Prewar Shelby? New to restorations & would love any tips or knowledge!

[BLWNMNY]

i know I'm a little bit late posting, but....... I also noticed your frame doesn't appear to have had a head badge. Possibly a big tank bike at some point, arrow frame maybe?

 

[Junktown]

My Western Flyer Shelby predates this a little judging by the forks, but has the same chainwheel. So yours may be
correct and not replaced.
Maybe an expert can weigh in: When did Shelby go to a 1/2 pitch chain? From what I have seen, it must have been 1938 or so

 

[Balloonoob]

That bike had all kinds of reflectors and lights in the first pic.
I think @BLWNMNY brought up a good point. Are there no badge holes? Are wishbone frames with no badge holes worth much more than a frame with them as they would have been decked out something like this?
It seems as though there were decked out Hiawatha Arrows and Shelby Airflo bikes like this from 1940?

Shelby airflow paint scheme | General Discussion About Old Bicycles

I keep second guessing my choices of what color to paint my Shelby. I seem to see quite a few photos of black and red. Which at first I thought was really cool, but the blue and yellow looks really good too. I want something that says "classic 1939" My question is: What were the colors that...

thecabe.com

 

[Superman1984]

@Balloonoob that thing sure did have accessories. I bet it feels naked stripped down of it's eyes, honker & mirror systems. Lol.

 

[Superman1984]

@ChelseaMae I would at least put it back together as a rider (after a thorough cleaning) & enjoy it some If you're going to restore it or while you hunt parts.

 

[PlasticNerd]

The hub date of 4 on a Morrow is the 4th quarter of the year they only used 1 2 3 4. You are correct on the year H 1938. They are a fairly easy rebuild, just need to get the first set up part right! Good luck with your project t, Gary

 

[JRE]

I agree with Superman1984.They are my favorite rider.

 

[Superman1984]

I agree with Superman1984.They are my favorite rider.

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1st time somebody said I was right in a while.lol. I was just saying if they're going to restore it & it takes time to gather the proper parts then might as well enjoy it now some as a rider. I regret not riding some that coulda been ridden as found before I took'em apart. I have misplaced parts due to tearing them apart thinking I'll do blah blah & then it leads to "while I'm at it" & Bingo was his name . By the time you find some parts you're like WTF is this & what did it go to or how exactly.

 

[JLF]

Great project! I have two (prewar Shelby’s) myself and would be happy to have more! Wonderful bikes to ride. Enjoy the process!

 

[PlasticNerd]

The hub date of 4 on a Morrow is the 4th quarter of the year they only used 1 2 3 4. You are correct on the year H 1948. They are a fairly easy rebuild, just need to get the first set up part right! Good luck with your project t, Gary

Whoops! 1938!!! Fat fingers on my phone lol