Hiawatha year unknown

[GTs58]

I mentioned earlier that you were missing some stampings on your dropout. No second look? Be aware of the fact that all the names mentioned by the previous "experts" are specific to the retailer that the bike was made for. And Sears, Murray etc. is not a Gambles.

 

[bigsky]

What makes the light lenses and tank rare? Nice picture! Yeah my bike looks just like that. Thanks for the picture and information razzinhellcustomz

 

[bigsky]

I'll take another look. I know there are some more numbers on the Bendix piece which are probably that piece part number. I'll go check it out. Thanks Wiz. You're right nobody beats the Wiz! Nobody!

 

[bigsky]

GTs58. I took a look and hidden behind the washer was GW3 and then the rest 807A 44034. Thanks for prompting me to take a second look. Aired up the tires while out there and they actually held air. The rubber is shot but the tubes must still be good. They are Super Crest tires. Thanks for the prompt and information.

 

[bigsky]

SUPER RAD.. and again those light lenses and tank are rare, its a keeper

I replied in the wrong spot. What makes those parts rare?

 

[bigsky]

I mentioned earlier that you were missing some stampings on your dropout. No second look? Be aware of the fact that all the names mentioned by the previous "experts" are specific to the retailer that the bike was made for. And Sears is not a Gambles.

View attachment 2244170

View attachment 2244169

put my post to you in a different spot, sorry. first part of the number is GW3

 

[GTs58]

put my post to you in a different spot, sorry. first part of the number is GW3

The front tank nose was new in 61 and I'm thinking the 3 in WG3 might be the year designation. Murray built bikes for many retailers and some of their ID methods changed multiple times, and some are a PITA to decode.

 

[bigsky]

The front tank nose was new in 61 and I'm thinking the 3 in GW3 might be the year designation. Murray built bikes for many retailers and some of their ID methods changed multiple times, and some are a PITA to decode.

View attachment 2244308

So probably a 1963 bike. I'm beginning to see that the most common way to date a bike is from advertising pictures. At least should get you in the ballpark. I have seen from others that it really is difficult to pin down a year by just the serial number.

 

[GTs58]

The WG3 can be taken as a mix for retailer and the year. I have found no other pieces to compare dates.

On this list below the W designates 1963 and the G is for Gambles.

I don't know how far back this goes , but I know that Murray used a single letter to represent the year since at least 1949. Most of these bikes up until the early 60's had the serial number stamped on the bottom of the bottom bracket. I have seen the letters MOS stamped on most of these. I ASSUME that they stand for Murray of Ohio Supply. This is usually followed by a - and a single letter. That letter will be the year code. After the year code will be a 2 or 3 digit number that stands for the model number. This excludes bikes built for Sears and Gambles(Hiawatha). Sears bikes had a 502 and Gambles bikes had a WG or a WG and a single digit. Sears bikes then had a 2 - 5 digit number afterwards that stood as the model number and was actually used in there catalogs as the part number. Gambles Hiawathas were the same way.

F = 49
G = 50
H = 51
I = 52
J = 53
K = 54
L = 55
M = 56
N = 57
P = 58
R = 59
S = 60
T = 61
U = 62
W = 63
X = 64
Y = 65

 

[bigsky]

The WG3 can be taken as a mix for retailer and the year. I have found no other pieces to compare dates.

On this list below the W designates 1963 and the G is for Gambles.

I don't know how far back this goes , but I know that Murray used a single letter to represent the year since at least 1949. Most of these bikes up until the early 60's had the serial number stamped on the bottom of the bottom bracket. I have seen the letters MOS stamped on most of these. I ASSUME that they stand for Murray of Ohio Supply. This is usually followed by a - and a single letter. That letter will be the year code. After the year code will be a 2 or 3 digit number that stands for the model number. This excludes bikes built for Sears and Gambles(Hiawatha). Sears bikes had a 502 and Gambles bikes had a WG or a WG and a single digit. Sears bikes then had a 2 - 5 digit number afterwards that stood as the model number and was actually used in there catalogs as the part number. Gambles Hiawathas were the same way.

F = 49
G = 50
H = 51
I = 52
J = 53
K = 54
L = 55
M = 56
N = 57
P = 58
R = 59
S = 60
T = 61
U = 62
W = 63
X = 64
Y = 65

Wow! that's a lot of information thanks for that. So it's a1963 built for Gambles. I don't see MOS anywhere. Does that mean it was not made by Murray? Anyway thanks for taking the time to give me all that information I truly appreciate it. That's a lot of time and effort. Thanks!