I'm still researching the history of the bikes. Not much to go on but I found that Homelite did not make or design the bikes ,that was done by Clayton B. Merry Equipment Manufacturing Company ( maker of the well known Merry Tiller ) of which I own one today. Built like a tank.
The company was really into wheeled farming type devices in the late 40's.
I'm looking into patent drawings to try to find when the first bike was submitted for a patent number and or prototype made.