I had a customer with a very similar bike contact me only hers had the beehive springer on the front it could be a Murray or Higgins though judging by the chain ring I also know the fender skirts were on Elgin's as well but there are so many modified bicycles these days it is hard to make a positive id just on parts the best bet would be to check the serial number with someone who knows these bikes and see what comes up I know I do not think I have any bikes that are original and if I can modify them anyone can lol

 

[M.Martian]

There was a model line under the color flow which had a bulbous rack and jewels in the tank. It was the color stream, but this bike is not that model. That one had wrap around fender braces that made a line that ran from an inch above the front axle down the brace, through the chainguard and throw the rear fender brace around the fender. Also had a tombstone reflector housing.

I think that bike would be a basic deluxe type since it has a horn tank, skirt guards and tail light in the rack.

Will most likely be a 1948 or later bike.

 

[M.Martian]

The bike chimera posted is a color stream. Not a Murray built though. Murray had a 'knuckle' joint on the seat tube and a built in seat post bracket.

Look at the fender braces that wrap around and make note of the front axle mount.

The rack on the original post was a very common Murray Jc Higgins rack. Both of my color streams have it and I've got another off a 24". I've seen at least three different variations of it. Like above with the added bezel both with and without the light, without that added bezel, and without that bezel but with a reflector tab. The rack first appeared on some Elgin bikes before the war.