The F-Series Eliminator is introduced. The catalog states that the frame was made using Hydrogen Brazed Constuction.

The seat is a new "bucket" style unlike other makers of the period. The saddle on the F-3 and the F-5 are shown to be identicle, with tufted ridges and a colored band between each tuft. The F-1 however, is shown with two different saddles. One is shown with a tufted top, smooth tall sides with a different colored ridge at the bottom lined with "tacks" down the length. The other shown is a much thinner seat with tufts running down to a ridge at the bottom of the same color.

The F-3's front sprocket was a five pointed star design with three consentric rings radiating out from the center and should be marked 467, it's rear sprocket marked 287, and rear hub marked 333. The F-5's front sprocket was a 487 five star design, and the rear sprocket where 14 to 287. The F-1 seemed to have the exact same front sprocket as the F-3 but this judgment I have to make due to appearance as I cannot read the fine print of the catalog copy I have.

The rear wheel is a 20" 2.125 equipped with a slick, it's front a 20" 1.75 standard traction tire. It used 28 spokes on both front and rear. The F-1 is shown with whitewall tires in one picture and in another it appears to have a blackwall tractor-grip tire on the rear. "Redline" tires where stock with F-3 and F-5 models.

All three models where equipped with pedals that had a more rounded shape than would be seen later. These pedals where black rubber with rally stripes on them with what could be a possible variation in that the F-1 appears to have white colored pedals in one picture. (The Murray corporation traditionally used white pedal blocks on girl's bikes although exceptions do appear occaisionally.)

The F-5 shifter was a console mounted model that straddled both top bars and had a distinct sideways barrel shape to it with a "shortie" style lever mounted on top with a roundish knob. The F-3 used a "coin" type shifter similar to the Schwinn model bikes, mounted on the right side of one bar, and used a slightly longer lever topped with a "T" grip.

The catalog lists the models with the following weights: F-1 lbs. unknown, F-3 49lbs, F-5 47lbs.

The F-5 appears in the catalog to have a spear shaped reflector pointing downward on the front fork.

All three models have the Murray Eliminator Headbadge and a banded sticker under the seat post just under the seat clamp. It is colored in the following order from top to bottom, red, silver, yellow, silver, blue. As well, on all there is another sticker to be found on the front bottom frame near the headstock. This one larger, colored from front to rear, silver, red, silver, yellow, silver, blue, and silver. Once again, the F-1 is also shown in one picture having a possible variation. The forward sticker is absent so perhaps it was released both ways.

The F-3 and F-5 model's sissy bars where mounted with clamps that stuck rearward from the frame but the F-1 appears to be different in that it had a flattened part at the end of the bar that screwed or bolted to the frame without the clamp. All three models where equipped with a 3" round reflector just under the rear of the saddle.

On the cover of the catalog it shows a F-1 being ridden by a girl and sporting a flowery basket. The bike shown on the cover is a greenish color while inside it shows a turquoise bike. It was equipped with 20" 1.75 blackwalls and a front hand brake. It seems that until later years the same frame was used for boy's and girl's bikes.

1968 Parts List:

These parts are installed on the blue '68 X 17 pictured below.

• Reflector on top of tall sissy bar is 3" long and made by Troxel in Moscow, Tennessee, USA (See the 1969 entry below about these.) The sissybar is an aftermarket product.
• Pedals said CECOR patent pending
• Coaster brake hub Bendix, (one red line) rear sprocket "Bendix 18"
• Brake arm says "Bendix USA" "RB2 Patent Pending" "H 8" on back
• Rims stamped "M.O. MFG. Co."
• Front axle "Mark 8C or 80" (not sure which) "Made in USA #1310"
• Rear tire "Paragon" slick (Red Line)
• Front tire "Carlisle Zephyr Flyte" Nylon 20x1.75 "Made in USA" Inflate to 40lbs C5" (period but nonoriginal equipment)
• Brake caliper, "Excel RACEUR" on front. "Made in Western Germany" on rear
• No name on brake lever
• Seat is tufted, silver sparkle, silver banding with smooth sides & studs. "Troxel 0800" "Made in Moscow Tenn."
• Black caps on rear axle bolt
• Head badge says Murray Eliminator w/M in middle and a circle around it.
• Decal on seat post: silver/white/silver/green/silver/blue/silver/green/silver/white/silver/ with seven small stars on front.
• Decal on bottom bar: silver/white/green/silver/teal/silver/blue/silver/violet/silver/white/silver

1968 X 17 Eliminator

1968 Catalog (Cover)

1968 Catalog, 2, 3

1967 Murray Trade Ad
( This picture contains elements of the two following examples. I believe it to be the original picture and the following two examples where cut apart for seperate usage.)

Playthings Toy Trade Magazine Oct. 1967
(Take note, a boy's model is show being held by a girl. This I think shows that they where at first marketed as unisex. It also is shown with the "spider-web" front sprocket, white handlebar grips, & a springer seat. (See my remarks on these in the 1969 "Streeter" section.) It also is shown with whitewall tires and the "shortie" barrel shifter, yet has no "pie-plate" behind the rear cluster.

The date on the catalog (& the "Boy's Life" ad below) demonstrates that bicycles where produced and sold much like new cars are. In this case, the '68 models where being made, advertised, and released near the end of '67, obviously to have them in stores by Christmas of that year.)

November 1967 Boy's Life Ad
(This ad shows several interesting features. I do not know for certain if any bikes where released that looked like this or if it was just a "concept" picture made preproduction. These unusual features are white grips, black block pedals, a 20" whitewall, "tractor-grip" tire on the rear, and a 20" whitewall, conventional tire on the front. It's shown as a 5-speed with the "shortie" barrel shifter and the "spider-web" front sprocket. It's pie-plate appears to be solid and not slotted like all the other ones I've ever seen. It's handlebar stem is the smooth type on top and the headbadge is the older, pre-'68 Murray type. (See the entry below for a possible example.)

Another interesting feature of the threeitems above is the unique script that the word "Eliminator" is written in. On the "Playthings" cover it it is under the word "Murray" & and on the "Boy's Life" & "Trade Ad" entry it is written on the chainguard of the bike. I know of no bike ever produced with this script but I really wish they had been. In my opinion it is a rather cool item that would have enhanced the looks of the bike even more.)

Custom "Streeter" 2, 3, 4
(Aftermarket sissybar, rear tire, & twin headlights. These are two seperate units & where sold by Murray but are not original equipment for this bike.

The headbadge is rather odd. It appears to have a pre-1968 Murray badge like the one shown in the November '67 Boy's Life ad above, but I will admit that this is a bit of conjecture as it's very badly faded. I suspect that it is someone's "project" bike. The paint, parts, and chainguard transfer look almost brand new while the headbadge is faded and nondescript. Also, the seat, while appropriate to other Eliminators of the time period, is not a "springer" seat. As the "Streeter" was not released until 1968 I'd definatly say this bicycle is a "Franken-bike. It is my opinion that this bike could possibly be an early '68 Eliminator produced in late '67, but more recently "hot-rodded." to look like a "Streeter." More information is needed to determine positively.)

F-1 Eliminator
(The pedals appear to be aftermarket as do the grips.)

The Eliminator is now titled along with the term Mark 1. This would continue throughout the rest of the production run (minus the year 1971) and seems to denote the F-Series bike.

From the pictures I have gathered, the F-5 was available with a high-rise sissy bar topped with a back rest. A alternate shifter type appears, this one a rectangular console style that would continued to be used throughout the rest of it's production. Whether or not it was available along with the '68 style barrel shifter that year as well I do not know but I suspect it was.

The front sprocket is shown in two seperate ads as being different. In one, it is the same as the '68 & other years, a five spoke design. In another, it is the odd "spiderweb" style shown in the November '67 Boy's Life ad & on the cover of the Oct. '67 Playthings Toy Trade Magazine, (Please refer to 1969 Ad 2, below.) It still retains it's round rear reflector from the year before as well as the spearhead reflector on the front fork.

There is an example of an F-1 below that the reflector on the tall sissybars did indeed change in this year, or both where used on different models. On the "Whirl-O-Wheel" it is a rather nondescript design, yet on the F-1 & "Streeters" shown below it is the "T" stamped "Troxel" model.

1969 Ad 1

1969 Ad 2

1969 Brochure

1969 Catalog Showing Whirl-O-Wheel & Qualifier

69 F1 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
(Bike appears to be all original except the handlegrips. They appear to be replacement "Hunt Wilde" type. However, Murray did use these grips on other bikes of the same period so who knows really?)

Sand Scratcher X 17

'69 Qualifier
(This is a really odd but cool bike. Bike has a 20" rear wheel, 16" front, & ram-horn (pretzel) handlebars like the Streeter. Appears to be basically the same bike as the Streeter shown below with just a different name on the chainguard.)

1969 "Whirl-O-Wheel"

There was also a model called the Whirl-O-Wheel produced. It was sold only for one year, (1969) and was then discontinued.

The Whirl-O-Wheel featured a steering wheel instead of a set of handlebars. The steering wheel was listed as being "Charcoal glitter with extra long chrome stem." It had knobby "red band" tires, & black pedals with rally stripe. It had a black "bucket" seat inlayed with silver mylar. It's tall sissybar was labeled as being a "36" chrome T bar with 3" reflector." (This reflector was used as well on some '68 models.) From the look of the catalog picture this sissybar used a mounting adapter unique to this bike. It was produced only in the single-speed, F-1 configuration and was painted yellow. (More info is needed about this model.)

1969 Catalog for Whirl-O-Wheel

Whirl-O-Wheel 1, 2
(This bike is not original in that it has been converted to a 3-speed, has a non-Murray tall sissybar, and the pedals are from a Murray bike of later manufacture.)

1969 "Streeter"

The Streeter was a model produced with the Ram-Horn style handlebars (they are called "Pretzel Bars"in the catalog) and a choice of either three or five speeds. They were released with 24" springer forks (they are called a "Torsion Spring Assembly" in the catalog) a 16" front wheel, & both styles of shifters. The rear tire is a 20" X 2.125" "Red Band" slick and the front is a 16" X 1.75 conventional tread blackwall. It's tall sissybar was labeled as being a "36" chrome spring suspension T bar with 3" reflector." There were at least two different styles of tall sissybar used and some appear to have had the chrome reflector attached high-up on the bar like the Whirl-O-Wheel used. This reflector differs from ealier years (and the Whirl-O-Wheel) in that it is stamped with a large "T" that stood for "Troxel." (It was used on the F-1 as well. These reflectors where also sold as an aftermarket part and thus I have seen them on many other bikes equipped with tall sissybars.)

The seat is listed as a "all new bucket banana seat with springs." This spring assembly appears to be the standard bottom unit used on other Murray-made bikes such as lightweights. These seats were known as "Messinger" seats. (Conversion of an old banana seat into this style of springer system is rather simple to do. To detect a seat that this has been done to, look at the bottom of the seatpan to see if there are two slotted holes from where the original post mount was removed.)

I don't know too much else about these models. Other years where released with "Ram-Horn" handlebars but are not "Streeters." It was sold only for one year, (1969) and was then discontinued.

1969 Ad for F1 Eliminator & F5 "Streeter"

Streeter
(Missing chainguard, & has aftermarket grips)

Red Streeter
(Take note of the fork dart. This is an unusual style I've not seen on other Eliminators. Also, the shifter is not a Murray made model. It is obviously missing the lower half and appears to be either a Raleigh or Huffy model.)

Rusty Streeter

Sometime during 1970 an important change happened to the Eliminator's frame design. If you look closely at the '68 to mid-'70 models, the frame ran straight back from the front sprocket housing (the bottom bracket,) made a upward 90° curve to the rear frame uprights, then curved forward at about 40° or so to the front headstock. The rear wheel and sissy bar mounted to a dropout brazed to this loop. On the '70½ and later models this loop isn't there! Instead, the bar runs back to the rear dropout and stops about 2½" from the rear frame uprights. The bar is pressed around a tab on the dropout and brazed together. The upper frame rail is joined in the same way. The reason that I believe this was done is money. I can imagine that by using shorter pieces of tubing on the frame they were able to reduce production costs in one way or another. For whatever reason it happened I think it was a detriment to the overall looks of the Eliminator. The looped frame had cleaner lines and to put it bluntly, was much, much cooler!

A new style of banana seat was released this year. This "deep-dish" model was used throughout the rest of it's production run and in my opinion, look much cooler than the other types available earlier. As well, the style of pedals changed this year. They go from the older oval style with "rally" stripe to a rectangular style with an orange reflector inset into them. These too are used throughout the rest of the production run.

The F-1 is shown now having the sissy bar attached like the other models with a clamp sticking out rearward from the frame as opposed to how it was shown in 1968. It has the sticker on the front lower frame shown on the 24" model while only one of the two examples I have of the 20" model does. (Probably released both ways.) It has the spear shaped reflector on the front fork on one of the two 20" examples and while the 24" does not. On one example of the 20" F-1 the rear reflector has now changed to a trapaziodal shape that attaches to the inside of the seat where it bolts to the sissy bar. (This style was used in later years as well.) The other two examples of the F-1, (the 20" & 24") have the older stle round reflector. The pedals on one of the F-1's are now the rectangular type with orange reflector. The other two examples are the older oval style. The 20" is shown in white with a red "rally" stripe while the 24" is black with a white "rally" stripe. The tires and wheels on the 20" model are "redlined" 20" X 2.125" "slick" on the rear & a 20" X 1.75" conventional tread on the front. The 24" model are 24" X 1.175" "knobby" on the rear & a 20" X 1.75" conventional tread on the front. Seats on the F-1 are a mixed bag. The 24" is shown with a two-tone lower-slung seat, one 20" has the older style seat of previous years, and the other 20" example has the new "deep-dish" seat released this year. The F-1's are listed as having 46 teeth on the front sprocket while the rear has 18 teeth.

The only example I have of a F-3 3-speed is shown to have the older style seat from previous years. It's shown in a 20" version. It's wheels are 20" X 2.125" "slick" on the rear & a 20" X 1.75" conventional tread on the front. The tires are both "redline." It uses the standard Murray sprocket like the F-1's and is equiped with a 3-speed console shifter. It's pedals are the older oval style in black, with the red "rally" stripe. The front sprocket is listed as having 46 teeth while the rear has 18 teeth. Weight is listed at 49 lbs.

This year's F-5 model is shown with the older "barrel" style shifter as well as the "console" style. On three of four examples of the F-5 I have they are missing the front frame sticker. It is however shown on one example of a 20" F-5. It also is shown with the five star front sprocket and red painted fenders on the 20" models. The 24" version is shown with chrome fenders. The tires on both models are "redlines." Wheels are 20" X 2.125" "slick" on the rear & a 20" X 1.75" conventional tread on the front on the 20" model while the 24" has 24" X 1.175" "knobby" on the rear & a 20" X 1.75" conventional tread on the front. The 20" model appears to have the spear shaped reflector (or fork dart decal,) on the front fork while the 24" does not. The 24" F-5 is listed as having 50 teeth on the front sprocket while the rear sprocket cluster has a range of 14 to 28 teeth. Weight for the 20" F-5 is listed at 42 lbs and the 24" F-5 is 55 lbs.

All examples I have of this year Eliminator have the smooth style of handlebar stem.

1970 Ad for 20" F-5 & 20" F-1

Eliminator Catalog F-3

Eliminator Catalog 20" F-1

Eliminator Catalog 24" F-1

Eliminator Catalog 24" F-5

20" '70 F5 with red painted fenders
(Sissy bar, pedals, pad, & handlebar tape not original equipment.)

The Mark 4 Eliminator is introduced. The ad that I have says it was available in 20" & 24" models, & 1, 3, and 5 speeds. All the 24" examples I have seen used the same double, wrap-around chain guard, as the hideous looking Mark 3 lightweight of the same year, instead of the original Eliminator guard of years past. It seems that this chainguard style was abandoned after this year. (I'm glad as it was rather goofy.)

(I think that the 20" models bikes were released this year with the old style chainguard. I have an example below in the "Clones" section of a "Miss BUZZ Bike Eliminator" that seems to fit this year as well as a 20" F-5 Eliminator. Please refer to the links to see my further statements on them.)

In 1971 an important change happened to the Eliminator's frame design. If you look closely at the '68-'71 models, the frame ran straight back from the front sprocket housing (the bottom bracket,) made a upward 90° curve to the rear frame uprights, then curved forward at about 40° or so to the front headstock. The rear wheel and sissy bar mounted to a dropout brazed to this loop. On the '71 and later models this loop isn't there! Instead, the bar runs back to the rear dropout and stops about 2½" from the rear frame uprights. The bar is pressed around a tab on the dropout and brazed together. The upper frame rail is joined in the same way. There are two reasons that I believe this was done. My first idea is based on the double, wrap-around chainguard. If you take note of how it attaches at the rear you will see how it goes flush against the frame over the rear dropout without the addition of an adapter or extra bend of the metal on the chainguard. This reason coincides with what I believe to be the second, and more important reason... money. I can imagine that by using shorter pieces of tubing on the frame (and no adapter pieces for the chainguard,) they were able to reduce production costs in one way or another. For whatever reason it happened I think it was a detriment to the overall looks of the Eliminator. The looped frame had cleaner lines and to put it bluntly, was much, much cooler!

This year also introduced a white reflector on the front of the headstock in the middle of the headbadge, and it's rear reflector seems to have reverted to the older round style. (Take note on two of the Mark 4's pictured below they do not have the reflector on the headbadge and uses a standard Eliminator rear reflector. Once again just a fluke or did they do both consistantly?) They seem to have used both the older style seat as well as the newer "deep-dish" seat introduced the year before, as well as the console-style, rectangular shifter. All the multiple speed Mark 4's pictured below are different from the ad. Their shifters are shortie "Clik-Stik with the exception of the girl's model. It uses a grip-shift. It also appears that some 24" models were released in single-speed, coaster-brake configurations.

This year was also the first where the "BMA/6" decal first appeared on the seatpost. It continued well beyond the production run of the Eliminator till at least the mid to late '80's, & possibly a bit later into the early '90's.

1971 Ad

20" '71 F5 with yellow painted fenders, 2, 3
(Seat is definatly not original equipment! This bike is rather unique in that it has the reflector headbadge as well as the painted fenders like the '70 F-5. This year however it seems they have been switched to yellow instead of red.)

71 Three Speed Girl's Eliminator
(Pedals are not original equipment.)

24" Girls Mark 4

'71 Mark 4

Another '71 Mark 4, 2
(Pedals are nonoriginal equipment. Take note of the tires on this bike. The front is a raised white letter tire reading "NYLON ELIMINATOR 1.75" This is the same tires as used in '72 and is original equipment. The rear is a period, near-impossible to find, 24" slick aftermarket tire. Also, take note of the brace that helps to stiffen the rear brake mount. In the picture it is installed incorrectly as it is meant to be mounted underneth the frame with the caliper under it.)

And Yet Another '71 Mark 4

'71 Mark 4, 24" X 20" With Sear's Screamer Style Handlebars
(No clue if the handlebars, chrome springer fork is original equipment.)

'71 Mark 4, 24" With Mark 3 Style Handlebars, 2, 3
(Owner says the handlebars are original equipment. In the background is a girl's Mark 3 like those bikes refenced in the link below.)

The Pug-Ugly Mark 3, 2, 3
(While not an Eliminator, the pictures above reference the wrap-around chainguard used in this year by Murray.)

By this time it looks as if the head cheeses at Murray quit puffing on the hookah and went back to the style they did best. The classic F-Series!

When the guard style changed again the next year they continued making the frame the same way. Once again probably to save money by the use of less tubing and to keep from having to retool the production line back to what it was in '70 and before.

Besides the boy's Eliminator, Murray also produced a girl's model in '72. It varies from the boy's model in that the front bar has been cut off at the seatpost and moved further down the frame, (like the '71 girl's model.) An additional bar runs from these bars back to the uprights at the rear. (Take note, 24" girl's models have the twin posts running back to the rear of the bike in a horizontal fashion. The 20" bikes have the bar running back at a more downward angle.)

I have an F-1 from this year and I really like it. Below is a short parts list:

1972 Parts List:

These parts are installed on my yellow & green '72 F-1 pictured below.

• The rear coaster arm is stamped "Bendix 70"
• The rear reflector is marked "Gulco 12"
• The seat is stamped "Troxel, Moscow, Tenn. U.S.A."
• The rims are both 20" and stamped "M.O. MFG CO"
• Front tire has raised white letters saying "NYLON ELIMINATOR 1.75" (Conventional tread)
• Rear tire has raised white letters saying "NYLON ELIMINATOR 2.125" (Slick)
• Standard Eliminator headbadge decal
• Below the "BMA/6" decal and the frame rails the decal pattern is:
  silver/yellow/silver/yellow/silver
• Handlebar stem is standard Murray type with peaked ridge fore to aft
• Clear blue glitter grips (smooth, with no peaks between the fingers)
• Orange caps on rear axle bolt

My 1972 F-1 (Original) - (Customized)
(I've since added the same red & orange frame reflectors like the one pictured below. They came off my 1971 Murray Alpine that I used to recreate the generic Murray headbadge I have available in the Downloads section. I also added dual drum hubs front and rear, sprung the seat, and added a 24" springer fork as well as a dual shifter off a Mark II.)

Another 1972 F-1
(The owner of this bike emailed me this picture and added that he had used my generic Murray headbadge to replace his which was damaged.)

1972 F-1 (customized)
(Not Mine!)

1972 Girl's F-1

Cub Scout Eliminator, 2, 3

Cub Scout Eliminator

Cubscout Eliminator Ad
(The Cubscout Eliminator was a special release for the Cub Scouts in '72. I have seen actual pictures of only two bikes and one advertisement, (all are linked above.) From what I have read about them they were issued as a reward for Cubscouts that recieved a large number of merit badges. The ad above however leaves me puzzled. I lifted the pic from an ad on Ebay saying it was from a 1976 magazine. Now as far as I can gather, the Eliminators where made only from '68 to '73. It is my belief that the Cub Scouts where still using the same picture in their advertisments several years after production had ceased. If you have any clue about this let me know.)

24 X 20 X 3 2
(Take note of the brake brace for the 24" wheel. It too is mounted incorrectly.)

As far as I can tell, 1973 was the last year of production for the Murray Eliminator. They came in a coaster, 3-Speed, & a 5-Speed model.

This year the 20" F-1's still retained their original designation. The girl's and boy's F-1 seem to be esentially the same bike as made before in 1972. More information is needed as to how to exactly deferenciate between the production years.

It is interesting to see that both the three and five-speed models where signified Mark 4's in this production year. The three-speed and five-speed model appears to have been released without a standard chainguard at all. Instead, they use a "ten-speed" type chainguard mounted on the front sprocket. (This is the ONLY time I have ever seen a three-speed bicyle with this sort of arrangement.) The three-speed used a Shimano thumbshifter and the five-speed was equipped with a headpost mounted shifter. Both came in 24" sizes. The dropouts on these models where the same as the '72 models. Also the bikes were released both with and without the Eliminator script on the front chainguard. The 3-Speed model appears to have been released with only painted fenders this year while the 5-Speed comes in either chromed or painted fenders.

I do not know if any 20" 3 or 5 speed bikes where made this year. I will include more info on these bikes when I can find any.

(The headpost mounted shifters are due to interference by Ralph Nader in 1972. Due to him and his crusading "do-gooder" nonsense, bicycles are no longer allowed to be made with headpost mounted shifters, (however one of the catalogs does still show a Murray Wildcat 3-Speed as still having them. The exact date the law went into effect that year would be nice to know.) He supposidly cited an incident of a boy rupturing himself on one of the shifters in a failed jump and thus America lost an important part of it's "Musclebike" heritage. The mythical incident is now refered to by bicycle collectors as, "The Legend of One-Ball Reilly." Strange but true. Thanks for nothing, Ralphie...)

1973 Mark 4 3-Speed. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,

1973 Mark 4 5-Speed. 2, 3, 4, 5
(This bike has a couple of interesting features to it. It has both a peaked front fender, something that appears on no other Eliminator bike, and well as a Shimano Eagle derailleur.)

1973 catalog featuring both 3-Speed & 5-Speed Mark 4's

1973 Catalog featuring a different 5-Speed Mark 4

The only example I have of an Eliminator from this year is a page out of a 1974 JC Penny catalog. As to whether or not the standard production Murray Eliminator was made this year I do not know. I need to find a Murray catalog from this year to see if they were produced or not. If they were not then it would lead me to believe that J.C.Penny was only selling old stock left over from the previous year. More on this in the future.

1974 JC Penny catalog
(The bike shown is a 20" Five speed Swinger. It looks in most respects like the 24" bikes sold in 1973. It is the only example of a F-Series bike that I have ever seen with 20" X 1 3/8" tires. It's almost sad really... like the bike went out not with a bang but a whimper.)

The Murray corporation produced many F-Series Eliminator clones. Among the companies that they were produced for where:

• AMC - (Thunderball)
• Amcrest - (Amcrest III) (The only example I know of is a Ramrod, and not a regular Eliminator.)
• Atkins - (Cyclone, Clyclone 3+24)
• B.F. Goodrich - (Glitterbug 20 X 16, Injector)
• Foremost - (Swinger) (Sold by JC Penny)
• Gambles Hiawatha - (HIAWATHA, Innovator, Cycovator, Sidewinder, & Sidewinder III)
• Marfield - (Hot Shot I) (Sold by Marshall Fields)
• Northeastern Auto Parts (NAPA) - (Hallmark Hustler)
• Otasco (Oklahoma Tire and Supply Company) - (Cyclone III)
• Parkleigh - (No picture. I know of this brandname only by an email from a collector that mentioned seeing one.)
• Sears - (Free Spirit, & at least in 1968, the Screamer.) (Both of these came with a alternate style chainguard. Screamer was also the name of another Eliminator-style bike as well, although the other one was not a F-series but instead a Mark II clone.)
• SportCrest - (Qualifier) (Sold by Kmart)
• Western Flyer - (Wild One, Wild One III, The Wild One, The Wild One V, Buckaroo, Cyclone 24, Mach 2000, Eliminator, Miss Buzz bike, Miss BUZZ Bike ELIMINATOR, Buzz bike HUSTLER) (Sold by Western Auto)

Eliminator Clones Parts List:

• 19?? - (AMC Thunderball) Dual calipers shown in pic below are not original. Springer fork with reflector hung above front wheel. Pedals are "Excel" white stripe. Seat shown is a "Troxel' but not the original type issued with this bike.
• 1968 - (Atkins Cyclone III) Caliper Brakes by "Excel Raceur" front & rear.
• 1968 - (Gambles Hiawatha Cycovator) Wild Psychodelic seat and grips unique to this make and model. White oval pedals. "Redline Paragon" slick.
• 19?? - (Gambles Hiawatha Sidewinder) Rear Rim Stamped "M.O. MFG. Co." and "Lark" derailleur.
• 1968-71?? - (JC Penny Foremost Swinger) Single speed "Perry" coaster brake; "M.O. MFG. Co." 20 x 1.75" front rim, "M.O. MFG. Co." 20 x 2.125" rear rim; "P" (JC Penney) logo, original hand grips.
• 1968 - (Sears Screamer (F-Series Model): dual rear "Excel Grand Prix" Caliper Brakes. "Lark" derailleur. Springer fork with reflector hung above front wheel. Also, the front fender is riveted to the forks (no screw or bolt).

Sears Free Spirit 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
(Looks to be a "Franken-bike." As well someone put the front fender on backward.)

SportCrest Qualifier 3

Sportcrest Qualifier 3
(Shifter is an aftermarket Shimano)

Sportcrest Qualifier 5

SportCrest Girl's Model

Atkins Cyclone

Atkins Cyclone 3+24

Atkins Cyclone III

AMC Thunderball
(Several nonoriginal equipment parts.)

AMC Thunderball

Sears Screamer

Sears Screamer Ad, 2
(The bikes in the two ads above are shown having 16" front wheels; the coaster model has attached a 26" springer fork and the 5-Speed has a 24" springer fork and "Butterfly" handlebars. Both are equipped with springers mounted at the bottom of the sissy bars.)

B.F. Goodrich Glitterbug 20 X 16, 2
(Unlike the bike below this one has all original equipment!)

B.F. Goodrich Glitterbug 20 X 16
(Someone has put non-original parts on this one, namely the seat spinger, sissybar springer, & handlebars.)

Western Flyer Wild One

Western Flyer Wild One III

Western Flyer The Wild One

Western Flyer The Wild One Ad

September 1970 Boys Life Ad for Western Flyer Wild One and Eliminator

JC Penny Swinger Frame Girl's 2

JC Penny Foremost Swinger
(Looks like orange Schwinn "Chubbie" handlebar grips. Definatly nonoriginal equipment.)

Western Flyer Miss Buzz bike 2, 3

1971 Western Flyer Miss BUZZ Bike Eliminator 2
(There are several features about this old bike that make it's interesting. First notice the alternate font used. I've only noticed this font on this bike. Secondly, I believe this bike to be proof that in 1971 20" Eliminators had the old style guard. The "proof" comes from the fact it has the "new" style dropouts as well as the lack of the BMA/6 decal. The addition of the BMA/6 decal was started sometime early in '71. I believe this bike to have been released after the new year model started, but before the BMA/6 had been organized. I need to research the exact month the organization of the bike companies started to determine the length of time that this bike could have been produced. It's too bad that I do not have a serial number on this bike. Knowing that it was produced within a limited time frame would be a very valuable clue in helping to find the "Rosetta Stone" needed in decivering the Murray serial numbers. A serial system that I do not believe has ever been cracked.)

Western Flyer Buzz bike HUSTLER, 2
(Partial bike)

1968 Western Flyer Miss Buzz bike
(Chainguard altered to standard F1)

Northeastern Auto Parts (NAPA) Hallmark Hustler 2, 3, 4, 5
(I don't even know where to start... The front sprocket is from a period Huffy. I also do not know of another Eliminator type bike with the dual caliper drag-brake. Possible "Franken-bike")

Otasco Cyclone III, 2, 3, 4
(No clue what that seat is originally off of)

Western Flyer Cyclone 24
(Chainguard Only)

Marshall Fields (Marfield) Hot Shot I, 2, 3, 4

Western Flyer Buckaroo

Western Flyer Girls Buckaroo

Western Flyer Girls

Gambles Hiawatha Cycovator 2, 3, 4

Gambles Hiawatha Sidewinder III 2, 3, 4
(Take note of the Murray insignia on the shifter.)

JC Penny Foremost Swinger

1968 Western Flyer Parts & Accessories Catalog Cover
(The seat looks like the one on the B.F. Goodrich Injector linked below.)

Western Flyer The Wild One

'73 JC Penny Five Speed

B.F. Goodrich Injector, 2
(Seat is like the one shown on the cover of the "Western Flyer Parts & Accessories Catalog" cover)

Western Flyer The Wild One V, 2, 3

1974 JC Penny Swinger 5-Speed

Western Flyer Miss Buzz Bike Eliminator, 2

20" Gambles HIAWATHA
(Radio is aftermarket. Take note of the adapter plate for the rear brake! Just like the ones used on many 24" model Eliminators. Where these aftermarket or added at the factory?)

Sears Screamer, 2, 3, 4, 5

20" Australian Eliminator?
(While not at all an Eliminator, I am including this bike because of it's obvious imitation of the Eliminator's twin tube frame style. No clue as to who made it beyond the fact it is an "Oz" bike. The shifter does however look like a later model Eliminator shifter. Overall, to me it looks like a fusion of the Eliminator and a Ross Apollo.)

I am not sure of the exact manufacture dates of these small, 16" children's bikes, but I am sure it was consistant with the Eliminator's production run. They were convertable, with the top two bars being removable to switch the bike from a boy's to girl's model. (The girl's Raliegh Chopper had the same sort of design.) They used the standard sized Eliminator chainguard and did not use a bannana seat with sissy bars. The wheels where solid rubber and redlined. Weight is stated to be 34 lbs. In my pictures I see three seperate types of front sprockets, two different rear fender shapes, two seperate seat styles, and on one of the Convertibles, a front rack attached. Pedals come in both white and black varieties.

Ram Rod Convertible
(Rear wheel is not original.)

Ram Rod Convertable, 2

Ram Rod Convertible
(Chainguard Only)

Parkcycle Ram Rod Deluxe

Swinger Jr Frame

Amcrest III, 2
(This bike has an unusual attachment for the crank to the front sprocket. As well, it has attached an old "Wald" style kickstand that attaches to the bike's frame near the leftside rear dropout. I've seen this style before on other larger bikes but never on a 16" model. Possibly an aftermarket part as I believe "Wald" still makes these.)

Old Rusty Ram Rod, 2

Very Odd Ram-Rod, 2, 3
(This bike is just odd. While it is named Ram Rod it's top frame style is a bit different from the others released. As well, the chainguard is not like any of the others and even the name has a hyphen in it.)

1968 Western Flyer Buzz Bike Jr, 2, 3. 4. 5. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
(One of the finest examples of a Ramrod you could ever find. Bike was still in it's original box and even has the original instructions dated 4-19-68. WOW!)

The following is some general information in which I am pretty certain of. However, I cannot prove it all as well as I would like without more information into the matter.

The proper cable conduit color on most models shoud be white. Derailleurs and shifters should be Dyna-shift/ Huret design, or Click-Stick/Shimano Lark design, except for '73 5-Speed models that used a Shimano Eagle. It should be noted that there is no overload tube spring on the Click-Stick/Shimano Lark design. The Lark should have a black/gold nameplate and "3.3.3." stamped in red. (Please take note that the Shimano Lark-W derailleur is NOT correct as it was not released until 1975 and is positronic in design. Beware of Ebay crooks selling these! This means you, Bicycleheaven!)

The "pie-plate" that mounts to the five-speed wheels should be stamped with "3.3.3." on it's outer face.

As well, I've noticed that the headbadges on the Eliminators where of at least three types, (possibly four. Please refer to the "1967 Boy's Life Ad" above.) As previously mentioned, the '71 models were metal and had a reflector in the center. The other headbadges had a red field in the center and in at least one case I've seen, yellow. Most bikes seem to have been badged with a decal but many examples of metal badges exist as well, especially in the earlier years.

I have also noticed that most of the 20" bikes had the traditional Murray handlebar stem, (the one with a raised center section.) Most 24" bikes seemed to have a plain, smooth stem. As well, many of the "Clones" had the smooth stem also. As with all things Murray, there is no hard and fast rule about anything. They had a habit of using whatever parts they had on hand at the time so the variations seem to never cease.

Handlebar grips on all years of the Murray-badged bikes seem to be of translucent colors embedded with silver glitter. They do not have raised sections between the fingers and are smooth. These raised sections seemed to be very prevalent among the "Clones." In particular were the Western Flyer bikes. These generally were almost always raised, whether on Eliminators or their other makes and models. Many Western Flyers included a stylized "W" on the top of the grips. The JC Penny-badged, Formost Swinger, used Hunt Wilde grips in most cases I've seen. The Gambles Hiawatha Cycovator had it's own style of handlebar grip. These look very much like Hunt Wilde grips but was a psychedelic blend of colors to match the bike's seat and paint scheme.

I've tried to determine the serial number system Murray used on it's bikes to see if they could be read like Schwinn numbers, (or even '60's Huffys for that matter,) but it's so far been no use. The longer I try to figure it out the more it makes absolutely no sense to me. Until a "Rosetta Stone" is discovered (or a ex-company employee finally tells the secret,) I believe the numbers will remain a mystery. It's also very possible that the numbers have no meaning other than to be unique, recordable numbers to help keep track of the frames. The only part of the numbering system that I've found to be of any use is the first letter. It usually corresponds to the first letter of the name of the company the frame was sold under. ("M' for Murray, 'G' for Gambles, 'W' for Western Auto... ect. but even that doesn't always hold true.) Also helpful in the determination Sear's branded bikes is the first three numbers of the serial code. If it reads "502" then the bike is a Murray product. Other Sears codes I have found related to bicycles are: "503" Sturmey Archer, "538" AMF (Murray,) "536" AMF (Murray,) "484" J.C.PENNEY, "809" AMF, "219" MTD, "247" MTD, & finally, "316" MTD.

July 1969, Those Wild New Bikes
(I do not know the magazine this picture came from, only it's date. The bike is a wild blend of parts from many brands of bikes made during this time period and it is an obvious artists fantasy. I include it only because of its F-1 style frame.)

Eliminator 1

Eliminator 2

Eliminator 3

Eliminator 4

Eliminator Girl's Model

3 Speed Eliminator

Atom Drum Eliminator
(The ATOM drum hub on this bike is not original equipment. The ATOM was used on Schwinns.)

Ram Horn F3

The Murray Factory in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee

Murray "Authorized Dealer" Sign showing an Eliminator

1969 F-1 Eliminator Fork Darts Stensil
(This stensil is for you to print out and recreate your own fork darts. In the case it does not print out the correct size, the measurements for each should be exactly 4" high up the center line, and 5/16" wide at the top. Though they were taken from a '69 F-1, I believe they will be appropriate for many other years.)

Eliminator Fork Dart Stensil

1971 Murray Alpine 5-Speed Lightweight Headbadge
(Appropriate for MANY Murray bikes of this time period. Consider it a generic headbadge. Proper Dimensions were 3½" tall and 2" wide. An Eliminator specific headbadge will be added soon!)

Murray Headbadge

BMA/6 Seatpost Decal
(Bicycle Manufactuers Association/6 decal. The six comes from there being six major companies involved. These where placed on bikes to try and avoid lawsuits. The companies where Murray, Huffy, and four more I cannot recall at this time. Schwinn was never a part of this oddly enough.)

BMA/6 Seatpost Decal

WHAM-O Wheelie-Bar Instructions
(Has nothing to do really with Murray bikes other than they looked pretty cool mounted to one.)

WHAM-O Wheelie-Bar

Huffy Rail Chainguard Decal
(No clue what the true measurements for this should be. If you need one you'll probably know.)

Huffy Rail Chainguard Decal

1960's Mattel Vroom Commercial
(5.40mb Qucktime file.)

Mattel Vroom!

Viktor worked for Murray Bicycles as Head Designer from 1939 to 1972. His designs gave birth to many bicycles that are now widely known as being on the cutting edge and some of the most beautiful examples ever made. Among his many credits are the 1939 Mercury Bicycle (which was displayed at the New York World's Fair,) the Sears Spaceliner (1965+,) the Sears Colorflo, the Murray F-Series Eliminator (1968-1974?,) and the Murray Mark II Eliminator (1968+.)

He also was the designer of such products as the Rocket Ray Headlight, Spotlight, & turn signals, the first riding lawnmower (Sears Craftsman 1969+,) the cabover engine design for diesel trucks, & the now famous unibodi pedal cars made by Murray. He also came up with the design for children's wagons wich angled the tow bar so that children could sit and steer at the same time, (the Murray Mercury wagon.)

50 million Schreckengost bicycles were produced by Murray under 108 different labels for Sears, Schwartz, Firestone, Campus Compact, Western Flyer, and numerous others. Of his 82 different design patents, 28 are bicycle-related.