Just One Important Issue

[Conan71]

I bought many of those paper baskets at OTASCO for $3.50 a pop. They fit well on the front of my chrome Huffy with the headlight, push button horn equipped tank and rear package carrier with red tail lights. The basket would hold about a hundred rubber band wrapped paper missiles (Tulsa Tribunes) tightly packed.

I was a lean, mean, paper delivery machine.

My brother and I threw the Trib.  I had a basket on the front and slung the canvas double side bag over the banana seat for saddle bags.  Great set-up.  You had to be careful about the bag not wearing on the tire or getting into the spokes, but once you got used to it, it was fairly simple.

I already found a new old stock Person's seat for it.  Still debating whether to leave it in all it's glory with the patina or re-paint.  I found a source for all the WF decals.  I've cleaned and re-packed the wheels and cranks and put white walls on it. 

[AquaMan]

My brother and I threw the Trib.  I had a basket on the front and slung the canvas double side bag over the banana seat for saddle bags.  Great set-up.  You had to be careful about the bag not wearing on the tire or getting into the spokes, but once you got used to it, it was fairly simple.

I already found a new old stock Person's seat for it.  Still debating whether to leave it in all it's glory with the patina or re-paint.  I found a source for all the WF decals.  I've cleaned and re-packed the wheels and cranks and put white walls on it. 

Nice looking bike. Did you say Western Flyer? FWIW, I would leave it in mostly current condition. I think the value remains higher as well.

I added some metal baskets to the sides of the back wheel to hold more papers, but eventually discarded them in favor of the cotton shoulder bags that cut off your circulation. I sold my Huffy to a church for their youth back in the 70's. I had stripped off most of the 60's glitz and put on "Angel Wing" handle bars and replaced the spring saddle seat with a roll & tuck banana seat. That bike was truly my first love.

[Conan71]

Having made a living restoring antique motorcycles, there's a break point between "original paint" and "needs a restoration".  Personally, I love the funky patina.  People know it's not a reproduction when they see it.  I'm thinking about riding the dual centuries at Tulsa Tough this year on my primary road bike, riding this in the townie ride on Sunday, then passing out drunk on crybaby hill afterwards

That said, the Western Flyer Sonic Flyers aren't particularly valuable.  They were built by Murray who also built bikes for JC Higgins, Sears, OTASCO (I think), and some other retailers.  There were thousands upon thousands built.  There's a few models of Western Flyer which bring big money, one is their chopper equivalent to the Schwinn Krate series, and the other, I think, was the X-53.

The Schwinn Phantom is probably the most desirable of all the "tank bikes" and it shows in the price.  $500 to $1500 appears to be the standard.

[heironymouspasparagus]

It doesn't have to be petroleum but what's wrong with increasing the supply of energy. 

Exactly!  That's precisely what solar, wind, and biofuels are all about.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Having made a living restoring antique motorcycles, there's a break point between "original paint" and "needs a restoration".  Personally, I love the funky patina.  People know it's not a reproduction when they see it.  I'm thinking about riding the dual centuries at Tulsa Tough this year on my primary road bike, riding this in the townie ride on Sunday, then passing out drunk on crybaby hill afterwards

That said, the Western Flyer Sonic Flyers aren't particularly valuable.  They were built by Murray who also built bikes for JC Higgins, Sears, OTASCO (I think), and some other retailers.  There were thousands upon thousands built.  There's a few models of Western Flyer which bring big money, one is their chopper equivalent to the Schwinn Krate series, and the other, I think, was the X-53.

The Schwinn Phantom is probably the most desirable of all the "tank bikes" and it shows in the price.  $500 to $1500 appears to be the standard.

Brother and I both had the J C Higgins version.  There were two headlight lamps in the fixture at the front.  Not sure what happened to the bikes - I think they got tossed when I started driving a car.  Wish I had it back.

Add;
Geez, now I REALLY wish I had it back!!!   $875 !!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1961-JC-Higgins-Sears-Flightliner-bicycle-bike-chrome-red-radio-2-spd-/290631331643?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43aafa2f3b

[Conan71]

Brother and I both had the J C Higgins version.  There were two headlight lamps in the fixture at the front.  Not sure what happened to the bikes - I think they got tossed when I started driving a car.  Wish I had it back.

Add;
Geez, now I REALLY wish I had it back!!!   $875 !!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1961-JC-Higgins-Sears-Flightliner-bicycle-bike-chrome-red-radio-2-spd-/290631331643?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43aafa2f3b

Sheesh, take a look at completed auctions, the Higgins models are bringing good money.

[Red Arrow]

I bought many of those paper baskets at OTASCO for $3.50 a pop. They fit well on the front of my chrome Huffy with the headlight, push button horn equipped tank and rear package carrier with red tail lights. The basket would hold about a hundred rubber band wrapped paper missiles (Tulsa Tribunes) tightly packed.

I was a lean, mean, paper delivery machine.

I helped 3 friends with their routes (Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, I think it's gone now).  The weekly routes were about 65 papers.  Tuesday was the big day and fitting 65 papers in the big basket was tight.  When the oldest of the 3 turned 16 and had access to the family station wagon, we were awesome.  One driver, one feeding papers to the tailgate, and two throwing papers standing on the tailgate.  We were done in no time.  We all knew each route by memory.  Good if one couldn't make it.

[Red Arrow]

My first bicycle was a 20" Higgins bought at Sears for $35.  I remember the price because I had to save up for half of it with my allowance.  It looked a lot like your picture except the tank filled the space between the upper bars and only had a horn, no lights.  Eventually the horn failed and I had to put a bell on the handlebars.  My brother got it as a hand-me-down when a cousin and an uncle both gave me their used "English" bikes.  3 Speed Sturmey-Archer.  The Higgins eventually got converted to a "Sting Ray" look alike.  Dad didn't like the style and only let us do it if we changed it to sell.  My brother and I had it for about a year and then dad got serious and made us sell it.