Need info Elgin bicycle

[chiller662]

Maybe not, was thinking 1933 was fairly early for 26" - might be one of the earliest 26" bikes.
Perhaps the tire and fender gap is just the way how designs used to look back then, (gap exaggerated by narrower tires?).

Maby but it is a heavy gap

 

[lgrinnings]

1933: First year Falcon available in 26” or 28” versions. I’ve seen 26” examples both with the 28” fenders and with 26” fenders and spacers.

 

[chiller662]

1933: First year Falcon available in 26” or 28” versions. I’ve seen 26” examples both with the 28” fenders and with 26” fenders and spacers.

View attachment 1683494

Do you know if they have a serial sheet that I can check and make sure of the year ?

 

[lgrinnings]

Westfield-built. Serial that begins with “L” is 1933. Mr. Columbia’s old website had a serial number list.

What Year is my Columbia? Serial Number Charts

 

[chiller662]

Westfield-built. Serial that begins with “L” is 1933. Mr. Columbia’s old website had a serial number list.

What Year is my Columbia? Serial Number Charts

Thankyou

 

[chiller662]

Westfield-built. Serial that begins with “L” is 1933. Mr. Columbia’s old website had a serial number list.

What Year is my Columbia? Serial Number Charts

So would you know if 33 was a wood wheel

 

[WillWork4Parts]

Contours of the wheels in the ad appear to be clad steel over wood for what would be "cement on" 28" tires. Ad mentions chrome wheels too. I wouldn't be surprised if the 26" clincher tires were mounted on chrome triple step rims though.

 

[lgrinnings]

Contours of the wheels in the ad appear to be clad steel over wood for what would be "cement on" 28" tires. Ad mentions chrome wheels too. I wouldn't be surprised if the 26" clincher tires were mounted on chrome triple step rims though.

I just wanted to lead with a disclaimer that nothing I'm saying here should be taken as absolute gospel, but I do believe it's widely considered the case. Regarding the wheels, both variations of the 1933 Falcon had steel-clad wood wheels. In the case of the 28" wheels, they accommodated 28" x1 1/2" high-pressure single tube tires. The 26" wheels, however, were made with a channel that took traditional clincher-style balloon tires and tubes (see pics below). Again, don't quote me on this, but a 1933 26" wheel set would have likely had a ND model C hub (if the hub were New Departure and not Morrow), where I believe Model D was introduced in 1934 (the wheel set below is a 1934 set I believe).

 

[Archie Sturmer]

I believe that the front forks would be either 26 or 28 inches; (it is difficult to see the width from the angle of the rear profile picture).

Steel clad Blackhawk, Falcon wheel set. | Sell - Trade: Bicycle Parts, Accessories, Ephemera

Super nice original wheel set. Killer All State tires, 26x2.125 with Musselman rear hub. $500.

thecabe.com

 

[lgrinnings]

I have both 1933 and 1934 balloon tire Elgins and the forks are longer than their 1935+ 26" Westfield counterparts. I believe in the same way they used the same frame with and without spacers (depending on the fenders) they used the same fork for both sizes during those two years. Here's the 1934 ladies' Elgin (pic below) from which the previously posted wheels came. It looks, at first glance, like someone may have replaced the wheels, but those are 1934 wheels on a 1934 bicycle in almost showroom condition. This came out of an old bike shop basement where it had been for well over 50 years.