Hi Bart,
Thanks for sharing that (and even more for not chipping the paint off!) (-:
H6 says the frame was made in H=1941, 6 = June. It was some kind of stock control thing. Your bike was built up completely shortly after, which is when it got its F11897 number.
So, frame made June 1941, bike built between June and August 1941.
As a bonus, here's the nearest Men's Superb I have listed, a H7, so the month after.
What a beautiful drive from Santa Cruz up Hwy1 to Pacifica then thru San Francisco and then across the Golden Gate to Corte Madera where I picked up this ol beauty. I think it's a 1941 Westfield built Columbia Superb. The owner was the son of an original klunker rider from the late 70's. I...
thecabe.com
I'm sure you'll have fun with it, whatever you decide to do.
Best Regards,
Adrian