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

[ChelseaMae]

Hey there friends,
So I’m very new to restoration & identifying vintage bicycles. From what research my husband & I have done, we believe we have a sort of Frankensteined prewar Shelby potentially. The hub is dated April of 1938 (H4 stamped), 36 spoked, slotted-sprocket & has a very clear seemingly hand-stamped ID# & is stamped from Eclipse in Elmira, NY along with Morrow (Bendix) stamped on the crank. The Troxel seat seems to be an original vintage from the 30s, from Elmyria OH. Wish-bone frame, drop outs in the rear, & likely red was its original color due to paint chips we’ve seen around the original piece parts. If any of our thoughts or observations sound correct or incorrect, please let me know since we are rookies hoping to learn!

Im ultimately seeking out more appropriate fenders (the ones I found it with are ill fitting) & a chain guard & chainring but first wanted any advice or knowledge on identifying it primarily & beginning with a good foundation to move forward with restoration. Thank y’all so much for your time & can’t wait to hear your thoughts! Feel free to request any additional information or photos & I’ll do my very best. Thanks so much in advance!

 

[tjkajecj]

I have had a number of these, looks like it may have been switch from a skiptooth 1" to 1/2" later in life.

Tim

 

[hoofhearted]

@ChelseaMae

Welcome to the CABE, Miss Chelsea.

Am pretty sure a few members will respond
to your entry soon. As beautiful as it is in SW
Ohio, today, many members riding and all ...
would bet it's a dandy of a day in your more
Southerly State of Kentucky, as well.

..... patric

 

[ChelseaMae]

Thanks a bunch Tim! So as I said, this is all a learning journey to me, what specifically about the bike indicates the switch? I do know what a skiptooth is, but couldn’t confidently identify an original versus one that’s been transitioned. Thanks again for your time!

 

[ChelseaMae]

Thank you Patric! The weather is lovely here today very excited about any info the veterans have to share here!

 

[DonChristie]

What Tim is referring to is the Chain. Originally, it was a skiptooth chain (1” pitch between the teeth on sprockets). Your was changed to a 1/2” pitch. The frame is a desirable one with the wishbone. Depends on what you want the bike to be, but getting it back to its original state will be spendy! As long as you ride it your good! Welcome!

 

[ChelseaMae]

Also if anyone has any tips on locating some fenders for this one, I’d sure appreciate any tips or leads! Thank you.

 

[rollfaster]

Looks like it might have been badged as a Hiawatha with that seat clamp style. Or possibly a later frame 38-40. Love those wishbone frames! @slick @keith kodish

 

[ChelseaMae]

@rollfaster thank you so much! This is super helpful to know! I’ll have to do some digging into Hiawatha some more! Yes the wishbone frame really is a neat look and i love that there’s a community of followers that love it as well!

 

[slick]

From my research, the fatter style seat post clamp denotes the frame as a 1940 frame. Same with the round top fork which was introduced in late 1939. The daisy chainring also was available in 1940/41 So the 1938 wheels are most likely correct if the hubs were laying around at the plant or the wheel set was sitting there and wasnt used already. The fenders would be the McCauley fender. They were most likely straight braced. Their is a possibility it had curved braced fenders depending on model, but I doubt it. Great bike btw!