Need Help!

Probably the best option to fix the plig that takes the screw that holds the fender is to replace it. It looks to be in very poor shape and I hope that the bottom of the fork is not rusted as well. At one time, CCM sold these as a replacement part. Probably the only way to get one now is to knock it out of another fork. I am also not sure what your intentions are regarding the bike. If you are planning to restore it you could just use another similar fork. If you are really stuck, I may be able to come up with another plug for the fork ( jdwillia@shaw.ca ).

After early 1942, most of the wartime CCM bicyles were very basic and similar to the earlier Rambler models, although both "Rambler" and CCM diamond head badges were used, along with special wartime decals in place of a head badge. I am not sure if you have a civilian model, or a military model. The military models were basically Rambler bicycles painted in olive drab. Somewhere on the web there are some good pictures of a wartime military model. Pictures of the civilian bicycle are also on the web. Perhaps some T-Mar or Wayne Gillies will provide some links and additional information.

Regards,

John Williamson

The bike seems to be all original except for the grips, the paint is really bubbly like it sat in a high temperature area for a long period of time or was in a fire. I'd like to keep it original as possible, maybe with the right info I could restore it too what it looked like back in 44. I usually have a vision when it comes to restoring these bikes, this one I feel needs to be brought back to original. I shall post a pic and be in touch.

Attached is a scan of the 1945 models, orignally posted by John in another thread. I've never seen a 1944 catalogue but mabe somebody has one. However, I doubt they changed anything betrween 1944 and 1945.

Regarding the fork plug, I'd just carve a press fit, slightly tapered (ie. cork shape) plug out of a piece of wood and drive it into the bottom of the fork steerer tube. Then use use a wood screw and washer to mount the fender. It's a very common and simple solution that was used on many European brands.

Alternately, you could carve a plug from a large rubber stopper (available at most pharnacies), Carve it so that it just slides into the bottom of the fork's steeerer tube fork steerer tube and drill a through hole for a machine screw, nut and external tooth lockwasher. Once you install the stopper tightening the macine screw will compress the plug's height, causing the diamter to increase and holding the splug in place. This principle was used on some aftermarket front fenders. The drawback to this method is that you have to mount the plug to the fender before installing it and the screw must be just tight enough that the lockwasher engages but not so tight that the plug won't slide in.

Post pix of the bike, both sides, with close ups of the head tube (straight on)  and the hubs 

 " War Grade" bikes were only designated so from 1943 to 45; up to that point CCM was free to manufacture their standard lines (1939 -42).  Beginning in 1943  CCM complied  with  the Comtroller General Spec Order  # 39, which outlined specs for bikes designated for the Military.  It was at this point that the War grade bikes became the sole production bikes from CCM (Special orders could still be acquired) . They were available in Military and civilian models, mens & ladies, both of which have the decal head badge. It may be that some early  1943 civilian pattern models had the metal diamond badge affixed, although I doubt it because any surplus metal would have been required for the war effort.  

As to 1943 and 45 catalogues, I'm not sure they were produced.  If they exist, neither myself or  any of the collectors I know have them.  In any event, given the limited production imposed there would be no requirement for a catalogue.

Cheers

Last para, first sentence should read "As to 1943 & 44..not 45 as I mis- typed . Mea Culpa!! my editorial skills are on the wane.  I do have a 1945 catalogue.

The pictures of the CCM Military model on the web show a Rambler headbadge that has been oversprayed with olive drab paint that matches the rest of the bike. However, I assume that your bicycle is a civilian model.

John Williamson

Karl   I tjink I might be able to find you one of those plugs an original one that is..   The wood plug is also a good solution.    Ron

I will post pics after work today if this site let's me, it's always a toss up when I do. Great advice! I can totally make one up out of wood thats easy, if you can get me one Ron that would be amazing. I'll post the pic of the lug I cleaned it up this morning and it seems to me that the bolt it welded too the lug, different then others that the screw goes into the lug.

I have taken a few pictures of the bike, here they are. All parts that would be chrome or nickle plated are just bare metal, the seat post is one im not too familiar with. The fender stays are cool they slide back and forth. 

apparently i cant upload pics properly... sorry

Hello Karl the pics are fine just click on them and they are properly displayed.

 Thanks Gt

Who can educate me on the seat post, and the proper badge, there are no holes for a badge so it would have been a painted on or decal?

The badge would have been a decal for a war grade CCM. That expalains why there are no rivet holes. Member Wayne Gillies makes reproduction CCM decals and I believe I saw a war grade headdecal from him. If not, he'll correct me shortly. If I'm right, maybe I"ll get a commission. LOL!

As for the seat post, I strongly suspect it is a replacement. The extension posts were largely phased out prior to the war. Even if they hadn't been, they were forbidden once wartime material conservation came into effect, as the extension used valuable steel. War grade post swere restricterd to  straight posts, with a maximum length of 8". This was 1" shorter than CCM"s standard straight post.

For similar reason, actual war grade handlebar stems have no forward extension tube. The handlebar clamp is attached directly to the quill.

Thanks for the plug, Tom.  No commission but much gratitude.  Should you wish one Karl, contact me bmwchev@msn.com.  Pic attached

Tom is correct about the seat post, and the saddle is wrong too, it should be a Wrights.

I've been reading this forum with great interest. I have a CCM I believe to be a 1945 model. The serial number is 53N481. I didn't think it was a wartime model when I picked it up, but like the 1944 model described above, it also does not have a badge or rivet holes for a badge. Mine does not have the seatpost extension, and after reading the post about the wartime 8" seat tube I had to remove mine and measure it. It's 8". The saddle is a Mesinger. The reason I didn't think it was a wartime model is because it's not black and the hubs are not black either. It's best described as a rusty red, rat rod barn find in as-found original condition with the original pinstripes still visible. The hubs are chrome. The hub brake is a CCM "37". The fenders are the same rusty red as the frame with a white patch on the rear of the rear fender and the front of the front fender.  The pedals are not the wartime all-metal ones but regular pedals. The bike had a very hard life, with a bent frame and welded together pedal crank, so the pedals could have been replaced at some point. My question is, did CCM make wartime models that were not black? Is it possible or likely that CCM made bikes from 1943-45 that were different colours but also a hodgepodge of regular parts mixed with wartime parts, depending on what they had available? Any input on this from other members would be very interesting and appreciated. -Brian R.

Brian, let me start by defining "wartime" versus "war grade". Wartime would apply to any bicycle built from the start of the war, to the end of the war. However, war grade refers only to those built after the government  orders pertaining to bicycle manufacture came into effect. I've been unable to determine the exact date of this but it was sometime during 1942-1943. As a result, war grade bicycles are generally considered to be 1943-1945 models.

Consequently, CCM models built during the last few months of 1939 through at least the first few months of 1942 do not appear to have any mandated restrictions. The full, standard colour range was available. Yours sounds like it may be a heavily weathered maroon, which was still available at least as late as  1941.

I believe that most members consider black to be the colour for war grade models. This probably stems from an extant, undated  advertisement of a war grade CCM that only states black for the finish. Also, the handful or so of war grade era models that have surfaced, have been black. However, the 1945 catalogue does not state any colour, so there is a possibility that very late in the war colour may have depended upon availability.

The other thing to consider is that it could have been manufactured  late in 1945, just after the war ended and restrictions were eased. This could possibly explain a mix of characteristics and parts. Of course, it is also a 70 year old bicycle and finding one with all original parts would be atypical.

Personally, I wouldn't surprised to find that CCM was using war grade parts on some post war grade bicycles, to use them up. However, we know that the contrary is not true. CCM (and any dealer or owner)  was prohibited from using  pre war grade parts on war grade bicycles. Presumably, any leftover pre-war grade stock was for repairs of only pre war grade bicycles, as know that CCM was allowed to manufacture pre war grade parts for repair of pre war grade bicycles.

Aonother consideration is that it could be a post war repaint. During the interwar era, factory repaints were available, though I'm not usrte about post war. Even it it was a DIY paint job, there were still a lot of sign painters around who would have been competent enough to handle those pinstripes. Sometimes, if you remove the fork and/or crankset, you can tell if it is a repaint due to other colours inside the frame, though by the sounds of it, it should have many external scratchs and chips that would expose any underlying colour.

I'm sure the members would like to see pictures of the bicycle, regardless of its current condition. Some of the members are very adept at picking out details which may provide clues about the exact nature of your bicycle.

BTW, was the serial number a typo or just another CCM serialization error? Typically the letter  would be the 2nd character for a bicycle for this period.

Five years ago, the Edmonton Journal ran a series of articles on bicycles and riders. They came to my house, talked to me about CCM bicycles, and took a lot of pictures of CCM's. Many of the pictures appeared in the paper and on their website. Subsequently, there were several people that wanted to contact me to see if I was interested in purchasing their old bicycles. The staff at the Journal were very good about passing on the messages. One of the bicycles was a maroon ladies loop frame that I got from the original owner. Her father had bought the bicycle for her in October, 1945 when she was in Junior High School. She had kept it all of these years and it really was in outstanding condition. It was all original, including the tires, and she had even waxed the paint every so often. This bicycle, aside from the large post-war oval cut-out head badge, was identical to a pre 1942 ladies loop frame.

John Wilkliamson

Very good information, I love learning new things about ccm.

Thanks T-mar and John. Here are photos of the 1945 I mentioned. Note the bent frame and welded pedal crank - evidence of too much fun by the boy who originally rode it! Rather than being junk bikes like this tell a story. 

Another N code (1945) bike has surfaced - 4N9086 - on Kijiji. Instead of black it's the original maroon like mine, but has all-white fenders. It has the decal in place of the headtube badge, and in line with what T-Mar has explained, this one has the handlebar stem with no forward extension. It seems to have rubber pedals, not the zinc ones. Mine (53N481) has rubber pedals too. I will try to post photos of it I downloaded from Kijiji. He wants $450 firm - I will pass. -Brian R.