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First antique bikes need help with info

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Ryan2121

On Training Wheels
Hello this is my first post and I just recently bought my first vintage bicycles. I’ve been looking around for information on the specific models of these bikes and am just getting a little confused, I’d appreciate any info I can get
The first bikes head badge reads Elgin and made by Sears Roebuck. Also on it it has some sort of band maybe made of leather around each wheel hub, what were these used for?
The second bikes headbadge reads j.c. Higgins also made by Sears Roebuck

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Here's what I know (which usually ain't much!) The first bike is a pre war (WW2) Elgin, which was Sears bicycles and sporting goods brand name. Not sure of exact year, but someone will know. Looks like decent original paint bike.The leather straps are called "hub shiners". Keep dirt from caking on when riding and the hubs shinny ! After WW2 Sears branded sporting goods including bicycles got a name change to JC Higgins brand. Your bike is probably late forties. Bad news is that it was a girls bike and a bar is welded on to make it a boys style.Good news is that it has some decent original parts on it. Have fun with them, that's what it is all about.
 
Thanks for the info. On the Elgin what is it missing on the front and rear fenders I can tell something was there once. And do they call it any certain model so I can get some original pictures of it
 
headlight, drop stand and reflector, check out a Sears 1939 catalog. The Elgin came with a drop stand originally, the kickstand was an after market option at Sears.

I only have pages from the 40 and 41 catalogs, sorry.
 
The Murray-Elgin has a curved down tube, not straight, between the head tube and the bottom crank bracket.
I do not recognize the chain ring as a typical Murray or Sears part.
The seat post cluster joint design reminds me of the figure 3 in the 1943-48 patent 2,435,448; but more like the 1945-48 patent 2,443,008, by Herman L. Kraeft for Murray, also the rear drop-out. The MOD-502 does not mean 1939; the MU8-J may be MOS-J or ~1945.
US2443008 Murray frame 1945-48_Page_1.jpg US2443008 Murray frame 1945-48_Page_2.jpg
The girl's Murray-Higgins bike MOS-L may likely be a 1947; that is how I see the chart and stampings, and details.
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/help-need-i-d-on-this-one-military.128874/ (not military?).
 
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