Cleveland 456 date

Submitted by chichm on Thu, 10/10/2024 - 19:45

New in the shop today is this Model 456 Cleveland. I'd like some help dating it as it has no letter in its 4 digit serial number  6278. The front fork looks like those in the1918 catalogue, so best guess is that it's somewhere before 1920, but the drop-side  mud guards are the later type, and it has a patent '37 hub laced into wood wheels. The one-piece crank has a different shape from others I've seen, but what do I know?
 

What does the knowledge base say about the manufacture date?

I'll tear this thing down, go through the bearings, true the wheels and replace the tires (which are melting), but the paint is in great shape, especially if this thing is more than 100 years old, so it will get polished and reassembled.
 

2 Comments

Submitted by DUOMATIC on Thu, 10/10/2024 - 22:21.

1918 and up

Submitted by T-Mar on Fri, 10/11/2024 - 11:16.

Based on the model number and serial number, in conjunction with estimated annual production for the Weston factory during the 1917-1920 era, this should be a 1917 model, which was also the first year for the Cleveland 456. 

A one piece crank is definitely incorrect for the 1917 version of this model.