50 years, 2 wheels, 1 goal

[DADODIRT]

Cool. I wish I had a picture of the bike my dad and I refurbished when I was a kid. Early 80's - I used it daily to deliver the Reading Eagle on the 'route'.

[TheDudeAbides]

Ok, one last update and pic for today.
This is from the "trial fit" stage that we all go through prior to final assembly.

I've got the bottom bracket rebuilt and ready to go back in. Same with the headset. The rear coaster hub is also rebuilt now. The one problem I am encountering is that I went with a bigger, balloon style cruiser tire and I'm having some fit problems with fender clearance. Ugh. I made the classic mistake of not doing a trial fit after priming, but before paint. I really don't want to have to hammer and tweak those fenders now. But I may have to or else get some smaller tires. Anyway, here's about how she sits right now.

[Oldwin1]

Looks nice dude

[atokad]

Thankfully you didn't paint it blue, red or purple because that would've derailed this whole thread!

Nice job. Welcome to the second half of your century.

[TheDudeAbides]

Originally Posted by atokad

Thankfully you didn't paint it blue, red or purple because that would've derailed this whole thread!

Nice job. Welcome to the second half of your century.

Funny you should say that because the only Hawthornes I've been able to find online are blue or a pale yellow. I couldn't stomach blue, so I'm glad the young lady went with yellow

Here's one model I found online.


Different than mine in many ways, but a '50s Hawthorne just the same.

[bobfab]

Cool project! awaiting the final results!

[MrBob]

Originally Posted by TheDudeAbides

Some of the Hawthornes also came in green, kind of a cross between a Firebird green and a BR green. I remember one of them pretty clearly because in my neighborhood we were too poor for each of us to have a bike so we had sort of a neighborhood bike, one being the Hawthorne.
Sold through Monkey Wards IIRC. There is a web page somewhere on the Hawthorne and an effort to build a data base of serial numbers for dating.

[TheDudeAbides]

Originally Posted by MrBob

Some of the Hawthornes also came in green, kind of a cross between a Firebird green and a BR green. I remember one of them pretty clearly because in my neighborhood we were too poor for each of us to have a bike so we had sort of a neighborhood bike, one being the Hawthorne.
Sold through Monkey Wards IIRC. There is a web page somewhere on the Hawthorne and an effort to build a data base of serial numbers for dating.

Yep. You find the right Hawthorne with the right options and they command a pretty penny. Here's one of the Holy Grail 3-speeders. A mere $ 2 grand

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI...m=350546317377

[ROAD DAMAGE]

Ben,

That looks pretty good. You mentioned a 'color sanding". Is that just a final polish or rub to buff out the finish coat of paint?

An orange "SAFETY THIRD" sticker sure would look good on that chain guard!

[TheDudeAbides]

Originally Posted by ROAD DAMAGE

Ben,

That looks pretty good. You mentioned a 'color sanding". Is that just a final polish or rub to buff out the finish coat of paint?

An orange "SAFETY THIRD" sticker sure would look good on that chain guard!

No, I wet sand using 1000 grit paper. It is slightly more coarse than buffing with a rubbing compound. The color sanding process probably doesnt change the color of the bike as much as it changes the feel. After painting and drying, the surface feels pretty smooth, but after I color sand, it feels amazingly smooth. Then after all that, I still do a final polish/buff with some fine grit rubbing compound. On this particular bike though it's more of a formality since we intentionally went with a low-gloss paint. We were after a bit of a vintage look. Not a lot of gloss on this one.

[MrBob]

With just a little more effort, look what you could do. And think of how grateful her mother would be if you put her on a motorized bicycle.

[MountainsandRivers]

nice project! it seems you do have an affinity for the classics..i couldn't help but notice the 161 Burton Air from 1990/91 in one of the pics..loved that board, back then!

[CoCamper]

Originally Posted by TheDudeAbides

You caught me dawg. You've probably seen some of my other works, yo.

Kost, correct? Sorry. There is a writer in my family; I love the art, but deciphering is my weak point. Am I correct in assuming you are using something like Montana or Ironlak?

Very clean, BTW.

[RalphyDo]

Hey Dude, what seat is it that you are using? Does it come without flowers?


And grips?

[Deano955]

Originally Posted by TheDudeAbides

Ok, one last update and pic for today.
This is from the "trial fit" stage that we all go through prior to final assembly.

I've got the bottom bracket rebuilt and ready to go back in. Same with the headset. The rear coaster hub is also rebuilt now. The one problem I am encountering is that I went with a bigger, balloon style cruiser tire and I'm having some fit problems with fender clearance. Ugh. I made the classic mistake of not doing a trial fit after priming, but before paint. I really don't want to have to hammer and tweak those fenders now. But I may have to or else get some smaller tires. Anyway, here's about how she sits right now.

Looks like fun project Dude. What's the scoop on the new saddle? Looks bitchin.