Identifying uniquie bike

[phantom]

How do you get on a unique bike?



Unique up on it.

 

[Bike from the Dead]

How do you get on a unique bike?



Unique up on it.

Boo. Puns are the lowest form of comedy. hits the LOL emote anyway because it's still funny.

 

[piercer_99]

Who said that it was a Snyder; I am not so sure myself.
Just thinking about the Rollfast and AMF connection in the later 1970’s, in the post Mossberg bankruptcy era.

Like pictures, sometimes history can also be blurry.

Well, as Snyder built all the bicycles that were badged with Rollfast, what was left of Snyder built this thing in the early 1970's.

 

[Oilit]

According to this, Snyder "Terminated bicycle production in 1976." so this must have been close to the end.

Major U.S. Bicycle Manufacturers, 1955-80 | General Discussion About Old Bicycles

This is an excerpt from another report by the U.S. International Trade Commission in 1982, titled "The Effectiveness of Escape Clause Relief in Promoting Adjustment to Import Competition" posted on-line by Googlebooks. As you might imagine, I haven't read the whole thing, or even tried, but this...

thecabe.com

 

[Adamtinkerer]

Snyder serial #'s started with A in 1959, and went back to A again in '69. There's no BMA/6 decal on the OP's bike, making it '71 or older. This frame is a redesign of one they introduced around 1959.

 

[piercer_99]

Snyder serial #'s started with A in 1959, and went back to A again in '69. There's no BMA/6 decal on the OP's bike, making it '71 or older. This frame is a redesign of one they introduced around 1959.

View attachment 1683154

most likely pre 74, as that was when the stupid bma/6 sticker appeared.

 

[Iridis Nocturnus]

Sorry I'm late guys. Between house-sitting, pet-sitting, and trying to wrap up my current Rat Rod Bikes Build Off entry, I haven't been browsing the forums quite as frequently aside from figuring out stuff for my current bike.

Ok, like the others said, I'm pretty sure the bike in question was sold as a Rollfast. Did Snyder build it? That I don't know. I'm sadly not an expert on bicycle manufacturers. However, I know the bike is NOT an AMF AMFLITE bike, as I own one and recognize the frame shape. The bike in question is similar to an AMFLITE, but there's one key difference between this bike and an AMF: on an AMFLITE, the down tube is straight, while the down tube on this bike is curved. And while the frame on this bike does look bent, the curved down tube is not curved because it's bent. The twin top tubes on the AMFLITE are also not quite as curved as the ones on this Rollfast. What you're looking at is basically the 26" version of my 1969/1970 Montgomery Ward Hawthorne muscle bike. The frame shape is basically the same, except mine's a little more squat, because it's a 20", not a 26".
View attachment 1682834
View attachment 1682835
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View attachment 1682837

Now unfortunately, I could not find another example of a 26" Rollfast with the same frame style, at least on Google. I did see a 20" Rollfast that's identical to the Hawthorne pictured above, but that's it. When I searched for a Hawthorne, however, I found photos of both a men's and women's bike that, while sold as a Hawthorne, are both the same bike as that blue Rollfast. They even have listings on ebay!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/394051956944?campid=5335809022

View attachment 1682838View attachment 1682839

https://www.ebay.com/itm/263796278467?campid=5335809022

View attachment 1682840View attachment 1682841

So that's the sort of bike you're looking at. I wish I could help you with figuring out the manufacturer, but my best guess would be Snyder, as they built bikes for Montgomery Ward and Rollfast back in the 1940s and 1950s. Hope this helps!

Thank you. This is very good information, and helps me confirm what I arrived at after quite a bit of help and research. The Rollfast frame is not the AMFLITE; although close it's quite obvious they are different because of that downbar. I'll be happy if I can find either one, or a Hawthorne like pictured.

Thanks again.

 

[mrlepto]

hi there, I have a bike with the same frame as that Hawthorne but it's 26" tire version and regular seat. I found it in the early 90s ditched in my front yard. best riding bikes I've ever had! wheel bearings roll like a dream. I've never known what it is so I just started looking.

 

[Oilit]

hi there, I have a bike with the same frame as that Hawthorne but it's 26" tire version and regular seat. I found it in the early 90s ditched in my front yard. best riding bikes I've ever had! wheel bearings roll like a dream. I've never known what it is so I just started looking.

These don't show up often so if you can, post a picture. The surviving examples are the best documentation on these.

 

[mrlepto]

These don't show up often so if you can, post a picture. The surviving examples are the best documentation on these.

I'll post more pics but here's one. it's the one in the front. I've got a few hundred miles on this thing. it rides like a dream and so quiet.