So not convinced this is an actual luxury liner. Now that I see it in the flesh, it’s definitely a respray. Missing the head light (my guess is it was taken off and sold). Fenders are in decent shape, some dings and dents, but should be able to make them presentable. Tank in tact, horn functions. Rear rack doesn’t appear to be that of a Luxury Liner. Sale ad stated that this was a ‘48 - serial number indicates it would be a ‘53. In summary, I bought it right so not overly concerned. It should make a nice Fall/Winter project for me. Going to have some fun trying to bring it back to life. Welcome to the world of vintage bikes, right? 😀
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Hello,
This Roadmaster in the photos has been put together out of parts– not all from the same model and not all from the same year.
And you absolutely cannot go by the nightmare repop Luxury Liners that were actually hashed together out of parts, but were claimed to be "authentic." These thingies were actually made of parts and graphics from several different years... (the company and their "advisor" didn't know any better– if they did, you can't prove it by their boogie-woogie repop)...
What you actually have in the photos:
• Rear carrier, fork and wheels are no earlier than 1950. This rear carrier debuted in the 1950s and was used until 1954. It is certainly legitimate for a
Luxury Liner– just not one from 1948. If you take notice, you will realize that the bowed-out rods on the carrier match those on the fork. CWC called these "
bumpers" not "guards."
• Chain guard is from a 1952 girl's model. Repopadoo "
Luxury Liners" fake it by using this graphic and claiming it to be "1948" with an "authentic seal of approval" by one of my imitators. However this graphic never appeared in the 1940s on real Roadmaster
Luxury Liners.
• Sprocket is CWC... but not the kind or design used on
Luxury Liner models at all.
• Square-nose Troxel saddle was not used prior to 1954.
• Taper-end grips were not used prior to 1954.
• Frame and fork for a boy's Roadmaster
Luxury Liner up to 1954 would have been black, except for 1953 when they were optionally metallic green. Of course a 1953 model would have also had a completely different chain guard graphic logo. An original unmolested 1953 would also have an "AMF" logo on the tank and completely different headbadge.
• Yes, of course the headlight is missing.
• Rear reflectors were not used on the rear fenders of these models. Why? Because the rear reflector was built into the rear carrier rather than tacked onto the rear fender down low. BTW... this rear carrier also incorporated an electric tail light with a brake stop light.
National Bicycle History Archive of America has all of the original catalogues and dealer books and factory mailings on Roadmaster
Luxury Liner (the real ones). Yours truly actually knew the designer, Brooks Stevens (the man who Brunswick referred to as "Brooke"... like the female Hollywood star).
I corresponded with Mr. Stevens for many years. Both he and Cleveland Welding Company/AMF sent us many of their old files... many years ago. This was when no one was collecting Cleveland Welding Company items except us. We also own original
Luxury Liners and some prototype bicycles from the company. We also have many of the original factory production records (something yours truly actually saved from destruction) and dealerbooks.
Now... for your pleasure and fun, here is a genuine 1948 Roadmaster Luxury Liner CWC puzzle... (and please note the fenders on this bicycle which are authentic for 1948)...
Leon Dixon
National Bicycle History Archive of America
(NBHAA.com)
