Help with 1915 - 1920 bike ID

[rebirthbikes]

Hey Cabe members, I could use some help on this one. I’ve seen a couple of these bikes badged “Deluxe Flyer” and I believe these bikes were produced for Montgomery Wards between 1917-1920. I thought that they were mostly made by Westfield but when I dug in deeper it looks like all sorts of manufacturers produced bicycles for them. So, to me, this frame could really be anything, but I’m thinking it’s an early Schwinn/Mead made Deluxe Flyer. Chain ring is not one I’m familiar with and he fork looks right for a Schwinn, but the fork and truss rods are welded together. Rear wheel is a ND model A on a steel clad rim (probably switched at some point) front wheel is wood with an indiscernible manufacturer on it. Any help would be appreciated.

Serial number is on the BB: 260101

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Nice bike.
Guessing Schwinn-built MW Deluxe Flyer?.

Schwinn-built truss forks.
Schwinn frame serial numbers (or like Emblem Angola).
Sprocket:

 

[rebirthbikes]

Thank you sir! That ad really helps

 

[SKPC]

A Crown-Fauber crankset below...

Excelsior variation next..

One more Fauber..

And one more with round holes..unknown maker.

 

[rebirthbikes]

A Crown-Fauber crankset below...
View attachment 2091869
Excelsior variation next..
View attachment 2091872
One more Fauber..
View attachment 2091877
And one more with round holes..unknown maker.
View attachment 2091883

This is super helpful too. I’ll pull the chainring tomorrow amd look for markings like the photo above — thank you sir

 

[rebirthbikes]

Guessing Schwinn-built MW Deluxe Flyer?.
View attachment 2091784
Schwinn-built truss forks.
Schwinn frame serial numbers (or like Emblem Angola).
Sprocket:

Hey Archie, would you happen to have a published date for this advert?

 

[cyclingday]

Cool bike!
Love it!
Check out the pre 33 AS&Co serial number thread, for comparison.
I’m thinking it’s most likely around 1922/23ish.
Be sure and post this one in that thread, for future reference.

 

[rebirthbikes]

Cool bike!
Love it!
Check out the pre 33 AS&Co serial number thread, for comparison.
I’m thinking it’s most likely around 1922/23ish.
Be sure and post this one in that thread, for future reference.

Will do, thank you Marty for help with the vintage. I sincerely appreciate it.

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Hey Archie, would you happen to have a published date for this advert?

It's on the CABE somewhere (a re-posting without credit given!).

Who made "Black Beauty" badged bikes??? and Mont. Wards "De Luxe" | Antique Bicycles Pre-1933

Who made "Black Beauty" badged bikes? I was also wondering about Montgomery Ward "De Luxe" badged? Could they be the same maker? Chris

thecabe.com

There are also black & white pages with similar info;
Montgomery Ward catalog, some models ID'd as for 1923?

More catalog links provided by members gkeep and cbustapeck (most look like Schwinn built).
https://archive.org/details/montgomerywardca1920mont/page/646/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/montgomerywardca1921mont/page/574/mode/2up
https://archive.org/details/montgomerywardca1922mont/page/562/mode/2up

Maybe add to the Schwinn serial number listing.

Pre '33 AS&CO Serial Number Project | Antique Bicycles Pre-1933

Was there a long head tube version and a short head tube version? Here are two Michigan City motobikes with the exact same paint scheme; one has a long head tube, the other short, the battery tank with built in switch will fit both. These two Excelsiors are not Schwinn built but just being...

thecabe.com

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Found the black and white pages for 1923?

1923-1924 Montgomery Wards catalog/Hawthonre DeLuxe | Antique Bicycles Pre-1933

1923-1924 Hawthorne DeLuxe looks maybe schwinn built. Just wanted to share the reference.

thecabe.com