TRADITIONAL Yard Art Revival

[Wildasincycles]

I have been trying to organize my basement (aka bike explosion), which includes selling things that have been collecting dust for too long. One of those items is a Western Flyer that was rescued from someone’s garden. It was straight, fairly complete, and the patina was so nice. I bought it, tore it down, and there it sat. Since it falls in a build off time frame, I figured I’d enter it into the traditional category, and see what happens. Here are some pics of before, clearing off dust, and laying out parts.

 

[Pondo]

Cool bike with great patina. Have fun!

 

[OddJob]

Attach files. Click "Insert". Click "Full Image".
Then they will appear like this...

Keep us posted on daily progress. BO 19 ends at 12 noon Central time on July 31, 2024.

 

[Captain Awesome]

Welcome to the build!

I took the liberty of editing your post and making all your photos full-size for you. In all their glory.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Great starting point!

 

[kingfish254]

Welcome to RRB and the Build Off!!!
Great color and patina on that one.
Have fun and shows us your steps along the way so we can join the fun.

 

[Wildasincycles]

Thank you for the help with the images, it has been awhile since I’ve posted anything. Started work on wheels. The original stuff rotted away in the garden, so I had to find donors. The axle was too thick to fit into the dropouts, and width too wide as well. I removed both outer locknuts, and slightly notched the axles. When inserted, the axles won’t spin, and the dropouts act as a lock nut when axle nuts are installed.

 

[Wildasincycles]

Fitting up some fenders. Having trouble getting the front centered. A crooked fender builds character.

 

[OddJob]

That front fender, along with the rest of the bike, has plenty of 'character'! Anybody using a vintage Park Tool repair stand from the late '80s is a winner in my book.

RaT oN~!

 

[kingfish254]

Excellent patina on those fenders. I like the contrast between the shiny wheelset and the clean, but natural patina.

 

[Wildasincycles]

Installed the rear rack, with upgraded rear light. Upgraded in that there is one now. Not original obviously, but the curve fits the opening well.

 

[ingola]

Very cool step through and welcome.

 

[Wildcat]

That's a good frame to work with. That's a Cleveland Welding Company bike. The springer is known as a shockmaster.
It may have been branded as a Roadmaster, Hawthorne, or Western Flyer, maybe a Hiawatha.
The dropouts look like late 40's, but the serial number on the bottom bracket will show the year it was made. It may have 5 numbers with a symbol over to the right.

 

[Wildasincycles]

Right on the money Wildcat, Western Flyer. Just installed the chain guard. Shockmaster is an understatement, that fork has some bounce to it!

 

[Wildcat]

Right on the money Wildcat, Western Flyer. Just installed the chain guard. Shockmaster is an understatement, that fork has some bounce to it! View attachment 273562

No dents on that guard! And the patina follows suit!
Had it been a boy's bike it would have been bent and hammered back into shape, then thrown out the following summer.
How about a pic of the serial number under the BB? I'm guessing 1949.

 

[Da Gas Man]

Ah, Son?
Yeah Dad?
What happened to the chainguard on your new bike?
Well, ya see Dad it's like this. The new family down the road needed a coal shovel. And, well, I didn't need the chainguard, because that's the way us kids are sportin' up our bikes these days, and...
Son?
Yeah Dad?
I'm proud of you. It looks great.
Thanks Dad.

 

[marshall hudson]

Right on the money Wildcat, Western Flyer. Just installed the chain guard. Shockmaster is an understatement, that fork has some bounce to it! View attachment 273562

Using my first shockmaster on my build and it has the same bounce to it. I tried to tighten it up and took some of the bounce out of it. Riding it i didn't notice it much.

 

[kingfish254]

Search back in the recesses of the forum. I know there are examples of where people inserted some heavier spring into those shockmasters. Seems like it was even a engine valve spring

 

[Wildasincycles]

I have some springs that would probably work, but first ride wasn’t too bad. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

 

[Wildasincycles]

Some pics of the first ride!