What was my first bike?

[guzziworksman]

I'm trying to figure out what my first bike was. Maybe a cabe expert can help. All I remember.
1949...0r 1950.
Montgomery Wards.
Had a Monarch badge.
Boys, 24".
Red.
No accessories, carrier, or truss bars. - as basic as you could get.
I did a search on the internet - it didn't pop up.
Can anyone tell me? Have a pic? Have one for sale?
Many thanks in advance.

 

[guzziworksman]

Nobody...???

 

[bloo]

This is going to be tough. Wards generally badged their bikes Hawthorne, and I have not heard of Monarch. Monark (not Monarch) was a manufacturer. Maybe they made some bikes for Wards? There was a post of a Firestone bike recently here where Monark put their own decal on the seat tube. Maybe they did that on a Hawthorne? Was the name on the badge or the seat tube? If it could have been Monark, maybe start looking at Monark 24s? I'm reaching here. I hope you get better answers than this.

 

[bloo]

Did it look like this?

Monark Research | Classic Balloon Tire Bicycles 1933-1965

I just picked up this Monark today and I was hoping you guys could give me more information about it. I know the tires are not original (made in Japan) but not much else. The tires are 24", it has a New Departure Model D coaster brake. The badge reads Rocket mfd by: Monark Silver King Inc...

thecabe.com

 

[guzziworksman]

I clearly remember it saying "Monarch" on the head tube. And it looked like an everyday, nondescript balloon tire bike. Absoutelty nothing distinct about it. Except it was mine. And if I could find another, sentimentalist that I am, I'd probably go stupid overboard in trying to make it look like the day I got it. Just went through the link supplied above...that "Monark" 24" could've been IT!

 

[bloo]

Got any pictures? Even crappy ones?

People around here can tell a lot just from a chainring, forks, etc. Wards hired others to make their bikes, as did many other department stores and retailers. There were only a few actual sources of bikes. It might turn up with a different badge.

 

[guzziworksman]

Nope. Not a picture to be had. Only the one in mind...and that's a fuzzball. I might have to jump on the 24" Monark as THE one.

 

[bloo]

Looks like Westfield (best known for Columbia bikes) made a Monarch, but I have no idea when. Did the badge look like this?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-...0001&campid=5335809022&icep_item=303454400956

I also saw this Canadian one, though I think it is less likely. Were you in USA at the time?

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-...0001&campid=5335809022&icep_item=293221781933


Looks like Westfield was using that first badge in the 30s, no telling when they stopped.

Prewar 1937 Westfield Columbia | Archive (sold or withdrawn)

Up for sale is a prewar 1937 Westfield men’s Monarch badged bicycle. This is a nice original paint bike. It’s missing the headlight. Still has the original cloth wires under the fender and into tank. The original Persons leather seat is clean. Equipped with a 1945 Akron Oh bicycle license plate...

thecabe.com

.

 

[bloo]

More here, and another style of Westfield Monarch badge (see page 2).

I need help with Monark | Bicycle Restoration Tips

I bought yesterday also a Monark (number F1347) cause I think its a beauty. Now I want to restaurate it or just repair/clean and paint it in a modern way. Maybe you can tell me when it was made and all other Information. Ask me for more Information .Please tell me that they are always without...

thecabe.com

.

 

[GTs58]

Only 24" I've come across. Probably late 50's.

Hawthorne 24 project | Sell - Trade: Complete Bicycles

200 shipped

thecabe.com