I grew up in eastern Ontario, about 500km from the factory. Consequently, you would think that I would have seen lots of them. However, that's not the case. CCM and Supercycle were everywhere, but not Sunshine. These days, they pop up occasionally but not often.
Like any brand, the sightings are highly dependent on whether or not there was a local dealer. Certainly, Sunshine wouldn't have had the extensive dealer network of CCM. Undoubtedly, they had many dealers in their locale and probably the larger cities but in smaller cities that could only support one bicycle shop, the shop was probably a CCM agent. Prior to the early 1970's boom, shop's rarely carried more than one brand, unless they werer a larger shop in a big city.
Then, there was also the competition from the major chain and mail order stores, which had their own private label brands. If you didn't have a local CTC, there was probably a hardware chain selling bicycles under their own brand or a Eaton's or Simpson's mail order office where you could .
Finally, one must consider the tangled corporate relationship. Sunshine was a joint effort invloving Massey-Harris and Tommy Rusell was president of both Massey-Harris and CCM in the 1930s. Obviously, they wouldn't want Sunshine's bicycles to eclipse CCM, though it would be convenient if they could garner a portion of the market that CCM didn't already control. It wouldn't surprise me if the dealer network for Sunshine bicycles was planned in a very strategic fashion, without infringing too much on sales on CCM and their private label customers.
Well here are the pics of the Sunshine I picked up. Grips are wrong, maybe pedals, definitely repaint..... lemme know what else you all think might be off....
That's a very nice find with everything in very good shape. I thing the pedals are correct. If you need an NOS fork crown plate send me an email. From the badge it is an early Sunshine. I posted pictures of the different badges and other information on Sunshine Questions. What is the serial number? I have 20 frames and bikes and I'm taking notes of any differences I can find based on numbers. My brother-in-laws father was in thier engineering department after the was and I talked to another post war employee that was there until he retired. Both men said they only made bikes after the war until 1953 and beat CCM to the market. They had a Schwinn DX that they milled notches in the frame joints for engineers to look at to set up production.
Thanks for the info..... I think the fork crown is ok.... chrome seems good. A fella out here told me he thought the fender were not right.... from the limited pics I could find on the interweb, they look right.....?
I grew up in eastern Ontario, about 500km from the factory. Consequently, you would think that I would have seen lots of them. However, that's not the case. CCM and Supercycle were everywhere, but not Sunshine. These days, they pop up occasionally but not often.
Like any brand, the sightings are highly dependent on whether or not there was a local dealer. Certainly, Sunshine wouldn't have had the extensive dealer network of CCM. Undoubtedly, they had many dealers in their locale and probably the larger cities but in smaller cities that could only support one bicycle shop, the shop was probably a CCM agent. Prior to the early 1970's boom, shop's rarely carried more than one brand, unless they werer a larger shop in a big city.
Then, there was also the competition from the major chain and mail order stores, which had their own private label brands. If you didn't have a local CTC, there was probably a hardware chain selling bicycles under their own brand or a Eaton's or Simpson's mail order office where you could .
Finally, one must consider the tangled corporate relationship. Sunshine was a joint effort invloving Massey-Harris and Tommy Rusell was president of both Massey-Harris and CCM in the 1930s. Obviously, they wouldn't want Sunshine's bicycles to eclipse CCM, though it would be convenient if they could garner a portion of the market that CCM didn't already control. It wouldn't surprise me if the dealer network for Sunshine bicycles was planned in a very strategic fashion, without infringing too much on sales on CCM and their private label customers.
Thanks Tmar..... going to have a look at one now.....
I'll let you know.... cheers..... Wayne
Well here are the pics of the Sunshine I picked up. Grips are wrong, maybe pedals, definitely repaint..... lemme know what else you all think might be off....
That's a very nice find with everything in very good shape. I thing the pedals are correct. If you need an NOS fork crown plate send me an email. From the badge it is an early Sunshine. I posted pictures of the different badges and other information on Sunshine Questions. What is the serial number? I have 20 frames and bikes and I'm taking notes of any differences I can find based on numbers. My brother-in-laws father was in thier engineering department after the was and I talked to another post war employee that was there until he retired. Both men said they only made bikes after the war until 1953 and beat CCM to the market. They had a Schwinn DX that they milled notches in the frame joints for engineers to look at to set up production.
Walter
Thanks for the info..... I think the fork crown is ok.... chrome seems good. A fella out here told me he thought the fender were not right.... from the limited pics I could find on the interweb, they look right.....?
The serial number is 008102
Cheers.... Wayne
Nice score, I love the Sunshine bikes, I have one myself. Great bike!
Sean
Thanks King Bongo.... I'm gonna do a restore on it soon.
Wayne