BTR Ground Zero

Yes that is a functioning springer, however they tend to be pretty soft. I imagine you could find stiffer springs or perhaps helper springs that fit inside the originals.

At least you know it would fit the bike

-Kirk

I'd go for the blue one and not fool around with ebaying parts. You're going to modify the frame anyway and have a good seat, handlebars and strong frame to work with. Why do you need to change the bottom bracket? How much room do you need for what engine? I don't see a springer fork on the other one, just truss rods which this one has, too. The first bike looks better and that's fine if you're leaving it alone, but that isn't what you're doing... you'll be changing the wheels or at least the spokes, new tires and different paint anyway, so put your money into what counts... that frame, seat and handlebars. That's what I'd do anyway. Should make a good foundation for a build... leave the bottom front tube, remove the upper front down tube, weld in new cross bars above and you've got a killer bike.
SB

If it is prewar then it wouldn't be J.C.Higgens; it would still be called an Elgin. I had a 1938 ladies Elgin which was similar in frame design and fenders. The rear fender also had the holes for lacing up cord for a skirt or coat guard, but the chain guard was much different and the seat was an old Troxel. I can't tell in the photo if the fender has a rear drop stand catch on it. The Elgin did. I think Cleveland Welding made the frame for Elgin and it could be they made the same frame with different this and that for someone else, too. Seat post on the Elgin was the 7 shaped solid stock. It could be someone has changed the seat. The Elgin dropouts were horizontal and had adjusters. I see that the pedals are newer on your bike since they have reflectors, but the pedal sprocket is skip tooth which would suggest prewar. In short, I don't know what it is, but don't think it is Elgin.The dropouts make me think it might be post war, like late 40's when horizontal dropouts were losing favor. Not all companies changed to the newer pedal chain right away. Some Schwinn models still had skip tooth sprockets into the early fifties. My 50 Panther did. I thought it was prewar until I checked the serial number. Bairdco might know what it is.It looks to be in good condition.
SB

The goose neck on the 38 was very cool, so it was likely robbed from the bike along with the correct fork... that would account for the fender bolt having nothing to thread in to. The chain guard on that model was also very cool and much sought after, so it could be that all of the things which would bring money on ebay or a swap meet got snitched and replaced with newer stuff.
I still have that 38 Elgin frame, but it went through a truck fire a couple years ago so I only have the frame here. The frame design looks the same with the exception of the dropouts. Mine are horizontal. If it is Elgin it must have been a little later when the dropout was changed. Maybe 41 or 42... could be in the late forties they were still using this and that old stock so there could be a kind of mish mash of parts, some from before the war and some new.
SB