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CCM Serial Numbers
On Sunday off of a scrap metal picker's truck I horsetraded for what I think is an old CCM camelback but the serial number doesn't fit into the charts. It is badged as a Majestic, had really nice pinstriping at one time, darts and arrows too, something I don't often see on CCM. But yet it looks CCM to me. The serial number is 596500......no letter at all. I haven't a clue how to post pictures here so I'll see if John will be kind enough to once again post my pictures, thanks for any info you might have!
For what it's worth, a six character, all numeric serial number is typical of the frames manufactured by the Sunshine-Waterloo Company.
TMar I'm thinking you're right. I looked at the badge again and under the Majestic name is "Montreal". CCM badges would have said Weston I would think. I think what had me fooled was the brake arm, it says CCM Hercules 64. Thanks for the lead.
The location on the headbadge is almost certainly that of the head office, not necesarily where it was manufactured. You'll find that about 80% of the Canadian brands have badges stating Montreal or Toronto, as those were the two major commerce centers. Weston is pretty much restricted to appearing on CCM owned brands. Private label brands contract manufactured by CCM usually state the location of the owner's head office, typically Toronto or Montreal.
The bicycle appears to be 1950s or 1960s. During this era there were only a handful of Canadian manufacturers. A lot of Canadian brands were built by foreign manufacturers. However, the camel back frame was primarily a North American trait and the source would almost certainly have been Canada or the USA, with Canada most likely due to the absence of duties and cheaper shipping.
Majestic appears to have been a Montreal based bicycle parts and accessories distributor. They go back to at least 1933 and were still around as late as 1969. It's possible that they used one of the Quebec based manufacturers for their bicycles but based on the serial number format, Sunshine appears to be the best candidate. CCM was known to use their standard serial number format on their contract manufactured frames, so we can pretty much rule them out as the source.
Thanks so much for all the info TMar. This Majestic is definitely a keeper, the first Sunshine I've ever seen if that is indeed what it is. It came to me with ape hanger bars and a banana seat, thinking it was a CCM I changed the apes out to standard CCM bars and threw on a temporary seat. Now the hunt is on for the missing front fender and try to find out what kind of brake arm Sunshine would have used. By the way the wheel set looks original to the bike and they are 28 inch so 50s is I think more likely then 60s. Thanks again!
Cleaning up the rims this evening I saw the front rim is a Dunlop made in England 28 in. rim. The rear says made in Canada.......so I guess the rear rim and hub are both CCM. I haven't been this stoked about a bike in a while so please forgive all my questions :)
I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss it being 1960s. Most other Canadian manufacturers tended to follow CCM's lead when it came to product offerings and CCM continued to offer 28" wheel models thought the 1960s. Both the Rambler and Imperial lines offered 'standard" (i.e. 28" wheels) models thoughout the 1960s. There was also a standard version of the late 1960s GT-101. I believe the last 28" wheeled model from CCM was the 1972 Galaxie.
I don't recall what brand of coaster brake Sunshine used. but I know where there are a couple, so I should be able to find out this weekend, unless another forum member pops up with the answer during the interim.
Perry, on my 3 Sunshine baloons..late 40s,early 50s
yes T-Mar you know I have one galaxie with 28' and I love it ; ). red with chrome fenders,,.runs smooth and confortable too lolllllllll ..
I have a Perry hub on a 28 inch rim kicking around in the shed........thanks Wayne!