Looking to date/understand my serial number

Your image is not showing up. If you can figure out a way to post a few pictures, we may be able to help you. If the tires are 28 X 1 1/2 Canadian size, they are just 700C tires and easy to find. The problem here is finding a tire that looks something like the originals.

Interesting as I see three images when I open this thread. 

It might have been made by SCP (Standard Cycle Products) in Toronto, using English and/or American parts. You could Google images of SCP bikes to compare. With a badge that doesn't identify the manufacturer, it might have been sold through a hardware or department store.

The tires look like 26". What can you read stamped on the sidewall? As for age, 1930s-1950s; my guess is postwar. What is stamped on the rear hub?

Same bike with SCP badge (newer saddle):

To answer your serial number question, it has a letter code that might indicate a year (as with CCM bikes), but I've never seen any information on that. I think there are too few surviving bikes, dealer catalogues, and owners to communicate with, to work out a pattern.

An additional problem is that unlike CCM, that built its own frames in-house, the smaller brands often had frames that looked suspicously identical to UK or American frames. I have a 1930s SCP frame that is exactly the same as one made by Phillips. The made-in-Canada badge on your bike may only mean assembled in Canada. Therefore, is that an SCP frame number or a Phillips frame number?

The web behind the head tube with the oval impression that contains the serial number is typical of SCP manufactured frames. According to forum member Watne Gillies, this feature was a post war introduction. 

My apologies for mistyping Wayne's name in my previous post. I should also point out that Sterling was an American company that was abosrbed by the American Bicycle Company during the 1899 bicycle industry recession. Canadian rights to the  brand were acquired by CCM, a few years later, when they bought ABC's Canadian division, the National Cycle & Automobile Co. Ltd..

The presence of a Sterling badge on a Standard Cycle Products frame would confirm that the bicycle is post war, as CCM acquired SCP sometime during 1946-1947. 

Following CCM's acquisition of SCP and Planet, as time went on these bikes lost their individual appearance and looked like CCMs except for the badges and chainrings. If Darryl's bike is a CCM badged SCP, then it likely dates from the late 1940s, soon after the acquisition, right?

Brian,

Unfortunately, I haven't seen a lot of post war SCP bicycles. I'm primarily familar with the mid-1960s to early 1970s models, which were built by CCM, after the SCP factory was closed. Still, I would think that CCM would be reluctant to mothball relatively new tooling. I also wouldn't  expect CCM to go to the expense of producing new tooling for SCP that duplicated what was in use at CCM. From a marketing perspective, it would advantageous for the two product lines to have distnctive aesthetic identities. My suspicions are that  SCP only moved over to CCM tooling when it was excessively worn or broken.

Consequently, I wouldn't be surprised if the design for the OP's frame was carried over well into the 1950s. For instance, it's worth noting that CCM didn't adopt the curved/cantilever seat stays, as seen on the OP's bicycle, until around the time that the SCP factory was closed. This supports each factory retaining their own tooling. 

Based on the fenders, the frame appears to be for a balloon tyre model. These were popular in the Canadian market through the 1950s, so it could extend well beyond the late 1940s. 

Regarding the serial number, the alpha character is likely the year indicator, as this was a common format during the inter-war years when SCP was formed. The 1st year for the company appears to be 1933-1934. It we assign the A-prefix to these years and utilize every letter of the alphabet, the N-prefix on the OP's bicycle would indicate 1946 -1947. This falls right at the beginning of CCM's acquistion of SCP, so it's a definite possibilty. 

However, if we drop the letters that are commonly omitted due to confusion with poorly struck letters (I.e.  F, G, I, J M, O, Q, R, U & Y), the N-prefix would represent 1941-1942 or 1957-1958. Based on Wayne's statement and the Sterling badge, we could eliminate 1941-1942, leaving 1957-1958. It's a possibilty that I certainly wouldn't rule out. 

Of course, while these are the two most likely scenarios, the format could be something completely different. It would be enlightening if we could collect some more SCP serial numbers or some post war SCP literature. Hopefully, Wayne will have some more insight. 

Thanks T-Mar. Do you know which year CCM management closed the SCP factory?

I've attached a couple photos of the info on the tires. 

I've attached a couple photos of the info on the tires. 

Brian R you had asked about hub stampings. There is a number as well as CCM as well as patent 1937 stamped on it. See pics

Brian,

I've heard various dates for the closure of the SCP factory but believe it to be 1961-1962.

So thus far I'm unable to find tires for this bike anywhere. I'm told they are 650c with 571mm ISO. Any help pointing me the right direction would be much appreciated. 

With Covid, these tires are in short supply in Canada. Schwinn used this size of tire on some of their bikes. If you go to Ebay.com and put in a search for tires that are 26 X 1 3/4, you should find some. The English  also used this size of tire on some of their trade bikes. If you search on Ebay UK. for tires that are 26 X 2 X 1 3/4, you should also find some. You might find some on Ebay France searching for "Pneu Velo 650C". Also, if you go online and just search for 26 X 1 3/4 tires you will probably find some American suppliers that are willing to mail them to Canada. Unfortunately, having to purchase these tires from International sources adds an extra postage charge. Most Canadian bike shops and suppliers are not really worried about catering to people who want tires fot their Canadian bikes that are more than 50 years old.

Thanks. I'll check that out!

A friend has a pair of Chinese 54-571 (28 x 2 x 1-3/4) balloon tyres that he is willing to sell. However, he doesn't want to ship. I'd be willing to act as the go between. The price would be $25.00 plus shipping. He sent me this photo. 

Oops, accidentally typed 28" instead of 26", as you can see in the photo. I sure wish there was way to edit the posts. Hint! Hint!

 That's a great price on hard to find size tires

I'd take them. You can email me details. Thanks!

darrylharder@outlook.com

Any chance anyone has the correct chain guard for this bike?  

Sorry I f do not know why it keeps posting upside down. 

Or even pictures and possibly dimensions of one on all sides so I can make one. 

Wow, nice job Darryl, it looks fantastic! How did you paint it?

I found a front view of an SCP chainguard and will try to post pictures:

So, does anyone have one of those for Darryl? I don't have one like that but I have an aftermarket chrome guard that would look great on a balloon tire bike. I can post a photo if you're interested.