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Just bought this and no idea what it is or how old. Im very new to bikes and could use some help. Headbadge says monark silver king inc chicago usa but i dont believe it is. The top frame rail is odd and i thought maybe someone would recognize it...any help is appreciated!
there are no numbers anywhere on the frame...anywhere...it has 26 inch wheels. It does say "new departure" on the coaster brake. And LOBDELL alma michigan on the seat
This bike may have been built by Huffman after the merger with Monark in 1957. That would put the build date in the 1957-1960 range. Heres is a synopsis of that period from a site documenting the history of Monark. I wonder if they would have used up headbadge stock that still had the company listed in Chicago after the Chicago Plant was shut in 1958. You might want to look at late 50s and early 60s Huffman (Huffy) catalog of Christmas ads, there might be a bike with a similar frame style.
An original 1950s Monark "Roadster" girls bicycle from our museum collection inspires a look back at Chicago's Monark-Silver King Company.
www.madeinchicagomuseum.com
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The original plan was for Huffman to simply migrate production of Monark and Silver King branded bikes from Chicago to Ohio. MSK would remain in business, and the plant in Azusa, California would stay under Monark control. This didn't last long, however, as Huffman eventually acquired the West Coast plant and slowly faded out production of the familiar MSK models.
Monark officially shut down the Chicago plant at 6501 W. Grand Avenue in 1958. It was put on the market that spring, and in 1959, the Zenith Radio Corporationacquired it, establishing it as the Zenith Plant #5, initially home to the company's hearing aid division throughout the 1960s. At some point in the 21st century, the neighboring Radio Flyer appears to have taken ownership of the building, which they eventually opted to level.
Monark Silver King was essentially snuffed out as the 1960s began, meaning the business was in operation less than 30 years. In a world with Schwinn in it, they'll never be remembered as the "great Chicago bicycle company," but for appreciators of all things streamlined, they remain a part of local royalty.
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