The headlight & horn mount is my fabrication. It's just a piece of aluminum plate with mounting holes drilled every inch. This keeps everything off the handle bars, and I also like the way it looks.
I've tried to upload more detailed and better photos, but they keep getting rejected because of file size.
Does the fork crown have a "10B" stamped on the backside? I have a 38 balloon and I cannot figure out if the fork is original. The bends in my fork are different and it came w a chrome cap for the crown
I don't see anything stamped on my fork crown. Nothing on the front or the back side, and mine never had a chrome cap. Are you sure yours is a balloon tire ? The 1938 catalog shows the Motorbike model having a 28" X 1.5" tire. The tires on my bike are 26" X 2". This could account for the difference.
Im reasonably sure it is a balloon frame. Here is the link to the thread. You can see in the second to last picture the position of the bar that runs between the chain stays. It is much farther from the bottom bracket than a standard 28" wheel bike so it definitely had 26" wheels. The frame measures 20" so that appears to eliminate the junior models. The wheels, cranks and chainring all match the balloon model in the catalogue with the exception that the rear sprocket was a 20 tooth.
Your welcome... these must be rare bicycles. The first image at the beginning of my post was taken from a mail order CCM Bicycle magazine from 1941. It looks like the shop owner bumped the price from $50 to $55 bucks... and then this model was discontinued. WW2 was in full swing by then, steel was needed elsewhere. According to the inflation calculator, $55 back then is the equivalent to $890.00. There weren't a hell of a lot of people that could afford a bike like that... especially out here in Canada's Prairie Provinces ( where I am ). Farmers were still trying to recover from the Great Depression.
When I get more time, I plan to post the entire magazine in the Forum here so everyone can use it as reference. It's full of interesting items and accessories... complete with prices that will make you cry.
If you think I can help in anyway just leave a message here, and I'll try and respond as quick as I can.
Beutiful bike could we see a better close up pic of the headlight and horn mount .
Nice Ride! Are those truss rods original? The bends dont appear quite right and the finish is much nicer than the rest of the bike.
The headlight & horn mount is my fabrication. It's just a piece of aluminum plate with mounting holes drilled every inch. This keeps everything off the handle bars, and I also like the way it looks.
I've tried to upload more detailed and better photos, but they keep getting rejected because of file size.
The truss rods are completely original and correct.
Does the fork crown have a "10B" stamped on the backside? I have a 38 balloon and I cannot figure out if the fork is original. The bends in my fork are different and it came w a chrome cap for the crown
I don't see anything stamped on my fork crown. Nothing on the front or the back side, and mine never had a chrome cap. Are you sure yours is a balloon tire ? The 1938 catalog shows the Motorbike model having a 28" X 1.5" tire. The tires on my bike are 26" X 2". This could account for the difference.
Im reasonably sure it is a balloon frame. Here is the link to the thread. You can see in the second to last picture the position of the bar that runs between the chain stays. It is much farther from the bottom bracket than a standard 28" wheel bike so it definitely had 26" wheels. The frame measures 20" so that appears to eliminate the junior models. The wheels, cranks and chainring all match the balloon model in the catalogue with the exception that the rear sprocket was a 20 tooth.
http://vintageccm.com/content/1938-camel-back
I forgot to say thanks very much for the photos! Your bike is the closest match to any ive seen online to a 38 Balloon
Your welcome... these must be rare bicycles. The first image at the beginning of my post was taken from a mail order CCM Bicycle magazine from 1941. It looks like the shop owner bumped the price from $50 to $55 bucks... and then this model was discontinued. WW2 was in full swing by then, steel was needed elsewhere. According to the inflation calculator, $55 back then is the equivalent to $890.00. There weren't a hell of a lot of people that could afford a bike like that... especially out here in Canada's Prairie Provinces ( where I am ). Farmers were still trying to recover from the Great Depression.
When I get more time, I plan to post the entire magazine in the Forum here so everyone can use it as reference. It's full of interesting items and accessories... complete with prices that will make you cry.
If you think I can help in anyway just leave a message here, and I'll try and respond as quick as I can.