|
|
1941 Hawthorne Comet
This is the first deluxe bicycle I have ever owned. I saw this at a yard
sale one day, and I had to have it. I didn't have close to enough money, but my
mother gave me what I needed.
When I got it home, I gave it a quick cleaning, and opened up the tank. I took out some batteries that looked as old as the bike, and put in 4 new D-cell batteries. The headlight was ruined, so I put one on that I had laying around. I had to replace the original war surplus tubes because the valves were ripped off, and they were full of beetles. The wheels wouldn't turn, nor would the pedals or chain, so I sprayed them with WD40.
I was very impressed the first time I rode that bike. It rode so fast, and I felt
that I could knock down a telephone pole with it. I would ride it at least 20
miles a day.
The Hawthorne was originally blue with white trim and red pinstripes, but had become very rusty. I did a dumb thing and painted it red, which flaked off very quickly. Then I did a dumber thing and painted it yellow using thicker paint.
I painted
this picture for art class. I loved my bike!
After a year of riding, the New Departure coaster brake started slipping. The rear wheel wouldn't move when pedaling, and the brakes became uneffective. I wasn't able to fix the rear hub, so I sold my bike to Dave Stromberger, who had just started a website called Nostalgic.net.
Here is the
Hawthorne at Dave's place, next to a Colson Clipper of the same year.
I sure did miss
that bike, and for the next three years, I had no idea of its whereabouts. I
assumed that I would never see it again.