Talk about being lucky

[Rivnut]

A while back I responded to a CL ad for a 24" girl's JC Higgins bike I thought my 7 year old granddaughter might like. When I got there, I discovered the the fork had been broken (cut) off at the top of the head tube. It had a neat tank and rear rack so for$10, I thought "what the heck." I posted for a fork in the Wanted sections here and on Rat Rod Bikes - nothing. Then I went to the El Torreon swap meet a couple of weeks ago and randomly picked a 24" fork from a box of forks. Now I'm into the bike for another $5.

Today I took the bike apart and started giving it an AO bath. While that was soaking, I started sanding the red barn paint off the fork. I'm going to let the pictures tell the rest of the story.

Here's what I brought home

Here's what it should look like

Here's the $5 fork that I picked up at the swap meet.

Here's what I found after I took some 400 grit wet sand paper to it.

Do the stars and the dart look familiar?
What are the chances, I would find THE exact fork randomly picking one from a box?
Had I of known that the same day I would have gone to the casino.

Ed

 

[Wanted33]

As the old saying goes, "I'd rather have luck than a license to steal." Very nice bike.

 

[vincev]

You should have bought a lottery ticket that day !

 

[bricycle]

I spy a cylinder head...whatcha working on?

 

[Rivnut]

1964 Buick Riviera. Heads are off of a 425 cubic inch "nailhead." 340 hp, 445 lb ft of torque.

 

[Goldslinger]

Rivnut. What year do you think this bike is? I have one very similar to it. Thanks Sam

 

[Rivnut]

I've dated it as a 1950 based on the stampings on the bottom bracket.

I looked at the Murray Serial Number Project (a different thread here on the forum) and got 1950 from the MOS-P. MOS is Murray of Ohio. The P is for 1950. Check the attached chart.
The MOD 502 identifies it as from Sears. All Murray built bikes for Sears, including JC Higgins, have this stamping.