64 Westfield Columbia Newsboy Special

[Miq]

I picked up this 1964 Columbia Newsboy Special in Prescott AZ yesterday. I started taking it apart today.

 

[Miq]

@MrColumbia posted some info on these 1964 bikes in the past:

Heavy Duty spokes and front hub, unitized frame/rack design, box bars for hanging a paper bag, and wide knobby tires. Pretty cool with it's finned chain guard.

Mouse was living in the seat tube.

Preserved paint under some tape on the rack:

Brown grease.

1964 date code on the crank. Very nice.

 

[Miq]

The bike had this Phoenix bike license plate bolted to the rack. It is definitely the plate assigned to this bike. They also stamped the number on the bottom bracket. Do you remember this kind of bike licensing during the 60's @GTs58 ?

 

[GTs58]

View attachment 2004628
The bike had this Phoenix bike license plate bolted to the rack. It is definitely the plate assigned to this bike. They also stamped the number on the bottom bracket. Do you remember this kind of bike licensing during the 60's @GTs58 ?
View attachment 2004629

I have a vivid memory of having my new 64 bike licensed in the summer of 1964 at the city of mesa fire department located on Center Street. It was a Saturday at the brand new fire station when they had a bicycle licensing day for one dollar. everyone was lined up in the driveway getting their bike carved up with an engraver and then getting tagged with a plate. Phoenix had blue and white but mesa had orange with black. when school started in the fall the license plate was taken off and a rear carrier was installed to carry those things that they call books.

 

[Miq]

https://azbikelaw.org/wheres-your-license-plate/

 

[GTs58]

https://azbikelaw.org/wheres-your-license-plate/

I looked up bike licensing for cities in Maricopa County quite a few years ago and couldn't find anything that was currently active or in force, or when they quit licensing bikes.
Arizona is a right-to-work and a right-to-ride state! Those laws are still in the books.

 

[twinkle983]

I think have a new bike suggestion now, good to see this post.

 

[coasterbrakejunkie1969]

View attachment 2004628
The bike had this Phoenix bike license plate bolted to the rack. It is definitely the plate assigned to this bike. They also stamped the number on the bottom bracket. Do you remember this kind of bike licensing during the 60's @GTs58 ?
View attachment 2004629

I'm a avid Schwinn HD guy but I have wanted one of these bikes to add to my HD collection for awhile now. Really glad you went and grabbed it. Looking forward to seeing it getting cleaned up.

 

[Miq]

I'm a avid Schwinn HD guy but I have wanted one of these bikes to add to my HD collection for awhile now. Really glad you went and grabbed it. Looking forward to seeing it getting cleaned up.

Thanks @coasterbrakejunkie1969 ! I’m excited about this new bike too.

 

[Mercian]

Hi @Miq

N122624, around mid April 1964. Which matches in with the crank casting date.

Best Regards,

Adrian