Official Firestone - Fleetwood Supreme Thread

[kreika]

I amended that information back when it became available, but unfortunately those old posts with the previously accepted school of thought can’t be edited.

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It’ll be a little confusing for newcomers who discover this thread for the first time, but hopefully the errors will be clarified as they read through to its most up to date posting.
This type of mistake is exactly why we keep doing this stuff.
There’s always going to be proclamations made, only to be proven wrong as new discoveries are made.
These publicity photos are the new gold standard for Fleetwood bicycles.
When was the last time, you saw actual photographs of the new models in 1937?
Catalog renderings are just about all we had to go by.

Great pics! Thanks for sharing, again! Great statement! We’re just left with bits and pieces of history here. Just because we see it in a one pic or rendition doesn’t mean it’s fact set in stone. The factory did whatever it pleased. Use a different part for a photo, a one off, part ran out on the assembly line use something else, store seller requested a different part. Who knows! I personally feel lucky to own an FFS and enjoy it for what it is. American style and design at its best! Just my opinion of course!

 

[cyclingday]

Easy Terms!

 

[cyclingday]

 

[cyclingday]

 

[Jesse McCauley]

I won't call it finished. There is certainly plenty that could be done to clean and upgrade this example but I'm pretty happy with how it looks today.

A couple things I have learned in this process:

Based on the hole pattern in the rear fender this '37 Supreme has the correct smaller variation of the Persons Tombstone reflector.

Due to the self contained Delta front loader w/ switch this model would have had a vestigial hole for a switch in the tank that has not been drilled to receive the redundant switch.

I thought I was hunting the scripted Grip-Well grips but after consulting with Dave @Nostalgic Dave and Brant @New Mexico Brant I learned this model would have been equipped with the closed end unscripted variation of the Grip-Wells shown.

I think that's about all I can add to this great conversation other than some pictures of how it looked when I got it and how it sits a month later.

 

[noverguy]

I won't call it finished. There is certainly plenty that could be done to clean and upgrade this example but I'm pretty happy with how it looks today.

A couple things I have learned in this process:

Based on the hole pattern in the rear fender this '37 Supreme has the correct smaller variation of the Persons Tombstone reflector.

Due to the self contained Delta front loader w/ switch this model would have had a vestigial hole for a switch in the tank that has not been drilled to receive the redundant switch.

I thought I was hunting the scripted Grip-Well grips but after consulting with Dave @Nostalgic Dave and Brant @New Mexico Brant I learned this model would have been equipped with the closed end unscripted variation of the Grip-Wells shown.

I think that's about all I can add to this great conversation other than some pictures of how it looked when I got it and how it sits a month later.

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Great photos. Thanks for posting!

 

[Freqman1]

Kinda hard to tell but is that a "57" on the back of the fork crown? I'd also be interested din seeing the serial number. Nice save!

 

[rebirthbikes]

@Jesse McCauley you did a phenomenal job saving this one, sir. It was a beauty when you found it, but it's stunning now! Well done!

 

[cyclingday]

Something I had never noticed before when looking at these Fleetwood Supremes, is that the switch hole was never drilled for the mounting screws.
Odd, but these models were switch delete, so why drill the holes?

I noticed that your chainguard is being held on by a thread.

This was a common problem with these chainguards.
The bracket/clamp that held that portion of the guard to the chainstay, was just spot welded on, so it tended to give up pretty quick.
The usual remedy, was to just remove the guard altogether, so you’re super lucky that it was still there.

Hometown Boy!
Harvey Firestone would be proud!
Nice job, Jesse!

 

[Freqman1]

One more request besides the numbers; what date on the Morrow hub?