SCFlyGuy
'Lil Knee Scuffer
My maiden post ... sorry, it's a long one.
I grew up in Western NY and my wife and I are spending our summers on Chautauqua Lake. My wife is an avid garage sale afficianado and about a month ago, I picked up a late 1930's men's Roadmaster frame, fork, bottom bracket (skip tooth), and chain guard. It was all of $5 and was garage kept with little rust. At first, I thought of using it as a lawn ornament, but it was just too cool for that! My objective was to begin amassing parts to put it together.
While talking to an old classmate at a reunion, I learned he had a similar bike and he offered it to me for a great price. What he had appeared to be a late-1930's Roadmaster Girls Supreme or Deluxe that was totally covered in rust. It is almost a complete bike (the only piece it is missing is the lens on the front light!), so I didn't think it was right to cannibalize it. It has stayed intact for almost 80 years and it deserves to live on!!
Here's the bike after a good wash with a little gentle brushing:
Here's a closeup of the rust on the fender:
After a little research, I found 'The CABE' and the wealth of information on it. When I took the tank apart, I found a very clean interior and batteries dated 1954! I replaced them with D cells and I have a working horn!
I took a little oxalic acid solution and some very fine steel wool and brushed off a lot of the surface rust to expose a nice patina:
As a real newbie, I have several questions.
1. What is the best way to continue the resurrection of the paint? I don't necessarily want a shiny new finish, but a little more shine would be nice.
2. Is there a tutorial on how to replace the cord on the fenders? One side is about 90% intact, but the other was destroyed.
3. What are the appropriate tires for it? The rear is a Goodyear and the front is a replacement from Walmart (too thin - but I wanted it in riding condition).
4. Is there a source for appropriate replacement parts? I'd like to get a lens for the front light and new handlebar grips (the coke bottle grips are in rough shape).
Any other advice for a total rookie would be appreciated!
PS - The original men's frame that started this journey will make a nice matching set!
I grew up in Western NY and my wife and I are spending our summers on Chautauqua Lake. My wife is an avid garage sale afficianado and about a month ago, I picked up a late 1930's men's Roadmaster frame, fork, bottom bracket (skip tooth), and chain guard. It was all of $5 and was garage kept with little rust. At first, I thought of using it as a lawn ornament, but it was just too cool for that! My objective was to begin amassing parts to put it together.
While talking to an old classmate at a reunion, I learned he had a similar bike and he offered it to me for a great price. What he had appeared to be a late-1930's Roadmaster Girls Supreme or Deluxe that was totally covered in rust. It is almost a complete bike (the only piece it is missing is the lens on the front light!), so I didn't think it was right to cannibalize it. It has stayed intact for almost 80 years and it deserves to live on!!
Here's the bike after a good wash with a little gentle brushing:
Here's a closeup of the rust on the fender:
After a little research, I found 'The CABE' and the wealth of information on it. When I took the tank apart, I found a very clean interior and batteries dated 1954! I replaced them with D cells and I have a working horn!
I took a little oxalic acid solution and some very fine steel wool and brushed off a lot of the surface rust to expose a nice patina:
As a real newbie, I have several questions.
1. What is the best way to continue the resurrection of the paint? I don't necessarily want a shiny new finish, but a little more shine would be nice.
2. Is there a tutorial on how to replace the cord on the fenders? One side is about 90% intact, but the other was destroyed.
3. What are the appropriate tires for it? The rear is a Goodyear and the front is a replacement from Walmart (too thin - but I wanted it in riding condition).
4. Is there a source for appropriate replacement parts? I'd like to get a lens for the front light and new handlebar grips (the coke bottle grips are in rough shape).
Any other advice for a total rookie would be appreciated!
PS - The original men's frame that started this journey will make a nice matching set!
