What model is this JC Higgins bike

[sweetsheila]

I was wondering what model this JC Higgins bike is? I'm thinking 1940's was the time era. And was that a marman motor kit added on? Any help with this I would greatly appreciate it! Sheila

 

[ocscully]

Sheila,

I think your guess that is probably a pre-war bike with the kit added later, is a good one. You might post your photos over on this forum http://www.thecabe.com to get accurate information on exactly what year and model it is.

ocscully

 

[sweetsheila]

Hey thanks for the web site ocscully! It was very helpful. I did find out its a late 1940's bike but with miss-matched parts, was right about the motor kit part though.
Thanks for replying!

 

[bricycle]

JCHiggins bikes were sold by Sears Roebuck and Co. after WW2. Whether that was 1945, 1946 or 1944? I'm not sure. I found out the badges will say if they were made in U.S.A., Germany or (not sure, Austria? France? England?) Can't remember the third. Try going on line to Sears Catalogue / History, there is a link there somewhere where someone can check their data base if you give them your bikes serial number. (may be under crank housing or rear wheel drop-out area). They helped me identify a 1955 basic German made JCH for me...sorry I couldn't find my link for you.
bri.

 

[bricycle]

This link may get you to where you can ask Sears archives if they could date a bicycle for you. shcarchives@searshc.com Good luck...

 

[Saabsonettguy]

That Jc Higgins is Murray built. The bicycle itself is pretty plane jane, but that motor kit makes it 100% cooler and much more valuable. I'd say just as a rough estimate that the bicycle is a late 40's early 50's model. Its hard to tell what model because of the missing or incorrect parts, but it doesn't have a springer so its possibly one of the base models.

 

[KilroyCD]

As Bricycle said, the JC Higgins brand was post-war. Sears bikes from the '20s through the war were sold under the Elgin brand. The bike is definitely Murray-built, and judging by the skip-tooth chainring I would say most likely built between 1946 and '50.

 

[sweetsheila]

Big Thanks

Thank you to everyone helping. The info was great. I'm gonna start planning my restoration now. The motor is top notch, the bike I might switch out.
Thanks again. -Sheila