The Western Flyer bicycle was the hallmark of the Western Auto Supply Company, which was founded back in 1909. The company initially consisted of a few automotive parts stores. However, in 1921, it started producing bicycles, and around 1930 the Western Flyer was born. The brand was synonymous with high quality and decent prices, which made. 1958 Western Flyer X53 (Murray Ohio Mfg) The X53 was a model sold through Western Auto tire stores but the bike was built by Murray Ohio Mfg. The X53 was sold from 1953-1958 and was offered in a few different color combinations. The X53 featured a highly stylized chainguard, tank, and rack with a modified top on a Delta Rocket Ray headlight.
The History of Western Flyer Bicycles. Western Auto Supply Company, was founded by George Pepperdine in Kansas City in 1909, when he was only 23. Western Auto added bicycles under the brand name Western Flyer to its product line in the 1930s. Today vintage models in good condition warrant a second look. Western Flyer Bicycle Serial Number Database For Mac. According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 2 words with the pattern -ORBEA–. That is, eight letter words with 2nd letter O and 3rd letter R and 4th letter B and 5th letter E and 6th letter A. In alphabetical order, they are: corbeaus. Oklahoma City-based Western Flyer Express offers local, regional, dedicated, and OTR lanes to drivers and contractors. We have refrigerated, flatbed, dry van, frac sand, and end dump fleets with great equipment. WFX has a solid customer base and an abundance of freight. Our drivers and contractors will tell you what a great company we have!
There seems to be little rhyme or reason to a lot of the early serial numbers seen on Huffman bicycles. An amazing amount of variety exists between numbers even on the same models such as the ’37 Firestone Fleetwood Supreme. The below examples are what are generally found. Notice some of these numbering systems overlap years and may be specific to how the bike was branded for example the Firestone bikes.
Determining the exact year of a bike is usually done based on the frame design as well as other features on the bike.
Note: I have not found the serial number list for the Western Flyer Huffmans contained in the “ABC Book” to be accurate for the pre-1947 serial numbers.
1934-36 generally used five numbers.
1937-38 generally used five numbers with one number below.
Another way to date a lot of 1938-1944 bicycles is by looking at the back of the fork crown which will have either two or three numbers e.g. “8 11” (Nov 1938), “9 2” (Jan 39), etc… . I have seen the month and year reversed as well.
Western Flyer Bicycle Database
Many but not all 1937 Firestone Fleetwood Supremes have a serial that starts with “H” followed by five numbers Ex: H10376
1937-1941 a letter followed by four or five numbers with, or without, one number below the other numbers is used. This seems to be more common after 1939.
It appears some Western Flyer bikesmay have “W”, “HW”, or “HBW” in the serial from 1937-41
1939 Firestone bikes generally havefour numbers followed by “FAH” and may or may not have a number underneath Ex: 7820FAH
1940 Firestone bikes generally havefour numbers with “FBH” Ex: 3467FBHor FBH4910
A lot of 1940 bikes have a serial starting with “B” followed by four or five numbers. In the example below there is also a number (2) underneath.
1942 to 1944 generally used one letter followed by five or six numbers.
Western Flyer Bicycle Serial Number Database
1942 to 1944 Military Model G519
Military models are referred to as “G519 models and the frame can have either a straight or curved down tube. It appears most ’42 bikes have a serial number starting with “D” followed by five numbers starting with a “5” Ex: D52680. The 1943-44 bikes have serial numbers starting with an “H” followed by six numbers starting with a “1” Ex: H115639. Most, but not all, have another number (or numbers) as well as the year stamp below the serial number.
1945-1947 generally used a “H” followed by six numbers.
The font on the postwar bikes is slightly different than the earlier models (1942-1944) using same format.
Postwar serials starting sometime in 1947 begin with the last number of the year followed by “H” and usually six numbers Ex: 1947 (or 1957) = 7H052211.
Frames and other differences will differentiate the decades.
1949 and 1950 bikes will have a serial stamped on seat post binder clamp. This system ran up until about the mid 1960s. Starting July 1, 1954 the serial number was moved to the rear left dropout.