Hi
@benshl1994
The research I’ve been doing shows me that Westfield J would be 1942? I’m new to this and it seems there is sooo much to know to figure this out. I think it’s j48715 serial number. If that’s the case then what manufacture and year would that be?
Good, I encourage people to do research of their own.
Yes it's J48715.
Westfield used a system composed of a letter to indicate the year, and a sequential frame number. For various reasons, they never went all the way from A-Z, and went back to A every so often. Also they didn't use I or O because they were too similar to 1 and 0.
Westfield used J in 1918, 1931 and 1945.
It's not 1945, because the J used was capitalised, like this one, and yours isn't.
Image from Krakatoa's very nice 1945 bike, currently for sale here:
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/1...ilian-blackout-ballooner.169930/#post-1154649
Also, Westfields between 1934 and 1945 used a separate dating system for the manufacture of the frame. In the picture above, you can see N5, which is May 1945. This picture is a good example of how the N5 was stamped first, then the frame painted (the paint is in the numbers), and then the J serial number stamped when the bike was complete after painting (the paint has cracked out of these numbers).
More details here, especially post 11.https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/westfield-frame-numbers-1933-1945.100743/
Which leaves 1931 and 1919. The same J was used in the stamping in these years, so really it's a question of looking at the available models.
This 1931 Niagara is produced by Westfield, and is very similar to your frame, with the same fork and headset, except for the chainwheel. But your chainwheel is seen on 1930's produced Westfields.
Picked this up,last week all original. As usual nothing out there about the bike.westfield?has clincher rims on it so a set of tires and I have a rider.
thecabe.com
I hope that helps.
Best Regards,
Adrian