Elgin Collegiate date?

[Elevatorman139]

I had it suggested to me that this was a 1928 Westfield built Elgin. Can anyone help me to confirm or deny the date?

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[Archie Sturmer]

I believe that “E” is for 1927 and “F” is for 1928.
Elgin and Collegiate were two different Sears catalog product lines; higher-end and economy.

 

[Elevatorman139]

Thanks, Archie. So saying that it is a Westfield Collegiate is more accurate, with the Collegiate being the economy model?

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[Archie Sturmer]

Westfield-built "Sears Collegiate" - which may be good news - that you need not find a tank.

Maybe take a closer look at where the truss bar joins the seat tube; looks more like an Excelsior Michigan City, Indiana feature.
For Excelsior, I believe that Sears may have imposed a serial numbering sequence to match its other supplier, Westfield.
So, regardless of maker, I believe that "F" is for 1928, (in that era).

Excelsior-built Sears Collegiate?

 

[Elevatorman139]

Thank you again, sir. The eBay seller had it listed as an Elgin collegiate and said that it would have had a toolbox tank. I have found a couple of tanks on eBay since I had bought it, but none of them had the right shape on the narrow end.

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[Archie Sturmer]

With the taller Collegiate badge holes, maybe one of those reproduction "Excelsior" badges might fit - (maybe might not fit though).

So maybe there is an option to convert a Collegiate to an Excelsior, just for the cool factor.

There are also reproduction "Excelsior" decals for down tubes; some are even said to be Schwinn-Approved(?), but that is another story.