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1901 CCM Dominion Euro-French Catalogue
I was very excited to find these pages online. It is by far the earliest CCM catalogue I have ever seen. On one page, the word Europe appears, which leads me to believe this catalogue was intended for France and not Quebec. I was very pleased to finally get an answer to a long-standing question I've had about fenders - specifically when the short front fenders were available (which stop at the fork crown). We now know they were available from CCM from the beginning. Also of interest is the Morrow brake, the one with the asymetrical hub flanges. Finally, it's really useful to see the pinstriping patterns on the frames.
How is your french? Was CCM still using block chains or had they switched to 1" pitch roller chains?
Enjoy! (pics coming)
photos:
Another surprise is the all-metal chain guard on the Ladies Model 41. I thought this part was not available until the late teens or twenties. I have a c.1917 Ladies CCM that has the metal and wood guard.
Here is the Ladies Model 41 with more brightness and contrast. Hopefully it will be easier to see.
Looks like still has block chain. i had a early CCM Massey Harris Model 21 with that Morrow hub.
I've always been of the understanding that most early front mudguards were "short" versions that did not protrude beyond the fork crown and that this design was to accommodate the early rod actuated spoon brakes that operated on the front tyre. Spoon brakes were a popular option, particulary on ladies' models, until decent performing coaster brakes became available.
Based on the catalogue illustrations, it would appear that spoon brakes were still popular in France, into at least 1901. It's intersting to note that slightly earlier Canadian catalogues for Massey and Welland Vale do not show or mention spoon brakes, even as a option. It would appear that the popularity of spoon brakes died earlier in North America and that the illustrated spoon brakes in the subject catalogue were a concession to French market. Similaly, we've seen cases of very early CCM manufacture for the Australian market being shipped with steel rims, while domestic product was still utilizing wooden rims.
I wouldn't be suprised to find a steel chainguard during this era, on a high grade bicycle. Some premium grade bicycles were even featuring aluminum chainguards.
Sorry, I can't offer any insight on the chain. Thank-you for posting.
Most (or all?) of the Mens bikes I've seen from the 1890s did not have fenders. This is also my impression from photos of mens bikes from that period. It seems to have been the style then to not have fenders. Therefore I had been wondering for how long CCM sold Mens bikes without fenders before introducing the style with the short one at the front. The answer: not long! (zero to one year). However, you raise a good point, T-Mar, about differences with bikes headed to Europe. So we can say that fenders were standard or available on Men's bikes going to Europe, but that doesn't prove they were sold with fenders in the domestic market.
Dave, did you Model 21 have fenders?
Hi Brian
No fenders on the Massey Harris 21 if you look up Google Massey Harris bicycle The bike picture will come up it is the one with no wheels or fenders. Click on the picture and more will come up . I bought that bike from Sterba in CZ some years ago. My Brother inlaw brought it back when they went to the CZ and Ukraine. Cost me 2 bottles of wine to bring it back to Canada.plus cost of bike. Bike was in the 2014 calender John made. Bike is gone to a new home. Bike was in beautiful shape
I've got an early CCM Dominion ~1900 and it doesn't have any provisions for fenders and came with a fixie hub and block and link chain.