barn find

[RMS37]

I did a double-take when I saw this photo! The bike is a Monark sourced JCH to a design I had not seen before. The earlier Monark/JCH bikes are generally familiar and turn up fairly often in the early fifties exhaust manifold decal variation. This bike is apparently a later version specially produced to add the under-tank fins to the bike. The tank itself is the standard Monark Rocket tank, not the Murray unit, but to fit the fins the frame was modified with a front drop added to the under-tank bar. This drop brings the frame in line with the deluxe tanked Monarks of the period except it is different, The monark version has an under-tank bar with a different curve than what was required to facilitate this build. Altogether a unique variation that leads me to wonder how many of these frames were made and how many have frustrated would-be restorers when it came time to find a tank. The addition of the JCH/Murray-Ohio springer probably never happened on the originals being from separate factories. If they had produced a springer one wonders if they would have used a Monark unit?

here is the one I used to have, I added the fork it originally had the same fork on yours

 

[thebicyclejungle]

I did a double-take when I saw this photo! The bike is a Monark sourced JCH to a design I had not seen before. The earlier Monark/JCH bikes are generally familiar and turn up fairly often in the early fifties exhaust manifold decal variation. This bike is apparently a later version specially produced to add the under-tank fins to the bike. The tank itself is the standard Monark Rocket tank, not the Murray unit, but to fit the fins the frame was modified with a front drop added to the under-tank bar. This drop brings the frame in line with the deluxe tanked Monarks of the period except it is different, The monark version has an under-tank bar with a different curve than what was required to facilitate this build. Altogether a unique variation that leads me to wonder how many of these frames were made and how many have frustrated would-be restorers when it came time to find a tank. The addition of the JCH/Murray-Ohio springer probably never happened on the originals being from separate factories. If they had produced a springer one wonders if they would have used a Monark unit?

Hmm, if I understand you right? I have a tank just like this one without a fin under the tank. So it's a Murray Built bike? I gotta dig up my photos to find this bike.

 

[RMS37]

Hmm, if I understand you right? I have a tank just like this one without a fin under the tank. So it's a Murray Built bike? I gotta dig up my photos to find this bike.

No, not necessarily it could be a Murray built bike, or a Monark built bike...or from one of several other manufacturers that fed Sears.

Most of the JCH bikes are from Murray-Ohio and those sourced from other manufacturers were often made to look like the M-O bikes as closely as was feasible. To make this bike, Monark had to make a frame specific to this built to incorporate the added lower tank fins. Monark's more standard JCH offering used the same tank with out the add-on fins and was able to get by being built on the standard Monark Rocket frame. That Monark/JCH is reasonably common but still rare compared to the standard M-O offering.

Clear as mud, right?

 

[Craiggo]

That's really interesting and quite confusing haha

 

[tailhole]

Nooooooo!

... It would look Sooo cool in a rustic restaurant hanging in the rafters.....

Man, don't drag this out of a barn, then stick it back inside some rafters. Ride that thang! Nice bike, deserves some pavement/gravel/dirt time.

 

[Gary Mc]

Man, don't drag this out of a barn, then stick it back inside some rafters. Ride that thang! Nice bike, deserves some pavement/gravel/dirt time.

Amen tailhole completely agree, I had the same thought when I read that comment. Please get it back on the road or get it to someone who will. Every time I see a bike in the rafters in a restaurant or pub I cringe thinking what a waste.....

 

[Craiggo]

Amen tailhole completely agree, I had the same thought when I read that comment. Please get it back on the road or get it to someone who will. Every time I see a bike in the rafters in a restaurant or pub I cringe thinking what a waste.....

That Is very true. I said that over a year ago though. Times have changed! Haha it was being ridden for a while, but the rear wheel went flat I might get a patching set. Those tubes have a lot of patches already hahaha. Or I might find a new tire if it isn't too pricey.

I love riding it. Bit is is just soo darn heavy!!!!

 

[militarymonark]

just to clarify, the springer was added by me. Originally there wasn't a springer fork.

 

[silvertonguedevil]

What a neat bike!

 

[HIGGINSFOREVER]

Love to see pictures of the old higgins.Great find.