Cleveland Welding False Assumption?

[Boris]

I have a boys frame with a G39497 serial number that I assumed was postwar because it does not have dropstand tangs (it does have chain adjusters). Even without the tangs, is it possible that this might be a 1940 prewar frame? Does the curve of the down tube provide a clue? The reason I ask, is that when trying to fit a boys postwar Shockmaster fork, I found that the column is a bit longer than the original fork that came with frame (shown), although it's not as long as a girls fork column. So, would prewar headtubes be slightly longer on the boys prewar bikes than on the boys postwar bikes? Note: I drilled a hole on the rear dropout to attach a postwar chainguard. Fenders not original and crimps are off, so as not to accept Shockmaster fork blades graciously.

 

[Oilit]

@mrg, Did you say the pre-war Hawthorne All Americans were the only pre-war CWC's without drop stand ears? You said something somewhere but I can't find the post.

 

[Boris]

@mrg, Did you say the pre-war Hawthorne All Americans were the only pre-war CWC's without drop stand ears? You said something somewhere but I can't find the post.

Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember this. Unfortunately there was no badge attached to this bike when I bought it.

 

[Oilit]

Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember this. Unfortunately there was no badge attached to this bike when I bought it.

@mrg has pictures of his bikes posted on here somewhere. Hopefully he'll see this and help out!

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Maybe a 1946-G.
I have seen a 1940-H CWC Wm. Bingham Speed King with the drop stand ears. (But Wards did experiment prewar with kickstands?).

Looks like my 1946-J Hawthorne; (see the vertical badge fasteners, and curvy down tube).
@mrg may also have information about the chain guard attachments (but the hole was drilled!).
The only other thing that I can think of is the horizontal versus vertical badge hole alignment; not sure when that changed?

 

[mrg]

Altho the prewar AA had no rear stand feet the frame is "completely" different than any other frame, Straight bar ( tank ) straight down tube with a curve right before the BB and straight chain stays, yours is a 3 gill style frame and first postwar still had a clamp on guard, I'd say 46 but who knows whats with the headtube?, don't know if it's the angle of the pic or is it me but your headtube/frame looks a bit off?, here is a good look at a AA frame that ended up a war time WF anomaly and another thread about weird CWC 3 gil with a different headtube. https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/1941-46-cwc-something-or-other-frickin-frame.211263/post-1460061

 

[Boris]

Altho the prewar AA had no rear stand feet the frame is "completely" different than any other frame, Straight bar ( tank ) straight down tube with a curve right before the BB and straight chain stays, yours is a 3 gill style frame and first postwar still had a clamp on guard, I'd say 46 but who knows whats with the headtube?, don't know if it's the angle of the pic or is it me but your headtube/frame looks a bit off?, here is a good look at a AA frame that ended up a war time WF anomaly and another thread about weird CWC 3 gil with a different headtube. https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/1941-46-cwc-something-or-other-frickin-frame.211263/post-1460061

Posting a photo of my '46 along w/bike in question for comparison. What looks off to you, I'm don't think I'm seeing it? The rake maybe?

 

[saladshooter]

Chain guard rear connection ?

 

[Boris]

Chain guard rear connection ?

No. I made that alteration myself. See first post.

 

[mrg]

As said, not sure if it's the angle of the pic but the top bar connection looks straighter on the other bikes?, have you tried a regular 3 gill tank on it?