1915 to 1919 Sears Chief - Documentation & Bike Thread

[Balloontyre]

1917 Locking Stand?

1917 spring summer catalog

This description clip is opposite the full page color Chief ad. The Master bike also shows this locking drop stand in the B&W description photo opposite of it's color ad page.

 

[Gary Mc]

1915 Sears Catalog #130 Spring & Summer Chief pages

1915 Sears Catalog #130 Spring & Summer Chief pages from my collection.

 

[Gary Mc]

Just noticed the Chief text page is not legible, I'll take a better pic & repost later today.

 

[dmk441]

Sears Chief and Master project bikes

Just picked up these two bikes this weekend. One Chief and one Master, they need some TLC, but should be fun riders eventually. Over the winter I'll look at repainting them. Anyone have a good image of the Master bikes paint schemes or color options? I also need a badge for the Chief, Thanks.

Chief has the coaster brake corbin rear hub.

Dave

 

[Nickinator]

lucky man! nice finds!

Nick,

Just picked up these two bikes this weekend. One Chief and one Master, they need some TLC, but should be fun riders eventually. Over the winter I'll look at repainting them. Anyone have a good image of the Master bikes paint schemes or color options? I also need a badge for the Chief, Thanks.

Chief has the coaster brake corbin rear hub.

Dave

 

[bricycle]

Yea, some great finds there!!!!!

 

[dave the wave]

great score dave,but the master looks different than other masters i've seen.it looks to be davis built with the lugs on the frame.it should look like the bike below.but it still could be a master of a different year.the headbadge looks to be original to the bike.

 

[dmk441]

Sears Chief and Master project bikes

Thanks guys, these are definitely fun bikes. The chief is getting disassembled tonight to get ready to paint. I've seen a couple of restored bikes, but the yellow seems to vary among them, anyone have any insight on the correct shade of yellow? Someone also mentioned the spear length varied on the years, I wonder what year my chief would be...

I'm still trying to figure out more on the Master bike. I wonder if it would have a similar paint and spear pattern to a chief, just with black and green as the color combination?

Also, I'm still looking for a Chief badge, have a few good trade options for people.

 

[Gary Mc]

Thanks guys, these are definitely fun bikes. The chief is getting disassembled tonight to get ready to paint. I've seen a couple of restored bikes, but the yellow seems to vary among them, anyone have any insight on the correct shade of yellow? Someone also mentioned the spear length varied on the years, I wonder what year my chief would be...

I'm still trying to figure out more on the Master bike. I wonder if it would have a similar paint and spear pattern to a chief, just with black and green as the color combination?

Also, I'm still looking for a Chief badge, have a few good trade options for people.

Original colors for the Chief were ivory & rich cherry red only for all years. The yellow color you commonly see on these is yellowing from almost 100 years of oxidation of what was originally ivory in color, almost white in color. Same with the brownish red. When I removed the orange house paint from parts of mine it revealed fairly good original color that had obviously been painted on long ago before the yellowing/aging you commonly see could occur. Yellow would be incorrect if you are looking to go back original.

 

[dmk441]

chief project

Great info Gary, thank you.

 

[rustyspoke66]

Just got a line on this one and hope it comes home soon.

 

[Gary Mc]

Just got a line on this one and hope it comes home soon.
View attachment 122184

Looks like a 1915-16. Good luck, hope you get it, looks pretty complete except wheels & the always missing pedals.

 

[rustyspoke66]

Looks like the deal will happen but I think I will build this one into a rider.

 

[thehugheseum]

nice! i hope that wheel we traded was right for that.......remember i found a matched front too if you need i can get you with the cat who had it

 

[Balloontyre]

1915 Sears Catalog #130 Spring & Summer Chief pages from my collection.

Gary,
Do you have the lighting accessories page also that you can post? Thank you.

 

[Balloontyre]

Does anyone have a photo or the Chief bicycle with the bars close on the seat post tube like the 1915 add?
I have a 1916 and the bars are farther apart,pulley between.Just a thought but maybe add drawing does not match the actual bicycle,that happened a lot, and used same add for 1916

To my knowledge, they were always like the 1917 ad, never almost touching.

More on this bicycle soon, notice the fenders all Red.

 

[bricycle]

...reminds me of "Hemi under Glass"....

 

[dfa242]

This looks to be a pretty nice original Chief.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1917-Era-Indian-Chief-Mens-Bicycle-Orig-Paint-Pastetter-Wooden-Rims-Ft-Wayne-/111236713481?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e6398c09#ht_493wt_828

 

[rustyspoke66]

This looks to be a pretty nice original Chief.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1917-Era-Indian-Chief-Mens-Bicycle-Orig-Paint-Pastetter-Wooden-Rims-Ft-Wayne-/111236713481?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e6398c09#ht_493wt_828

Either the price is a bit high or I'm just cheap.

 

[dave the wave]

it does seem high,its a 3-speed missing the shifter.i think it will still sell.