~~ Call for Photos & Catalog Scans '37 - '41 Huffman Balloners for Western Flyer! ~~

[Krakatoa]

Okay so this is an interesting but obscure request. I'm looking to gather in one spot pictures of Western Flyer men's ballon tire tank bikes from the period of 1937 to 1941. Some but not many WF badged Huffman made bikes from 1940 and 1941 have been found with the second version "Zephyr" tank and five gill "windowshade tank". Available period scans of catalog ad material from this period show a preponderance of Shelby and CWC products. Those bikes are not what this this thread is aiming to discuss. The primary aim of this thread is to determine if there were also bikes produced during the period of 1937-1939 that used the first version tank and what the paint scheme and equipment was. So what I am hoping is someone has either an original WF badged original paint bike with early version tank '37-39, or someone has a Western Auto catalog '37-'39, that shows a Huffman Built bike of at this point hypothetical type. Here are some of the few pics I currently have found here on the Cabe to illustrate the question.

Here is 1940 model with the second version tank (metal tank bumps hold tank not brackets like the 1st version).

Additionally while not the main focus of this thread, please feel free to post images/ad copy of the windowshade tank bikes as they don't get the attention they deserve.

Here is a 1941 bike with "windowshade" tank @oldfart36 had a while back...

 

[fordmike65]

1940 Western Auto ad

 

[Krakatoa]

Nice! Right there in the front of the line, interesting equipment, color scheme and no chainguard...

Okay folks lets see some more of the years!

 

[fordmike65]

Gotta give credit to the Great @Dave Stromberger and his amazing wealth of knowledge. His page is always my first stop when looking for any bike related info. The Cabe is a close second

http://www.nostalgic.net/bicycle291

 

[Freqman1]

Keep in mind the '40 Zephyr tank looks the same but is different than the '37-9 tanks. Notice the 'bumps' on top to hold the tank. The earlier ones use the straps. V/r Shawn

 

[Krakatoa]

Scott this is the tank I am asking about.

 

[Freqman1]

Is this a Zephyr tank? And what years was it on? Do you have a pic of the '37-'39 tank attachment? Are these the only differences between the tanks?

View attachment 740633

This is a ‘37-9 tank. The restored bike has a ‘40 tank. V/r Shawn

 

[Krakatoa]

I see they are like small sheetmetal bumps. The cost cutters must have been psyched when some engineer figured that one out! i'd rather have the straps...

The '40 catalog scan @fordmike posted is not sharp enough for me to tell which tank attaching method is used.

Is that a '40 only tank or did the model continue in '41? Any other differences in the two tanks you know of other than this?

 

[Freqman1]

I see they are like small sheetmetal bumps. The cost cutters must have been psyched when some engineer figured that one out! i'd rather have the straps...

The '40 catalog scan @fordmike posted is not sharp enough for me to tell which tank attaching method is used.

Is that a '40 only tank or did the model continue in '41? Any other differences in the two tanks you know of other than this?

'40 only for the bump Zephyr. The other tanks Huffman used in '40-'41 were the 'window shade' '40-'41, big lit tank '40, big tank unlit '40-'41. V/r Shawn

 

[Krakatoa]

Thanks so much Shawn awesome info!

Okay so we are looking for '37, '38, or '39 Western Auto catalog ad scans showing any WF badged Huffman tank bikes or photos of original paint bikes!