Excelsior America bike i.d. help

[Tryst]

I'm new here but I found this old excelsior bike in the shed and was wondering if you guys could help me i.d. it. Serial number is 146517, looks like the original paint job due to places where the paint is chipping, has a mesinger seat not sure if that's original. Not sure if I'm gonna sell it or if I'm just gonna keep it to have a cool bike.

Any help dating or i.d.ing it is appreciated!

Pictures below

 

[catfish]

Late 40s Snyder built bike. AKA Rollfast.

 

[Adamtinkerer]

Welcome to the forum! Check the bottom bracket (generally abbreviated BB) for a four digit code. The two numbers are the year reversed. Something like "84 EH" is a '48.

 

[Tryst]

so from the photos im seeing online of a rollfast bicycle, am i missing a piece that goes in between the first and second horizontal bars? (not sure what to call them)

 

[Adamtinkerer]

so from the photos im seeing online of a rollfast bicycle, am i missing a piece that goes in between the first and second horizontal bars? (not sure what to call them)

The tank. Only the deluxe and some mid line models had them.

 

[kreika]

Welcome to the Cabe! I wish I found that in my shed.