Hiawatha / Whizzer Restoration Project

[babsvila]

I sure could use some help! I have a Hiawatha Bike with a whizzer motor and whizzer telescopic front end that I'm trying to restore and bring to riding conditions. I cant seem to date the bike, and i'm not sure the anything but the frame is Hiawatha. I've attached a photo of the vadge and serial number. The fenders are blue with white pinstripes and the front wheel has a blue rim with white pin stripes. The telescopic front end and tank are whizzer maroon and i believe the rear rack could also be whizzer? What's the right thing to do? Buy a complete bike and transfer the motor and front end? Or find historically correct fenders, wheels crank etc? Was Hiawatha made by Columbia or CWC? Not sure who that is. The serial number on the bike frame is G85265. I'm really not finding any info in the bike.. and the whizzer.. i have parts exhaust etc. for it. So... my photos are attached

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[GTs58]

I sure could use some help! I have a Hiawatha Bike with a whizzer motor and whizzer telescopic front end that I'm trying to restore and bring to riding conditions. I cant seem to date the bike, and i'm not sure the anything but the frame is Hiawatha. I've attached a photo of the vadge and serial number. The fenders are blue with white pinstripes and the front wheel has a blue rim with white pin stripes. The telescopic front end and tank are whizzer maroon and i believe the rear rack could also be whizzer? What's the right thing to do? Buy a complete bike and transfer the motor and front end? Or find historically correct fenders, wheels crank etc? Was Hiawatha made by Columbia or CWC? Not sure who that is. The serial number on the bike frame is G85265. I'm really not finding any info in the bike.. and the whizzer.. i have parts exhaust etc. for it. So... my photos are attached

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Only one photo works. No bike ID help with a speedo driver.

 

[babsvila]

Only one photo works. No bike ID help with a speedo driver.

Thanks.. i will try to repost the photos

 

[babsvila]

 

[GTs58]

Where's one of the side shots of the complete bike?

 

[babsvila]

Where's one of the side shots of the complete bike?

Left side

Right side.. i've already removed the front wheel and handlebars

 

[NBHAA]

Left side

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Right side.. i've already removed the front wheel and handlebars
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Hello...

We normally only provide this much detailed information in an NBHAA Detailed Report. However, with such a heavily modified Hiawatha...you asked... so we can tell you facts about most of what you have here.

This is a very complicated home-grown mixture of parts all put together on one bicycle. Somebody once had a real party swapping and mixing parts...

• This Hiawatha appears to be the remains of an early 1950s Chippewa deluxe model made for Gambles stores by CWC ...very wildly modified and motorized. (Look for an additional set of numbers that should be lightly pressed into the Hiawatha headbadge not easily seen in the photo).
• Frame and rear carrier (possibly rear wheel) are original Hiawatha, but rear carrier battery holder with brake light/tail light is missing
• Crescent handlebar is original Hiawatha CWC.
• Kickstand is from late 1940s Monark or Silver King bicycle– not original.
• Front fender and front wheel are NOT original to this bicycle and are not Hiawatha. Neither Whizzer nor Hiawatha.
• Rear fender does not appear to be original.
• Handlebar stem is from a 1940s Rollfast bicycle.
• Saddle appears to be remains of a 1950s Troxel, missing pieces.
• Whizzer motor appears to be a 1948-49 Model "J" (look for the serial number on the lower side of the motor case to confirm).
• Whizzer Twist-grips that went with motor appear to have main plastic body sections broken off and missing
• Someone had removed the original CWC "Shockmaster" spring fork. Front spring fork presently installed appears to be Whizzer aftermarket accessory version, missing one of the spring assemblies. (Folks who don't know any better will typically argue about this fork, but Whizzer actually sold these spring forks separately as accessories for ANY bicycle in 24-inch and 26-inch sizes.) Therefore, the original Hiawatha special headlight is also missing (it mounted on the Shockmaster fork).
• Hiawatha sprocket and crank are missing.
• Hiawatha chain guard is missing.
• Hall "Bi-Lite" headlight appears to be shown in one photo– all of which means this Whizzerized bicycle once had the Hall Bi-Lite system. This system included handlebar-mounted headlight, motor-mounted generator, fender-mounted tail light and wiring. All missing now.
• Whizzer clutch belt guard/cover is missing.

National Bicycle History Archive of America has the world's largest files of original Hiawatha bicycle information and Whizzer Motorbike Company information. We began collecting these archival materials in the 1950s. (The last image is just one bin of the original Whizzer Motorbike customer and dealer correspondence files from 1930s to 1960s).

Hope this helps,

Leon Dixon
National Bicycle History Archive of America
NBHAA.com

 

[Freqman1]

The bike was made by CWC. Post a complete pic of the bottom bracket where the serial number is. There should be something after it too determine year but probably about ‘53 or so. It’s gonna take a lot of time and money to restore that.

 

[babsvila]

Wow! Awesome

Hello...

We normally only provide this much detailed information in an NBHAA Detailed Report. However, with such a heavily modified Hiawatha...you asked... so we can tell you facts about most of what you have here.

This is a very complicated home-grown mixture of parts all put together on one bicycle. Somebody once had a real party swapping and mixing parts...

• This Hiawatha appears to be the remains of an early 1950s Chippewa deluxe model made for Gambles stores by CWC ...very wildly modified and motorized. (Look for an additional set of numbers that should be lightly pressed into the Hiawatha headbadge not easily seen in the photo).
• Frame and rear carrier (possibly rear wheel) are original Hiawatha, but rear carrier battery holder with brake light/tail light is missing
• Crescent handlebar is original Hiawatha CWC.
• Kickstand is from late 1940s Monark or Silver King bicycle– not original.
• Front fender and front wheel are NOT original to this bicycle and are not Hiawatha. Neither Whizzer nor Hiawatha.
• Rear fender does not appear to be original.
• Handlebar stem is from a 1940s Rollfast bicycle.
• Saddle appears to be remains of a 1950s Troxel, missing pieces.
• Whizzer motor appears to be a 1948-49 Model "J" (look for the serial number on the lower side of the motor case to confirm).
• Whizzer Twist-grips that went with motor appear to have main plastic body sections broken off and missing
• Someone had removed the original CWC "Shockmaster" spring fork. Front spring fork presently installed appears to be Whizzer aftermarket accessory version, missing one of the spring assemblies. (Folks who don't know any better will typically argue about this fork, but Whizzer actually sold these spring forks separately as accessories for ANY bicycle in 24-inch and 26-inch sizes.) Therefore, the original Hiawatha special headlight is also missing (it mounted on the Shockmaster fork).
• Hiawatha sprocket and crank are missing.
• Hiawatha chain guard is missing.
• Hall "Bi-Lite" headlight appears to be shown in one photo– all of which means this Whizzerized bicycle once had the Hall Bi-Lite system. This system included handlebar-mounted headlight, motor-mounted generator, fender-mounted tail light and wiring. All missing now.
• Whizzer clutch belt guard/cover is missing.

National Bicycle History Archive of America has the world's largest files of original Hiawatha bicycle information and Whizzer Motorbike Company information. We began collecting these archival materials in the 1950s. (The last image is just one bin of the original Whizzer Motorbike customer and dealer correspondence files from 1930s to 1960s).

Hope this helps,

Leon Dixon
National Bicycle History Archive of America
NBHAA.com

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wow! Awesome info! Thank you! So, the whizzer info is correct. I started disassembling before i found the bike serial number. Bicycle Fenders.. i will now replace and know what to go after.. Although it seems a shame to cut out 2 sections of a vintage rear fender for the Whizzer drive belt. Chainguard - i did purchase a Hiawatha chainguard, but i'm not sure it is a Chippewa. I can now start looking for the appropriate crank and fenders. Since i have 2 whizzers.. i am in no hurry to reassemble this one.. but it was the bike that had me so confused.. now that I have something to go by.. i can now rebuild the bike from the frame up. and yes Whizzer did sell the telescopic as an "accessory" which i know this was an add on. And yes the Whizzer motor also a J series engine. My other Whizzer is an H series.. and while this was a Barn find from Wyoming, it has been sitting in my garage for over 23 years.. its time that it started to see some daylight again.. you are a true historian.. thank you for the info!