Still Cruisin' -- 1954 Firestone Special Cruiser

[NBHAA]

So I recovered the saddle today, and the results are less than satisfactory. I wasn’t happy with the vinyl I bought, the padding I used wasn’t thick enough, and as is par for the course with me, I rushed the job. Now how do I get this crap off the pan so I can try again?

View attachment 1881174

The padding I used was an old flannel shirt that belonged to my late father. Sorry Dad, your shirt was too thin.

View attachment 1881175

View attachment 1881176

Hello,
You will probably want to know that your Firestone "Special Cruiser" is not at all a "1954"– especially as it appears here. And certainly not with the serial and model numbers shown.

Rather, your Firestone was actually made and sold in 1955. It came with painted white rims with coral pinstripes, no truss rods and no rear carrier. Those pieces would have been equipped on the 1955 Firestone "Deluxe Cruiser" model. The "Special Cruiser" for 1955 was an economy model. It is shown in the 1955 Firestone Spring & Summer store catalogue in color.

If it was claimed to be purchased during 1954, this still would have been as a 1955 model, just as with automobiles. But again, the serial number indicates a hard 1955.

Our records of these bicycles at National Bicycle History Archive of America came both from Firestone Tire & Rubber Company and from Monark-Silver King, Inc. We have been gathering this information and history since the 1950s.

As for your saddle, it was originally covered in tan Koroseal vinyl with a full, rather than partial pad. The covering was originally applied with measured heat to allow flexing and to take on the shape of the metal pan. Stove bolt anchor heads would not have been visible through the original covering.

Hope this helps.

Leon Dixon
National Bicycle History Archive of America

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

Some type of padding is need. The early saddles used horse hair. Felt padding was used much later on and in the 70's rebond carpet pad seemed to be popular. Rebond comes in different thicknesses and densities and you can find it in the dumpsters behind a carpet store.

I've got some craft foam left over from Halloween that should do the trick. It's very pliable and should be just the right thickness. Just hope I can remove all this crap without making a mess.

 

[GTs58]

I've got some craft foam left over from Halloween that should do the trick. It's very pliable and should be just the right thickness. Just hope I can remove all this crap without making a mess.

If it’s open cell cheap foam it wouldn’t last a week.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

If it’s open cell cheap foam it wouldn’t last a week.

No, it's terribly expensive closed cell foam.

 

[soddruntlestuntle]

So I still need to re-recover the seat and install the truss rods I bought, but it certainly looks better now, especially with the repop Columbia chrome rims in place of the crusty white ones that came with the bike.

 

[oldfart36]

Hello,
You will probably want to know that your Firestone "Special Cruiser" is not at all a "1954"– especially as it appears here. And certainly not with the serial and model numbers shown.

Rather, your Firestone was actually made and sold in 1955. It came with painted white rims with coral pinstripes, no truss rods and no rear carrier. Those pieces would have been equipped on the 1955 Firestone "Deluxe Cruiser" model. The "Special Cruiser" for 1955 was an economy model. It is shown in the 1955 Firestone Spring & Summer store catalogue in color.

If it was claimed to be purchased during 1954, this still would have been as a 1955 model, just as with automobiles. But again, the serial number indicates a hard 1955.

Our records of these bicycles at National Bicycle History Archive of America came both from Firestone Tire & Rubber Company and from Monark-Silver King, Inc. We have been gathering this information and history since the 1950s.

As for your saddle, it was originally covered in tan Koroseal vinyl with a full, rather than partial pad. The covering was originally applied with measured heat to allow flexing and to take on the shape of the metal pan. Stove bolt anchor heads would not have been visible through the original covering.

Hope this helps.

Leon Dixon
National Bicycle History Archive of America

View attachment 1882184

Yes, well said. Mine is a 55, didn't know if they offered this model in 54.

 

[Adamtinkerer]

Hello,
You will probably want to know that your Firestone "Special Cruiser" is not at all a "1954"– especially as it appears here. And certainly not with the serial and model numbers shown.

Rather, your Firestone was actually made and sold in 1955. It came with painted white rims with coral pinstripes, no truss rods and no rear carrier. Those pieces would have been equipped on the 1955 Firestone "Deluxe Cruiser" model. The "Special Cruiser" for 1955 was an economy model. It is shown in the 1955 Firestone Spring & Summer store catalogue in color.

If it was claimed to be purchased during 1954, this still would have been as a 1955 model, just as with automobiles. But again, the serial number indicates a hard 1955.

Our records of these bicycles at National Bicycle History Archive of America came both from Firestone Tire & Rubber Company and from Monark-Silver King, Inc. We have been gathering this information and history since the 1950s.

As for your saddle, it was originally covered in tan Koroseal vinyl with a full, rather than partial pad. The covering was originally applied with measured heat to allow flexing and to take on the shape of the metal pan. Stove bolt anchor heads would not have been visible through the original covering.

Hope this helps.

Leon Dixon
National Bicycle History Archive of America

View attachment 1882184

The common belief, which may go back to the Newsletter By John book, was that Monark stopped using the ID tags after 1954. Is there any truth in that?

 

[NBHAA]

The common belief, which may go back to the Newsletter By John book, was that Monark stopped using the ID tags after 1954. Is there any truth in that?

NO.