Help with year Firestone Special Cruiser

[BrianInPA]

Picked this up today for $30, I believe it's Monarch built. Should clean up really nice! Can anyone help with the year on this one?

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Looks like a Monark-built. I believe that 180 was code for Monark-built; and the following 3 for the year, 1953; and the 9A3 was Firestone’s model number.

Can anyone date these Firestone/Monark serial numbers | General Discussion About Old Bicycles

I tried to find these 2 serial numbers in the Monark numbers but they do not match anything on that list. The first one is a Firestone Super Cruiser and the second is a Monark Holiday.

thecabe.com

A serial numbers table has been posted somewhere on this site.

 

[BrianInPA]

Looks like a Monark-built. I believe that 180 was code for Monark-built; and the following 3 for the year, 1953; and the 9A3 was Firestone’s model number.

Can anyone date these Firestone/Monark serial numbers | General Discussion About Old Bicycles

I tried to find these 2 serial numbers in the Monark numbers but they do not match anything on that list. The first one is a Firestone Super Cruiser and the second is a Monark Holiday.

thecabe.com

A serial numbers table has been posted somewhere on this site.

Thank you, I always appreciate your help! I saw this also on that post, wondering if A1767438 would be a 1954?

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Could be one of those December-January bikes, ordered, stamped & built in one year, and then shipped & sold in the next?

So there are 2 lists, one for Western Flyer bikes ordered by Western Auto; and another list prepared somehow by a John Polizzi.
The 2 lists should not contradict, but I have not compared them. https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/serial-number-and-date-code-information.71542/#post-520660

 

[oldfart36]

53-54. My "patina" version. Hope this helps. I took liberties with seat, headlight, and tires. They are basically a Monark Rocket.

 

[BrianInPA]

Could be one of those December-January bikes, stamped & built in one year, and then shipped and sold in the next?

So there are 2 lists, one for Western Flyer bikes ordered by Western Auto; and another list prepared somehow by a John Polizzi.
The 2 lists should not contradict, but I have not compared them. https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/serial-number-and-date-code-information.71542/#post-520660

I gotcha, could be something like that. Thank you for sending that link as well...I was reading through all of the various posts last night as well. Researching and finding what you have is a big part of the fun for me!

 

[BrianInPA]

53-54. My "patina" version. Hope this helps. I took liberties with seat, headlight, and tires. They are basically a Monark Rocket.

View attachment 1731133

I came across your bike as I was researching mine. I love it!

 

[BFGforme]

Killer deal!

 

[BrianInPA]

53-54. My "patina" version. Hope this helps. I took liberties with seat, headlight, and tires. They are basically a Monark Rocket.

View attachment 1731133

Hey just curious, is that the linseed oil treatment or something else? That rich color looks awesome!

 

[oldfart36]

Hey just curious, is that the linseed oil treatment or something else? That rich color looks awesome!

That is the natural way the bike was found! No treatments, just dish soap and water for washing when found.