Models Of Cwc Bikes???

[Rusty Ol' Rogue]

Thank you for that info. I wish my source were still on this site so he could weigh in on it.

 

[OhioJones]

I have spent many hours reading and rereading posts by Phil. Talk about a wealth of knowledge. Guys like him are a rare breed. Shame he is no longer active here.

 

[Jarod24]

CWC is a beast all its own. The first bikes were made in late 1934 for the '35 model year then they were bought by Shelby in '55 or so and dissolved around 1957. The years in between remain clouded in mystery and speculation. Roadmaster was their house brand name from the start. Other names will have been hardware or department stores that used CWC as a manufacturer for their brand. These stores did not always exclusively use CWC as a supplier though.

Hiawatha was the branding for Gambles department store. Hawthorne was Montgomery Ward. Western Flyer - Western Auto. CWC supplied to many of these brand for most of their lifespan, but I don't know of a definitive list if there is one.

Very well said

 

[Adamtinkerer]

AMF also bought Shelby, I believe around 53-4.

 

[CWCMAN]

Jpromo, where did that info come from. Seems incorrect to me.

From what I have read and understood, CWC got into the bike business in 1935 and sold bikes for the 1936 model year.

It was AMF that bought out CWC and Shelby in the early 1950's

 

[Freqman1]

I believe it was 1953 that AMF bought CWC. They also bought Shelby in '53 from Gambles who owned the company for only a few months in '53 (Polizzi, 2005, pp ii). V/r Shawn

 

[ratina]

Correct, they started in 35 for the 36 model year.

 

[Wayne Adam]

NOS 1954 CWC/AMF/Shelby.
Here are some pictures of my NOS 1954 AMF/CWC Roadmaster Luxury Liner. This bike was stored since new and has never been used.
It was found at an estate sale a few years ago in PA. It still has the original tires on it also.
As you can see, it is a CWC Roadmaster, but has the Shelby Chain ring. A perfect example of the united companies.
Phil also told me that this was the first year that the Roadmaster balloon bike had middleweight fenders and tires........Wayne

 

[ratina]

Do you have a picture of the serial number? I haven't seen that frame used before the end of 1954.

 

[Wayne Adam]

I really do think it is actually a 1954, see what you can find out. Here is a picture of the serial number....Wayne