1963 Mainliner: Who Built It?

[soddruntlestuntle]

I got this bike in a deal I made for a '58 Hornet earlier this week. Despite crappy pictures (what is it with people, do they NOT want their items to sell?), I was intrigued by this one due to its color and the non-Schwinn cantilever frame (one of the truly glorious shapes of the modern world, IMHO). Sadly because it's a California bike the paint is pretty much shot, but the rust is all just superficial, and it's actually a pretty solid bike. Looking at the paint around the head tube it's obvious it had a tank at some point, now long gone. But now the question: who built it?

I found a couple of threads here of nearly identical bikes, with 'Sears' logos on the tank; and Huffy built a version, but theirs was called a Galaxie. Or did Huffy build this for someone else?

My research deduced that this was built in 1963 due to the serial number beginning with a numeral rather than a letter.

There was definitely a tank here at some point.

I'm shocked, a real Bendix hub and brake, was expecting junk.

Love these details

My plan is just to fit some whitewalls, give it an 'oily rag' bath and a good overhaul. Been looking for a good coaster brake rider to knock about with, hope this fits the bill.

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Mainliner was a Huffman product.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

Mainliner was a Huffman product.

So was Huffman a parent company of Huffy?

 

[Archie Sturmer]

So was Huffman a parent company of Huffy?

Who mfg. Pre War Western Flyer? | Classic Balloon Tire Bicycles 1933-1965

The first thing to understand here is that a bicycle is known by the badging of the frame...you own a Western Flyer, not a Huffman, not a Dayton. Huffman was indeed the manufacturer and Dayton was their "house" brand which was also their top of the line bicycles in a given year, having the most...

thecabe.com

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

Who mfg. Pre War Western Flyer? | Classic Balloon Tire Bicycles 1933-1965

The first thing to understand here is that a bicycle is known by the badging of the frame...you own a Western Flyer, not a Huffman, not a Dayton. Huffman was indeed the manufacturer and Dayton was their "house" brand which was also their top of the line bicycles in a given year, having the most...

thecabe.com

Thanks for the information, now I know who built it; but whose badge was on it?

 

[Archie Sturmer]

I believe that Mainliner was a Huffman trademark, and in the 1960’s some space bikes had tanks with head lights about the head tube that obviated the head badges, leaving room for perhaps just a sticker?

Sold - 60 something Huffy Camaro | Archive (sold or withdrawn)

probably a late 60s Huffy Camaro, as you can see missing chain guard and rear rack, otherwise complete. Asking 200, plus shipping.

thecabe.com

 

[Adamtinkerer]

Interesting, Mainliner was definitely a Huffy model in the '50s. But, normally I'd expect the second digit to be an H. Possibly 'W' for a Western Flyer? Or, Murray built Hiawathas had a 'WG 3' prefix...

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

I couldn’t wait for the tires I ordered, so I slapped a set of S7s shod with Schwinn Superior skinny whitewalls on it to see what it would look like and how it would ride.

Damned if they didn’t look just right on there, I may need to forget the wide whites I bought, the Superiors look pretty bitchin’. Oh, and the bike rode okay. It’s amazing the difference in quality between Schwinn and the other brands of the era, there’s just no comparison.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

Finally got the new tires for the rims that came with the bike. Cleaned and polished the rims and got them mounted today. I'm happy with the results. Still can't decide whether or not to remove the rust from the other chrome parts, though I'm leaning toward leaving it as is.

 

[Wayne Adam]

Here are some pictures of my 1950s 20" Girls Huffy Mainliner. I found it in the garbage about 40 years ago and restored it about 10 years ago.
I know it's a baby ballooner, not a middleweight, jut thought I'd post it.
Good luck with your new ride.............Wayne