Murray Bicycle Serial Numbers

M03 is a 1983 bike. All the MO3 bikes I have seen also have a J serial number too.

1. Your serial number description STATES that this is a 'Murray of Ohio' manufactured bike. Serial number on bottom bracket means before 1965. The factory was removed from Ohio and located in Tenn. From ~1952 on.
2. Vintage Murray Bicycles are highly collectible bicycles, produced from the 1930s to the end of the 1970s by the Murray Ohio Manufacturing Company. History of company. Founded in 1919 in Cleveland, Ohio, the company initially made gas tanks, fenders and other automobile parts.

This is my mother in law's bicycle from when she was a child. While cleaning out a lean-to on the back forty I found this bike inside. I was hoping to give her a bike that is identical to hers that is restored for a birthday or Christmas.

With that I need to learn more about this specific bike.

My Mother-In-Law was born in 1952 in Eastern, NC. Given that I would assume that the bicycle purchased at a local hardware store, from the sears catalog, or was handed down from a sibling. Her three older sisters were born between 1932-1942 - thus if this was a bike of theirs it would probably be from 1937-1948.. but I find this scenario less likely as they are half siblings.

All of that together, I would have to assume that the bike was built in the 1955-1960 time frame.

Thank you for taking time to look through these photos and any guidance is appreciated.

5 Answers

Your bike is a JC Higgins sold at Sears stores. Not exactly sure of the year but I think most Komet hubs were used in the late 50's into the 60's. Just Google JC Higgins bicycle and I'm sure you'll find a picture of one just like yours. Good luck and don't give up on it. When she sees it looking like it did when she was a kid, it will bring back many childhood memories. That is priceless.

Your serial number description STATES that this is a 'Murray of Ohio' manufactured bike. Serial number on bottom bracket means before 1965.. the factory was removed from Ohio and located in Tenn. from ~1952 on. The 502 means Sears.. check out late 1950s to 1960s catalogs for the 5 digit model number that's between MOD and the lower larger serial number.

The man above who ID'd your bike as a JC HIGGINS sold by Sears was telling you correct.. Murray was ONE of the manufacturers of Sears JC Higgins badged bikes.. the blue example with basket is right on.

A Schwinn? NO WAY.. frame joints [where rear stays meat seat post under seat and top down bar from head-tube meats seat post above bottom bracket.. see the 'collets'?] and even tubing size are not Schwinn work or design [Where two 'down-bars' are joined by small welded tube (and so is Schwinn you found) Your 'welded tube is longer.. bars are further apart.. than the Schwinn]. I've a zillion Schwinn and a few Murray bikes. One Murray built bike called a Marfield [made for Marshall Field's department store].

The rear of your frame.. behind the drop-out.. where one is split.. the Murray frame extends about two inches to a point, beyond the drop-out slot. NO ONE else's does.. look @ the Schwinn again and that distinction will come alive for you.

Vintage Murray Bicycle Serial Numbers

Thank you for all of your help and encouragement. When I arrived home from work I flipped the bike over, got some of the serial numbers. From what I can tell the bike seems to be a 1956/1957 Schwinn Spitfire Ladies - Model F71c.

Below is a 1956 Schwinn Spitfire - Model F71c.

I have come to this conclusion on two parts..

1 - the Serial Number The M0D502 serial renders this on the Schwinn Cruisers Website.Built: 08/13 to 08/23 of 1954 or.. Built: 09/06 to 09/07 of 1956.

2 - The only example I can find of a Top Tube connected to the down tube with a Welded tube (I am unsure of the term used to identify this) was on a '57 Spitfire. (See below)

My mother in law was given the bike at 6 or 7 years of age.. so I would assume that the bike was built in the Fall of 56, sent to a local hardware/farm storm where it sat for a year in inventory and picked up that next fall/winter.

Would an expert agree on the likelihood of this bike being a 1956/57 Schwinn Spitfire?

Avocent kvm viewer. Thanks again for all of your help.

The Serial reads M0D502 (small top left)The Serial reads 46772 (medium right)The large Serial reads 13 5 124

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Bolted kickstand

Bicycle Serial Number Lookup

Does anyone know about this Komet Super denotation?

Thanks again for all of your assistance

I would not give up on that bike.

Orcad 9.1 free download. Stuff that is definitely bad you can most likely replace: wheels, fork, headset, handle bars, crank, seat post and seat.

Stuff that would be hard to find is OK. Fenders and chain guard are fine.

To me it is worth seeing how bad that frame is. At the crank it looks pretty good. Pull the rear wheel and check the dropout - if bad give up. Pull the seat and fork and see if it is rusted from the inside. If you have rust from the inside then give up. If inside looks OK then hit the worst rust with 600 sand paper. If you can sand to bare metal by hand in a few minutes then you only have surface rust. Yes you may have more than just surface rust here but it would only take an hour to find out.If you could restore THAT bike that would be cool.

Based on a comment to your own answer you trying a restore. When (if) it comes paint time consider a car paint shop where they have a real paint booth and professional paint. They will tell you if you got all the rust. If you leave any rust it will eventually bubble through the paint. It is hard to paint like pro (with a booth). Be flexible on the color and live with a color that is going on a car. A custom color is expensive as they have to buy the paint and mix it.

The frames are not the same at all, so it is not the same as the blue Schwinn bike. The main frame tubes that run from the handle bar column are wider at the top and are narrow down by the sprocket area. The blue bike frame is just the opposite, the frame is narrow at the top and become wider towards the sprocket area.

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