Monark Silver King Bicycles History Chicago

Monark Silver King began in 1934 in Chicago selling aluminum bicycles! I had no idea somebody was making aluminum bicycles way back then. These bikes don’t show up too often, but I see them for sale every once in a while. The company made their own bikes till they sold to Huffman Manufacturing (Huffy) in 1956. Huffy produced Monark branded bicycles for a while after that, then the brand disappeared.

The company started when the Earl Pease of the Monark Battery company decided to start making bicycles and contacted George Lewis. George had a long history in the bicycle business and had worked for Mead Cycle for 30 years. In 1932 he created the Speed-O-Byke, an all-aluminum bicycle. Earl found out about the bicycle and met with George about it. They agreed to work together, and Monark Silver King became the bicycle division of the company. It was in 1934 that they brought their line of aluminum bicycles to market.

The company would grow to become one of the larger manufacturers of bicycles in the US. Jack Dougherty the president of Monark claimed they made about 7% of the US market. By 1952 the company had 450 employees making bikes. By the 50s many of those who had built up Monark bicycles were retired or getting older. It was in 1956 that the company was sold to Huffy. By 1958 their Chicago plant at 6501 W. Grand Avenue was closed. The brand continues under Huffy into the 60s and then is discontinued.

Models

DeLuxe – tank cruiser bike.

Duralium – aluminum bike made for Wards by Monark.

El Camino – cruiser bike.

Flocycle – aluminum balloon tire bike

Hex Bar – balloon tire bike.

Roadster – cruiser bike.

Rocket – cruiser bike.

Silver Streak – Hawthorne aluminum bike made for Wards by Monark.

Super Deluxe – tank cruiser bike.

Velocipede – kids tricycle.

Wingbar – cruiser bike.

Here are some great Monark bicycles:

Flocycle

Really neat looking bike that is all aluminum. Has a leave spring rear suspension which makes it standout, I love how the dual top tubes flow into the seat stays. Stem has a built-in speedo, and it even has a built-in wheel lock.

Monark Super Deluxe Tank Bicycle

Check out all the beautiful details on this Super Deluxe. Integrated headlight on the front fender, front spring fork, nicely detailed tank, rear rack…

1940s Monark DeLuxe Tank Bicycle

Here is a nice example of a 40s Monark Tank bike. A really coold bike with a front fender mounted light, rear rack, springer front fork, great paint scheme, and looks like a built-in horn in the tank. This one is riding with class for sure.

1952 Monark Silver King

The person who donated the images of this bike said it was a 1952 Monark Silver King, didn’t know the model. I believe it originally had a tank on it and is maybe a Super Deluxe. It may have also had a rack on the back. A really neat bike for sure.