What year is this bike???

[RatRodRicky]

Just got going on my first Rat Bike but I have no idea what year this Hiawatha is...? Can anyone help me? I think it is in the 60's the serial # starts with WG6 and ends with a C if that helps?

http://ricksratrods.weebly.com/forum.html#/20100928/what-year-is-this-hiwatha-bicycle-152372/

 

[oldrider]

Its older then 60s in my opinion, I don't believe truss rods were used in that time period, unless if i'm seeing wrong and its a springer fork.
Edit: Oops it is a springer fork when I looked closer!

 

[roadmaster]

A clearer and bigger picture would be better, but I can tell you it is built by AMF/Roadmaster as that frame had CWC lines to it. And being a Roadmaster with a conventional seatpost collar bolt (instead of the internal wedge type), id say anywhere from a 61 or 62 to late 60's. An original "tri-spoke" chainring would put it anywhere from a mid 60's to early 70's, and an original "stars chainring" early 60's. The chainguard also looks AMF/roadmaster to me too, which is besides Huffy and a few other brands, built bikes sold as Hiawatha. And if i'm right about the frame maker, good luck trying to decode the ser#s.

 

[roadmaster]

Oooops, my bad! Didn't click for a better picture. :roll:

Definatly AmF built with the "tri-spoke' chainring. If that the original ring, id say mid to late 60's. Sweet bike, by the way!

 

[Wildcat]

Looks like the same frame as my build off bike, but with a seat post collar, so I'll agree with roadmaster. Also, halfway down the seat tube was the AMF emblem which would say "made in Arkansas" if it was earlier than 63.

 

[Rustinkerer]

The tri spoke shows up in a 1962 Roadmaster ad, along with that unusually shaped chainguard. I'd say it's around that age. Now, Murray built Hiawathas have a serial prefix of "WG 3", which I used to think was 1963, but apparently not. Aside from that, I think they were numbered specially for Gamble's, and no one's been able to decipher their system at this time. -Adam