1936 Monark Silver King

1936 Monark Silverking (with baseball mitt)

Monark head tube badge

Another shiny beauty from Monark.

This Silver King model M037 would have made you the envy of the neighborhood.  The aluminum frame made this bike lighter than every other steel balloon tire bike.  Balloon-tired kids’ bikes with fenders and racks often weighed as much as 75 pounds (or about the same as a cheap Ebike these days). This Monark is just a hair under fifty pounds.

There are all kinds of great options on this bike. The stainless steel fenders were great because they stayed brilliantly bright, and even if they got dented, they wouldn’t rust.  The bike has a built-in Seiss headlight and horn (the extra tube on the frame houses the batteries). It has a steering lock (which makes the bike unrideable for thieves), it has a carrying rack for stuff like your baseball gear, and it has a massive built-in kickstand.

Light, lock, horn, fenders, strut fork, neat-o!

Monark headlight made by Seiss of Toledo, Ohio

Quality first from Seiss American lights

Goodyear American bicycle tires

Aluminum rack and stainless steel fenders

Integrated kickstand

This bike was most likely saved from metal collection drives during World War II by virtue of it being still relatively new during the war, and having a protective owner.  Surely junior would rather give up his left arm than his bike…