HUFFMANBILL
Finally riding a big boys bike
After owning this bike for almost 9 years and from time to time trying to decide how I wanted to restore it, either WWII OD or as I received it in post-WWII circa 1950 USAF strata blue, I decided on the blue. It is somewhat of a rustoration/restoration mix. Original strata blue remains on the bike with areas of two shades of original OD showing through where the blue has chipped away. A few repairs were made and a few replacement parts were installed. Also a few additional items were added for display.
Due to the location the bike came from approx. 25 years ago, the date codes on a few of the Eclipse rear Hub internal parts and the numbers 1452 painted on the front fender, I believe that this bike may have been used by the 1452nd AES ( Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron ) at Westover AFB, Mass. circa 1950. The two metal plates welded between the upper frame tubes with United States Air Force painted was original to the bike when I received it.
What is also very unusual about this bike is that the lower truss rod bracket on the front fork is not a separate part as on 99.9% of other WWII Huffman/Columbia military bikes. On this bike it is an integral part of the front forks. Also, the serial number D50158 has a 677 stamped above it and 1942 below. At present I am aware of only 3 other Huffman WWII models with the same lower truss rod bracket setup. All 3 other bikes have a serial number range close to, but slightly higher then mine, all 3 have the 677 stamp and the 1942 stamp.
Due to the medical nature of the AES squadrons, My display items on the bike are a reflection of this.
Regards, Bill
Due to the location the bike came from approx. 25 years ago, the date codes on a few of the Eclipse rear Hub internal parts and the numbers 1452 painted on the front fender, I believe that this bike may have been used by the 1452nd AES ( Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron ) at Westover AFB, Mass. circa 1950. The two metal plates welded between the upper frame tubes with United States Air Force painted was original to the bike when I received it.
What is also very unusual about this bike is that the lower truss rod bracket on the front fork is not a separate part as on 99.9% of other WWII Huffman/Columbia military bikes. On this bike it is an integral part of the front forks. Also, the serial number D50158 has a 677 stamped above it and 1942 below. At present I am aware of only 3 other Huffman WWII models with the same lower truss rod bracket setup. All 3 other bikes have a serial number range close to, but slightly higher then mine, all 3 have the 677 stamp and the 1942 stamp.
Due to the medical nature of the AES squadrons, My display items on the bike are a reflection of this.
Regards, Bill