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FIRST let me apologise to anyone who was watching and bidding on this bicycle previoulsy. Ebay yanked her because I had an ACTIVE link to The Wheelmen web page. I have DE activated the link.

This is one of the most popular bicycles of her era. The internal (hidden) front shock was the latest and greatest in bicycle technology. Couple with that the radical new 2 speed internal hub gearbox along with the half inch pitch chain and you will see why this was the bicycle everyone wanted, and not just the males but female riders too. Nothing was able to keep pace with Shelby in the 30s and 40s. Shelby was overtaking all the other manufactures with their revolutionary concepts. The internal shock was the big thing and remained that way into the 50s and the new chain would replace the old one inch pitch (skip tooth) and remains the standard to this day .

One of the reasons this bicycle is so rare now is the way everyone scavenged them for the internal two speed rear end and drive train. As early as the late 40s boys were striping their older sisters bicycles for the rear hub, shifter and front chain ring. The remainder ended up in the trash more often than not. Those bicycles that did not get trashed ended up with the brother swapping his single speed rear rim and skip tooth chain ring for his sisters two speed and drive train. Consequently these bicycles are almost impossible to find in original condition. I have to chuckle when I see someone with a one inch pitch chain and ring on this bicycle, because I know what some little brother did long ago.

In the 40s the vast majority of bicycles used a chain that was called a one inch pitch chain. These chains were for bicycles with chain rings that had one tooth every inch . One of the newest advancements in bicycle technology was the half inch pitch chain. Naturally this bicycle had one. In the years to come the one inch pitch ("skip tooth" as we call it now) would be phased out. But it took until the late 50s for the last holdouts to switch. Americans like to be comfortable with their technology and back then it took time to get people to accept newer better faster. Sears made JC Higgins bicycles; they were one of the last to change .

Shelby bicycles, being the forward thinkers of the bicycle world had switched their bicycles to the new chain, the internal 2 speed rear hub and the internal hidden front suspension. For a 40s bicycle this was one of the most innovative bicycles of the time. Truly a hi tech bicycle setting the benchmark for a new age of bicycles. The only way Shelby could add a little more bling to this bicycle was the brazed lugs... sweet. 1940s bicycle technophiles purchased a Shelby and road proud, until their little brothers stole their 2 speed rear hub and drive train .

This IS A SURVIVOR. Original everything. The only pieces that did not make it over 60 years are the handle bars, tires and headlight. I replaced the handlebars with New Old Stock (NOS) the rest can be replaced with NOS items if you desire. The handlebar grips are the originals I re-used. The remainder is pristine original, with a patina of time over the entire bicycle. T is a small amount of rust in some areas but not enough to warrant trashing such a perfectly faded original paint job. The fender braces still have most of their chrome. She was ridden maybe a couple of years and then put in the barn. The original family that owned the bicycle sold the farm inventory at estate sale. This is the first time I have seen one so original. Normally this degree of completeness is only seen in private collections and books. SO when I saw this come to auction I jumped.

The tombstone reflector set into the rear fender is still t These almost always disapear to accidents, little brothers and simple time. This one is still in perfect shape with only slight age checking to the back. The front is still clear and translucent .

The chain appears to be original. I would replace this one as soon as possible. Chains stretch and as old as...

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