Sold exclusively through Sears, Roebuck & Co. the Elgin Brand was actually made by either Westfield Manufacturing whose in-house brand was Columbia or by Murray Ohio. Technically this bike was called the girls “Deluxe Equipped”. The print ad for the Spring/Summer 1941 Sears Catalog touted this bike as the “Miss America” of the Bicycle World!” which is why collectors commonly refer to this model as the “Miss America”.
This is a Westfield built bike and features the twin headlights, horn, fully skirted, integral chain guard/rear fender, taillight, and Stewart Warner “floating” front hub. This model was the last fully equipped Elgin girls model built before WWII. The Elgin Miss America is considered one of the most desirable girl’s pre-war bicycles. During the war only very plain, basic models were sold. After WWII Sears branded its bikes as “J.C. Higgins”. Owner: Shawn Sweeney