JC Higgins 8 speed

[HyperHal]

I have a somewhat unusual bicycle. It’s a JC Higgins 8 speed (made in Hungary) circa 1961. In addition to the 8 speed, it has an unusual early example of a derailleur. It is made of telescoping spring steel (see photo). One just like it was ridden in the first TOSRV. (See photo). Any further information would be appreciated

 

[juvela]

-----

thanks so much for sharing this cycle!

it was manufactured in Graz, Austria by Steyr (also producers of Styria, Puch and Austro-Daimler marques)

the 503 prefix seen in the Sears item number stamped into the bottom bracket shell indicates the product was sourced from this company

back Sears catalogues have been posted online. since you know the model year you should be able to look up the catalogue page for it if wished.

gear ensemble appears to be the Simplex Tour de France model rear paired with Simplex LJ23 model front
wheel hubs Normandy Sport
brakes Weinmann model 730
pedals Atom model 440

frame's chain stay bridge is ESGE plate style

would be helpful to readers if you could post one or more drive-side images of the machine

-----

 

[Oilit]

I've seen a lot of the J.C. Higgins with 3 speed hubs, this is the first 8 speed derailleur JCH I've seen. All the 3 speeds were marked "Made in Austria" on the head badge and are thought to have been built by Steyr, as @juvela said. But Austria and Hungary were both in the Austro-Hungarian Empire before WWI, so it's possible Steyr had a plant in Hungary or some other connection. Can we get a picture of the head badge?

 

[phantom]

Looks like Buddy Holly in the picture.

 

[HyperHal]

I've seen a lot of the J.C. Higgins with 3 speed hubs, this is the first 8 speed derailleur JCH I've seen. All the 3 speeds were marked "Made in Austria" on the head badge and are thought to have been built by Steyr, as @juvela said. But Austria and Hungary were both in the Austro-Hungarian Empire before WWI, so it's possible Steyr had a plant in Hungary or some other connection. Can we get a picture of the head badge?

It’s in less than pristine condition.

In my defense, I would like to say that I bought this at a garage sale in 1975. The rims were already warped beyond straightening and rusty. I wrote it for several years before we moved to a new house and I put it in my crawlspace for the last 24 years. I just pulled it back out and I’ve decided to exit up and get it back on the road.

 

[HyperHal]

I rode it for several years, and decided to fix it up. Damn spellcheck!

 

[mrg]

Cool bike, I have had a few Sears Allstate motorcycles made by Steyr-Daimler and weirdly I always remember in the TV show " Hogans Heroes " they were bombing the Steyr ball bearing factory!

 

[HyperHal]

Cool bike, I have had a few Sears Allstate motorcycles made by Steyr-Daimler and weirdly I always remember in the TV show " Hogans Heroes " they were bombing the Steyr ball bearing factory!

 

[Oilit]

It’s in less than pristine condition. View attachment 1479177

In my defense, I would like to say that I bought this at a garage sale in 1975. The rims were already warped beyond straightening and rusty. I wrote it for several years before we moved to a new house and I put it in my crawlspace for the last 24 years. I just pulled it back out and I’ve decided to exit up and get it back on the road.View attachment 1479178
View attachment 1479179

View attachment 1479180
View attachment 1479183






View attachment 1479184

It may not be pristine, but it looks pretty good to me! There's no heavy rust and the paint and decals are still decent. It would take some work, but you could make that bike shine like a diamond. Are those 26 inch wheels? Thanks for the additional pictures, these early derailleur-equipped bikes aren't nearly as common as the later ones.

 

[mrg]

Pick up a few boxes of this stuff