Need help identifying this men's bike

[jgsb1966]

So a friend of mine offered me this old bicycle for free that he had as he's not really into them like modern bikes. I wouldn't take it for free, so he said to grab a bottle of wine with a cool label on it to trade. DEAL! Not really sure what year or make it is. No head badge, Sprocket makes me think Elgin. Not real sure. Any ideas based on frame shape or components. The tail of the rear fender looks like it was cut off at some point. Also curious about this crown valve stem cap he gave me. It's pretty cool though I don't know anything about it. LOL. Thanks in advance, Scott

 

[Mercian]

Hi Scott, @jgsb1966

Yes, possibly a 1940's Elgin.

On the bottom of the bb (bottom bracket, where the pedal crank goes through) sould be one or two serial numbers. If you can tell us these, we can tell you a lot more.
Best Regards,

Adrian

 

[jgsb1966]

Thanks Adrian! I sanded through a few layers of paint and found this...G32165 stamped across the bottom bracket, as well as a lone number 4 typed 90 degrees from that.

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Looks like a CWC-built of that era.
See the CWC serial numbers thread, post 576 on page 58, pinned to the top of the forum: classic balloon tire bicycles 1933-1965. https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/cleveland-welding-s-n-project-see-page-58-post-576-for-chart.2705/

The 26-tooth CWC chain ring front sprocket might have been swapped-out for a smaller ~24 tooth size, just to make pedaling easier.

 

[Adamtinkerer]

1940