In the 1930 Montgomery Ward catalog, you could purchase this Hawthorne "Speed" bicycle for only $19.90 or $5.00 down and $5.00 per month. It came with state of the art hardwood rims "armored" with a steel sheeth to protect it from damage, single tube tires (the inner tube is molded inside the tire which is then glued to the rim), and a genuine New Departure coaster brake hub. The frame was the popular double top bar motorcycle style and it even had a parking stand. The youth market was growing and this was a sturdy design that could be guaranteed against breakage. Montgomery Ward advertised that "Every 4 minutes some lucky boy gets a new Hawthorne" and they had them "ready and waiting at any of the 550 stores" or, of course, you could order by mail.
The "Speed" was the utility model of the Hawthorne line. For only $32.25, you could have the "Deluxe Flyer" model. They would add a tank with a tool box between the double top bars and a motorcycle type handlebar. You would also get a light, pump, auto-horn and luggage carrier. The Deluxe model had just been ridden to victory by a three man team in the Indiana State Championship 700 Mile non-stop endurance race. Now that took some pedaling!
