Oh no! Sears Chief Parted Out (!) on the bay

[miller32]

Reading all the comments...I think I can understand all thoughts on this bike. Yes, it is a shame to part out any bike. This isn't about greed as one caber has mentioned....it's about getting the parts out there so others can complete their projects. I see some people needing this or that for their bike to be completed...and how in the world can they complete their projects if opportunities like this one...don't come up? If it was about greed...then I would bet there would be a reserve on the items. No reserve auction means that it goes for whatever it ends with...whether that is a dollar or 200 dollars...! It would take a lot to restore this bike...money. Some people need a crank...some need a seat...some need the fenders. Let's try and help them complete their bikes if possible. If the bike is so crusty as some mention...I would assume you mean it is not worth much? Considering the bike is close to 100 years old...I would expect it to look as it does...and it is not bad...it is still solid. Obviously, parting this bike has ruffled some feathers...but I'd bet some people are happy because they just might have a chance to get one or two items to complete their Chief. You cannot please everyone....but helping out those who are looking for certain parts means more than pleasing everyone. By the way....the seat is original to bike. I have bikes that still need this or that to complete....I still am waiting for these parts to show up so I can finish those projects. I would be excited as heck if auctions like this one came up...so then I might have a chance to bid on items/parts I need for those bikes still waiting in my collection. Greedy people have bikes on ebay for 12,000 when the bike is only worth 2,000. This auction is NO RESERVE....I see no greed in that. I have been asked to end auction early...but as I have seen on the CABE...people don't like it when auctions are ended early. Ending auctions early makes you wonder what happened to the item or items? It makes you wonder if the item ever existed. It throws up all sorts of questions. I want to give everyone a chance....if you want the whole bike...bid on everything. You may get it for less than you originally thought. If you need just that one part to finish your Chief...bid on just that part...and I hope you get that part so your bike can finally be COMPLETE. Either way...no reserve means everyone has a chance.......

Also...to the ruffled feathers....the bike is solid...and isn't going to crumble to the ground. Yes...there is wear...and yes the spokes are brittle...but mind you...it won't turn to dust from the next person's touch. It is a great survivor! What is one to expect from 100 years...? There is still paint...paint on the fenders is much better than frame. When we are all 100 years old...wonder what we will look like??? .....probably not as good as the bike!

 

[Gary Mc]

Miller32, thanks for your explanation & I agree with pretty much everything you said. As someone searching for parts to complete 2 pre-1933 bikes right now I do understand and agree. The good side is this may help many bikes get completed and back on the road but deep in me it just always makes me sad as I said to see a really rare complete bike get parted out, a dilemma I struggle with but do understand. Again thanks for your explanation and "no reserve" auctions that in the end benefit all us bike collectors on the CABE. Sorry if my comments came across as ruffled, more just sad to see one get parted but then glad they will help others get theirs on the road. Good luck with the auctions.

 

[miller32]

Miller32, thanks for your explanation & I agree with pretty much everything you said. As someone searching for parts to complete 2 pre-1933 bikes right now I do understand and agree. The good side is this may help many bikes get completed and back on the road but deep in me it just always makes me sad as I said to see a really rare complete bike get parted out, a dilemma I struggle with but do understand. Again thanks for your explanation and "no reserve" auctions that in the end benefit all us bike collectors on the CABE. Sorry if my comments came across as ruffled, more just sad to see one get parted but then glad they will help others get theirs on the road. Good luck with the auctions.

Gary Mc...thanks for the reply. I always believe everyone is entitled to their opinions. As I said...any original bike is a shame to part out. But if bikes were never parted out....there would be lots of projects set aside in garages...storages...and other places that would never get finished. I set "no reserve"...now what the bike (or parts) are worth...is not up to me. I have no more say in the price....the bidders do...and I accept the highest bid. The bike is out there on the auction block and is not gone yet. Everyone has a chance at it. If it sells to one person...all the pieces....then they can have the whole bike and I can combine the shipping to save them money. If it sells separately...the parts....then I know that the parts are going to help someone complete their own Chief.

What one person does with his or her bicycle is totally up to that person. I try not to judge people or belittle their decisions. Everyone has their reasons for doing what they do. I have seen nasty comments on many blog sites about people's cars, bicycles, collectibles and such....and I feel that when we are together...sharing a sport/hobby...we should always be respectful of other people's items/choices/feelings. As I have said...the bike is a survivor...and yet not shiny like the newer bikes....it's no where near turning to dust. I quote this from another post "In the case of the seat springs, I think the pits are the only thing holding them together". When you ruffle feathers...the barn doors open! The seat as a whole is in great shape...if you look closely at pics. Hard to find them like this still! The seat is truly a great pieces!!!!!

Anyway....If this bike's parts go to completing 4 or 5 other bikes...then that is a huge accomplishment in my book. If one lucky bidder gets this entire bike at a great deal...then even better. But with the no reserve...that allows all avenues open and anyone could be the lucky last bidder.

Gary Mc....thanks again...and I honor your opinion. You said nothing out of line!

 

[slick]

Miller 32, may i ask how come you didn't try to sell it here complete first since you are a member? If it didn't sell then sure part it. I'm sure many of us would have bought it complete. As far as rust, I meant to the fact of trying to win every auction, then pay to have it fully restored would be pricey. Probably in the $3500-4k mark by the time it's all said and done but it does deserve a resto. The plating takes a lot of metal work, as far as rust on the painted parts, ya, no bigee once it's blasted and primed, reblocked and reprimed would be easy. I just hate seeing them get parted out. If you priced the bike at $1k i'm sure it would have sold complete. The seat alone will probably top the $200 mark. Good luck on your auction.

 

[miller32]

Trying to be fair...

Miller 32, may i ask how come you didn't try to sell it here complete first since you are a member? If it didn't sell then sure part it. I'm sure many of us would have bought it complete. As far as rust, I meant to the fact of trying to win every auction, then pay to have it fully restored would be pricey. Probably in the $3500-4k mark by the time it's all said and done but it does deserve a resto. The plating takes a lot of metal work, as far as rust on the painted parts, ya, no bigee once it's blasted and primed, reblocked and reprimed would be easy. I just hate seeing them get parted out. If you priced the bike at $1k i'm sure it would have sold complete. The seat alone will probably top the $200 mark. Good luck on your auction.

Appreciate your reply. To answer your question truthfully....I am a Caber too (true)...and we also have local people who know we collect..buy and sell and people who email our personal (L-n-W) website who are looking for items too. We have a facebook page and we try to spread the hobby through as many aspects as possible. We get lots of emails from our outside sites too....wanting bicycles and or parts. To be fair to everyone...we just assume that Ebay gives everyone a chance. To be even more fair...I try to run with no reserve on some items. Sure there might be a few items I run with a reserve...but most I let go for what the masses price it at.

In the future...I will try to remember to post items I am about to sell on Ebay on here first to let you know they are coming up. I didn't think running on Ebay (to give everyone a chance) would be such a deal...but again...I am just trying to be fair.

 

[creebobby]

I think we all see both sides.

Those of us that are more preservationists than restorationists would simply prefer to see nearly complete and original charming rusty antique bikes remain nearly complete and original charming rusty antique bikes. Because that's something that can't be replicated.

Hopefully there are fifteen guys out there with Sears Chiefs that are miraculously missing only one part (and each of them is also miraculously missing a different part), and that these parts don't go to boxed parts hordes or hopeful mismatched Sears Chief assemblages that will never become complete bikes.

Heck, now I wanna bid on a piece of this (now) famous bike. I'll put it on the wall and someday tell my grandkids about the great Sears Chief parts bonanza of 2012. Either that or double my money selling it to the poor fella who buys most of the other parts.

Perhaps when the auction is done we can compile a registry (with Miller32s help) of everyone who buys a part off this bike.
The new happy part owners can have a reunion every ten years and bolt their respective parts together for one glorious weekend of reunited Chiefdom.

 

[miller32]

Feathers a flying!!!

I think we all see both sides.

Those of us that are more preservationists than restorationists would simply prefer to see nearly complete and original charming rusty antique bikes remain nearly complete and original charming rusty antique bikes. Because that's something that can't be replicated.

Hopefully there are fifteen guys out there with Sears Chiefs that are miraculously missing only one part (and each of them is also miraculously missing a different part), and that these parts don't go to boxed parts hordes or hopeful mismatched Sears Chief assemblages that will never become complete bikes.

Heck, now I wanna bid on a piece of this (now) famous bike. I'll put it on the wall and someday tell my grandkids about the great Sears Chief parts bonanza of 2012. Either that or double my money selling it to the poor fella who buys most of the other parts.

Perhaps when the auction is done we can compile a registry (with Miller32s help) of everyone who buys a part off this bike.
The new happy part owners can have a reunion every ten years and bolt their respective parts together for one glorious weekend of reunited Chiefdom.

As I see...your feathers are really ruffled. Well...I think I have explained myself plenty. I love your sense of thinking that people are not "miraculously" missing parts to any Chiefs because that would be MIRACULOUS if they were! There are Chiefs out there...and believe it or not...."miraculously"...they are missing parts. Some Chiefs are missing more than one or two miraculous parts. You have a choice now....try and buy the whole bike...or get the parts you need. Either way...ALL have a chance. I hope you get an invite to that reunion....

 

[Rust_Trader]

Thanks miller32 for making this bike available in parts, can't wait to snag some of those parts.






I don't own a Chief, but we do live in a society in which "trade" is the new currency.

 

[scrubbinrims]

I think we all see both sides.

Those of us that are more preservationists than restorationists would simply prefer to see nearly complete and original charming rusty antique bikes remain nearly complete and original charming rusty antique bikes. Because that's something that can't be replicated.

Hopefully there are fifteen guys out there with Sears Chiefs that are miraculously missing only one part (and each of them is also miraculously missing a different part), and that these parts don't go to boxed parts hordes or hopeful mismatched Sears Chief assemblages that will never become complete bikes.

Heck, now I wanna bid on a piece of this (now) famous bike. I'll put it on the wall and someday tell my grandkids about the great Sears Chief parts bonanza of 2012. Either that or double my money selling it to the poor fella who buys most of the other parts.

Perhaps when the auction is done we can compile a registry (with Miller32s help) of everyone who buys a part off this bike.
The new happy part owners can have a reunion every ten years and bolt their respective parts together for one glorious weekend of reunited Chiefdom.

I hadn't noticed you until that post which I find clever and humorous on a sad topic.

Parting out a bicycle is more justifiable if the condition is poor or if it is an otherwise unsellable bicycle at a reasonable price (often a girls model).
The condition of this bicycle would be below my standards of keeping it together at all costs, however, I would have tried to sell it whole first, and then batch the parting out.
I think separating fenders and wheels is a little too far and probably hurts the value they could bring together and I wouldn't bid on a frame without its soul, ever.

That's all I have to say about it...it's done.
Chris

 

[slick]

I hadn't noticed you until that post which I find clever and humorous on a sad topic.

Parting out a bicycle is more justifiable if the condition is poor or if it is an otherwise unsellable bicycle at a reasonable price (often a girls model).
The condition of this bicycle would be below my standards of keeping it together at all costs, however, I would have tried to sell it whole first, and then batch the parting out.
I think separating fenders and wheels is a little too far and probably hurts the value they could bring together and I wouldn't bid on a frame without its soul, ever.

That's all I have to say about it...it's done.
Chris

Very nicely put Chris. I agree. Too many bikes are getting parted out. But that's ok because the owners of the OG paint ones will be millionaires in the future when someone is looking for an OG paint whatchamacallit. I am striving to buy and keep only OG paint bikes no matter how crusty they are. The search goes on.....