Shelby Bike Serial Numbers
Shelby Bicycle Serial Numbers
How To Look Up Bike Serial Number
How To Look Up Bicycle Serial Numbers
Shelby Bicycle Serial Numbers
Shelby Bike Serial Numbers

The Shelby Cycle Co. Of Shelby, OH was formed in 1925 from the remnants of the Shelby Cycle Frame Builders. The Shelby Airflos (Speedlines) are considered some of the most outlandish designs of the late 1930s and are some of the most sought after balloon tire bikes among collectors.

Bicycle serial numbers don't work like automobile VINs. There is generally no way to get info about a bike from its serial number. The only exceptions are popular and collectable vintage bikes where someone has made a database of serial numbers. This post will contain links to serial number datatbases, pictures and anything else that will help to ID your old bike. This will be a work in progress so PM me any info you have that may help. Most links will be for outside sites. Find the serial number on the bike. Locations- under BB, dropouts, headtube, seatpost clamp. This serial number is important for two reasons: one, if you don’t know what type of bike you have, you’ll be able to find that out with a simple bicycle serial number chart. Two, in case your bicycle gets stolen, you’ll be able to track it down since anyone, including the authorities, can identify the bike by serial number.

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Welcome to Classic Bicycle Heaven! This website is dedicated to identification, cataloging and restoration advice on bicycle history, especially Classic American bicycles 1920 thru 1965. Be it Schwinn, Shelby, Columbia, Evans, Evinrude, Elgin, J.C. Higgins, Western Flyer, Hawthorne, Hiawatha, Roadmaster, Pierce, Iver Johnson, Indian, Rollfast, Firestone, B.F.Goodrich, Good Year, Bowden, Manton & Smith, Mead, Ranger, Ingo-Bike, Murray, Mercury, Huffman, Huffy, Dayton, Colson, Monark, Silver King, Rocket, Stelber, Ross, Harley Davidson, Whizzer, Dynacycle, Wasp, Pow-wow, Travis, Marman, Jack & Heintz, Sherrell, or what have you, (if you don't see the name of your bicycle here..just ask us) National Bicycle History Archive of America (NBHAA) can identify virtually any American-built bicycle or motorized bicycle from this period.

The Archive contains over 80,000 original catalogs, photos and advertisements ranging from the 1860s thru 1960s. Hundreds of books ranging from one of the first English language bicycle books in the 1860s to more modern works such as Pryor Dodge's THE BICYCLE are included. Countless head badges, games, clocks Neon signs, pins, original drawings, blueprints and other bicycle memorabilia are part of The Archive.

Also included are over 300 original old vintage bicycle movies (NOT videos- but REAL 16mm FILMS) dating back to the 1930s and mountains of related historical memorabilia. The Archive materials represent a lifetime of collecting painstakingly accumulated over a period of nearly fifty years. The contents of The Archive were not recently obtained. Aside from limited displays at major museums and industry events, these items have never been on full display to the public. But you will begin to see many of them by merely visiting this site.

We have accurately identified over one MILLION vintage bicycles and we are the largest source of information on American-made classic bicycles on earth! NBHAA can assist private collectors with information and advice on history and restorations. We are available with movies, videos, slide shows, speaking engagements, and have access to the curator's collection of over 1,000 bicycles. NBHAA is not affiliated nor connected in any way with a defunct museum. Nor are we part of a club or group. Although we do have specific fees for certain services such as detailed research and copies, we have never and do not ask for 'memberships' of any kind. Anyone who says so or thinks so is mistaken. Furthermore, we are not represented by nor connected with any other persons or organizations. Although we do not sell bicycles or parts, we can assist you in locating those who do.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us directly via E-mail or snail mail. Remember, ALL identification requests and inquiries must be accompanied by a photo (and self-addressed stamped envelope for snail mail). We regret that due to the volume of inquiries we receive, we cannot respond to snail mail as rapidly as e-mail (we have a substantial backlog of the latter). All photo submissions become property of NBHAA and we regret we can no longer return photos due to the volume of mail.

Thus, submitted for your approval are NBHAA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). We will be continually adding to this section over time, so stay tuned for more info and expansions. Check back often.

It is said that President Harry Truman was once trying to mount a horse when the horse caught one of its own hind legs in a stirrup. Supposedly, President Truman looked at the horse and said, 'Well? If YOU'RE gonna get on–I'll just stay off!' We think of this story when people write in asking for us to tell them what they have.. and then proceed to tell US what they figure they have via DIY (and they are usually WRONG) and how much it is REALLY worth! One fellow with a rusty carcass wrote in and asked for an identification and appraisal.. but then proceeded to quote a year for it that was 20 years off (insisting HE was right because he 'saw a 'pittchure' on the internet that looked 'just like it'). Then quoted a price of several thousand dollars–supposedly that a shop had begged him to take (why didn't he take it instead of bothering us with his absurd arguing?) for the incomplete rust bucket (and a common one at that)!

Another Einstein wrote in asking for info on his 'CWC Chicago Welding Bicycle' and–of course–no photos. Then got mad when we corrected him by stating the bicycle was probably made by CLEVELAND WELDING COMPANY, not 'Chicago Welding Company.' Why THAT ticked him off we have no idea (it resulted in a deranged potty-mouth email–which is always the sign of great intellect and true brilliance). Yeah. He went straight to the Feces File.

Our latest genius wrote and wanted to argue about Silver King hextube Serial and Model number.. figuring he knew more than we, via garbage he picked up either in a web forum, a DIY site or one of the awful mistake-laden 'books' lurking about. His statement? 'Well, everybody KNOWS that hextube years are the same as the model number!' Which is an idiot thing to say, because it is NOT true and it does not matter where you read it or heard it. NOT TRUE. He was also arguing that 1949 hextubes did not exist. Again.. straight to the Feces File. We are not here to argue with know-nothing-know-it-alls and this is not a blog or forum or a place for wild guessing.

Since starting the first newsletter for Classic Bicycle collectors back in the 1970s and right up to present times with NBHAA.com, we can assure you. Over 40 years, we have heard it all. And we get letters nearly every day. Many of them with just plain ridiculous stuff. From the folks who make up 'rare Schwinn prototypes' out of Columbia frames with Rollfast tanks, Wald parts, rain gutters, wood, screws and gorilla snot.. to the guy who claimed he 'helped Mr. J.C. Higgins clean out his J.C. Higgins bicycle plant'.. we SEEN it all..HAVE HEARD it all. SO when someone writes in swearing that their 1966 Ross middleweight is a RARE 1934 Elgin worth $10,000.. sorry, but we just don't have much patience for such silliness and we are not that gullible. This kind of absurd stuff plays well on DIY web sites and forums and homegrown newsletters and books made out of photocopied pages, but not here with us. Sorry.

Shelby Bike Serial Numbers

People.. if you think that ALL of the facts in this hobby are merely derived from opinion and consensus and info in 'forums' and DIY web sites, then all is lost! And if you approach us from the standpoint of 'don't bother me with the facts–I've already got my mind made up' then it is pointless to ask for information that you'll just reject anyway. This is NOT a DIY 'forum.' If you already know it all, then why bother? Think about this. If you are unwilling to be taught, it is pointless to ask the teacher to teach.

Of course, there is the old mechanic's joke that says it costs one price if the mechanic does it.. but the bill is MORE if you help! Think about that principle and apply it here.

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