Peter T’s 1964ish J.C. Higgins 10-Speed

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Sorry for no posts last week. We’re back up and running this week and hoping to knockout 5 for 5 this week. This is Peter T’s early 60s Sears J.C. Higgins 10-Speed.

I have had this  J. C. Higgins bike since 1968.  I believe that it was already two or three years old as bought it used from a highs school friend.   I am in Ireland semi-retired and not so interested in selling it.  I am happy to find your high level of interest in these vintage bikes. From my side I believe that want to hold on to it but to do that  I has to work for me. Thus  I need to change the size of the inner chain ring, to meet the hilly road terrain over here.   Not sure if the crank set and chain rings are Campagnolo as there are no markings but the de-railers are. Cranks might be Austrian. Very high level of chrome on both forks and rings.   Here are some photos.  Any help as to where to go to reduce the inner ring from 46 to around 40 or lower.

Thanks, Peter T.

Thanks Peter

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  3. Carl M’s Columbia 10-Speed
  4. Sean J.’s 1970’s Trident 10-Speed
  5. Julie S.’s 1976 Matsuri
  • Steve

    Very pretty bike, As for the crank, if there’s one thing you can count on with Campy parts is that they’ll be well marked so I doubt that it’s Campy.

    Try here for help with the crank bits. http://www.bikeforums.net/forumdisplay.php/181-Classic-amp-Vintage

    • older1

      As I recall many (all?) of Sears “lightweight” bikes were Austrian at least as far back as the 60’s through possibly most of the 70’s (notice how, despite the lack of a political science degree, I deftly avoid any authoritative, verifiable declarations that would immediately reveal any humiliating ignorance).

      By the way, is it just me, or does anyone else make a cognitive connection to the J.C. Higgins firearms Sears marketed (which would explain the change made to market “Free Spirit” bikes)? I suppose I wouldn’t be surprised if Sears firearms were also of Austrian origin!

      • laverack

        From the Sears arcive…..

        J.C. Higgins: 1908-1964

        Many people ask if there was a real “J.C. Higgins” who worked for Sears. There certainly was. John Higgins began working for Sears in 1898 as the manager of the headquarters’ office bookkeepers and retired as company comptroller in 1930.
        “John Higgins” the employee became “J.C. Higgins” the brand name during a discussion in 1908 among Sears’ executives of possible names for a new line of sporting goods. At this point, the story gets a bit murky, but Higgins’ name was suggested and John Higgins consented to Sears use his name. Since he did not have a middle initial, Sears added the “C.”

        In 1908, the Western Sporting Goods Company in Chicago began putting J.C. Higgins on baseballs and baseball gloves sold in Sears catalogs. By 1910, the J.C. Higgins trademark was extended to cover footballs and basketballs. Later, the popularity of the Higgins brand—combined with the wider participation of American youth in sports—led Sears to place tennis equipment, soccer balls, volleyballs, boxing equipment and baseball uniforms in the J.C. Higgins line.

        By the 1940s, J.C. Higgins represented all Sears fishing, boating and camping equipment. After the Second World War, Sears consolidated all sporting goods under the J.C. Higgins brand name and added it to a line of luggage.

        The J.C. Higgins brand disappeared shortly after Sears introduced the Ted Williams brand of sporting and recreation goods in 1961.
        Badminton anyone? Ice fishing?

  • David I

    You didn’t by chance buy this bike somewhere around Covina California did you? I had mine stolen about 1968 and have been looking for it or one like it ever since. This is the first one I have seen.

  • docsprocket

    peter i hope your still around & get this message
    i thought i had the only one like this
    but after seeing yours i now know that mine came the same way
    my higgins is identical to yours except a lot more rust

    • Rob Powers

      Still got it? Still want to change the crank? It can be done.