J.C. Higgins

Submitted by Oslerblue on Sat, 03/27/2021 - 11:23

Just picked up today. Very knowledgeable fellow (Blake Buston) on a Facebook Vintage CCM group has kindly informed me that it is a J.C. Higgins. Made by CCM for sale in Sears stores. I can faintly make out the letter H on the head badge that has been painted over. Serial number on rear dropout pretty sure is C165931 which Blake suggests places it at '63. Thinking I am going to need to source new forks so if anyone can suggest where I can find some please let me know. Also needing a chain guard?

 

 

7 Comments

Submitted by roadworthy on Sat, 03/27/2021 - 17:49.

1 9 6 7  CCM Catalina 

Submitted by T-Mar on Sat, 03/27/2021 - 18:37.

The head badge appears to state ZENITH, which was the house brand of the Marshall-Wells chain of hardware stores. A USA based company, they expanded into western Canada at the turn of the 20th century, eventually establishing a formal Canadian subsidiary, headquartered in Winnipeg, in 1957.

The frame certainly appears to CCM's cantilever style. The serial number's placement and orientation is that used by CCM during 1958-1968. The serial numbers for this period start with a letter. I believe the 1st character is actually an incomplete G, which would represent 1964 manufacture. The bicycle is based on CCM's Catalina model.  

Submitted by Brian R. on Sat, 03/27/2021 - 20:06.

Look again - unless the badge is mounted upside-down, H is the first letter not the last based on the curve of the tubes. I was wondering if it's JC Higgins, or Humphrey.

Oslerblue, try scrubbing the head badge with ultra fine grade 0000 steel wool and hot soapy water to remove the paint overspray. If that doesn't work, and if you're brave, you could try a very careful spray of oven cleaner with a brief soak, then with rubber gloves and the steel wool again. Wash off the oven cleaner thoroughly with water, without splashing the chemical in your eyes.

Submitted by Brian R. on Sat, 03/27/2021 - 20:16.

Also, if you look at it or photograph the badge under different light angles, maybe you will see the other letters.

Submitted by Oslerblue on Sun, 03/28/2021 - 09:09.

Thanks so much for the feedback. I will try to carefully clean up the head badge as Brian R. suggests and post new pics.

Submitted by Oslerblue on Mon, 03/29/2021 - 19:44.

So as Brian R. suggested I used some ultra fine grade 0000 steel wool with hot soapy water and this is the partial result. Not sure how aggressive to be with scrubbing? Thinking it might be nice left almost as I've got it if I decide to repaint the frame? Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks

 

Submitted by T-Mar on Tue, 03/30/2021 - 15:38.

Brian, you're correct. I turned my head the wrong way in an attempt to red the head badge.