My question would be were the Sturmey 3 speed/ drum brake front and back an option from a CCM? I believe the rear hub is dated '57 but I'd have to double check.
It's possible, as these hubs were catalogued by CCM in the 1950s, though not at the beginning of the decade. However, to increase my confidence one way or the other, I'd be comparing the date codes of the hubs against the serial number of the frame. If the hubs post date the frame, you know that they are not OEM. Typically, OEM parts would be the same as, or one year younger, than the frame.
So this is what confused me about the make of this bike originally... there is no serial number on the seat lug, or it was filled or covered. Someone then stamped a number on the dropout that may have been an attempt to copy what was on the seat lug, but put the T first and missed a number... my theory! Making it a '60
I believe that both are correct, factory applied serial numbers and that what you have are two bicycles that were manufactured in the same calendar year but represent different model years. The alpha character (in these cases, T) represents the same calendar year but new model year manufacture typically starts in the autumn, so that the new models are in stores for the lucrative Christmas season. Consequently, there can be two models years within a single calendar year.
The T-code would have directly preceded the A-code cronologically and those subsequent A-codes from this era saw a change in the serial number location, from the seat lug to the dropout, and a change in the alpha character position, from below the numbers to being a prefix. Now, if these two changes actually occured at the start of the model year the previous autumn, that would explain the difference in serial numbers between the two frames, despite both being T-codes. The serial number on the blue frame idoes appear to be lower numerically than that on the chrome plated plate, which would fit with the logic.
As for the year, I believe that the often quoted chart is incorrect for the period 1953 though 1968. In my opinion, what you have are two CCM motorbikes manufactured in 1957, with the blue frame being 1957 model year and chrome plated frame being 1958 model year. If you want a deep dive into why I believe this, read though my posts in the thread that contains the serial number chart.
That is a lot of great insight and info! I so do appreciate it. I'm going to give it a good proper servicing and get some good rubber on it and enjoy it!
I was curious about these wider longer steerhorn style bars being original too? They must've been an option since both these bikes have them!?
Here's another... needs some proper tires!
While the head badge sticker appears to be from the late 1960s, the frame itself appears to be early 1950s.
My question would be were the Sturmey 3 speed/ drum brake front and back an option from a CCM? I believe the rear hub is dated '57 but I'd have to double check.
It's possible, as these hubs were catalogued by CCM in the 1950s, though not at the beginning of the decade. However, to increase my confidence one way or the other, I'd be comparing the date codes of the hubs against the serial number of the frame. If the hubs post date the frame, you know that they are not OEM. Typically, OEM parts would be the same as, or one year younger, than the frame.
So this is what confused me about the make of this bike originally... there is no serial number on the seat lug, or it was filled or covered. Someone then stamped a number on the dropout that may have been an attempt to copy what was on the seat lug, but put the T first and missed a number... my theory! Making it a '60
I believe that both are correct, factory applied serial numbers and that what you have are two bicycles that were manufactured in the same calendar year but represent different model years. The alpha character (in these cases, T) represents the same calendar year but new model year manufacture typically starts in the autumn, so that the new models are in stores for the lucrative Christmas season. Consequently, there can be two models years within a single calendar year.
The T-code would have directly preceded the A-code cronologically and those subsequent A-codes from this era saw a change in the serial number location, from the seat lug to the dropout, and a change in the alpha character position, from below the numbers to being a prefix. Now, if these two changes actually occured at the start of the model year the previous autumn, that would explain the difference in serial numbers between the two frames, despite both being T-codes. The serial number on the blue frame idoes appear to be lower numerically than that on the chrome plated plate, which would fit with the logic.
As for the year, I believe that the often quoted chart is incorrect for the period 1953 though 1968. In my opinion, what you have are two CCM motorbikes manufactured in 1957, with the blue frame being 1957 model year and chrome plated frame being 1958 model year. If you want a deep dive into why I believe this, read though my posts in the thread that contains the serial number chart.
That is a lot of great insight and info! I so do appreciate it. I'm going to give it a good proper servicing and get some good rubber on it and enjoy it!
I was curious about these wider longer steerhorn style bars being original too? They must've been an option since both these bikes have them!?