Need help identifying CCM Massey

 bike looks very original . The basket is a add on as most where,except dilivery bikes with large metal basket Frame. Sure looks original paint. Not sure about fenders. Are the wheels paint colour of frame with  white stripe?Tires look a little small  as in profile.  I think they stoped the wraparound head badge in the 30,s. I have and had some Massey  Silver Ribbon bikes  but all where form the early 1900,s.   Nice bike

Thanks for the reply. The rims don't look like they have ever been painted. The few spots without rust appear to be bare steel. 

The rear hub is stamped CCM & has the serial number 197677.

The bike is pretty rusty but the frame and components all seem to be straight and solid.  I'm pretty excited to start cleaning it up but my free time is pretty limited right now so just trying to gather as much info on it as possible.

The letter in the 2nd position of the serial number clearly indicates this is a late 1930s or 1940s model. While CCM did not use an 'H" during this period, it is quite possible that some employee was still going by the old letter sequence, in which case 1942 would make sense. The earliest war grade bicycles that have been reported are 1943, so 1942 also fits from that perspective.

While I don't have a 1942 catalogue, I do have a 1941 catalogue. By that time, the line had been parred down to only two camel back framed models, the Boy Scout and the Special. Based on the colour and head badge it is obviously not a Boy Scout. The head badge is correct for the period.

The only obvious discrepancy with the Special in the 1941 catalogue are the rims, which were spec'd as "chromium plated with red wide centre stripe; edged in white". However, it's very possible that they subsequently went to plain off-white enamelled rims, as a result of  the war's material conservation program. I can't tell from the pics is the pedals are the spec'd Gibsons, though again, if it is a 1942 mode and the pedals aren't Gibson, it's possible they dropped the Gibsons to save on aluminum.

You guys are great!! Thanks for all the info so far. 

The pedals appear to be Gibson but I don't know if the alternative was a similar looking knockoff.  

I still can't see any paint on the rims

i took a look at the 1941 brochure and mine has the same navy with gold sunburst paint as the Special. 

Did CCM put the CCM badge on some bikes and CCM/Massey on others that were identical?  I don't fully understand the CCM/Massey relationship.  Was it similar to Chevy/Pontiac in the sense that they offered basically the same product but with different branding?

CCM was formed out of the merger of five bicycle companies in 1899. One of those was the Massey-Harris bicycle division.  The others were H.A, Lozier (Cleveland brand), Goold (Red Bird brand),  Gendron (Gendron & Reliance brands) and Welland-Vale (Perfect, Garden City & Dominion brands). Initially, CCM manufactured under all the founding company brands. In 1900 they bought the National Cycle and Automobile Co. and with it, the Canadian rights to several USA brands, including Columbia, which they also started to manufacture.

Eventually they added the CCM brand and phased out some of the founding brands though right up to at least 1941 (and apparently 1942) you could still buy the premium models as Massey, Cleveland, Red Bird, Perfect and Columbia.

I can't comment about the very early models but by the Great War the bicycles of the various brands were almost identical except for minor variations, such as the chainring and fork crown designs. Eventually, even these small distinctions got phased out until the bicycles were identical except for the head badge. By the end of World War II, CCM was offering bicycles only under the CCM brand. 

If the pedals look like Gibsons, then they almost certainly are. Some USA brands used them with self-branded rubbers but as far as I know these were actually Gibsons. I'm not aware of any other knock-offs.

I thought the rims were painted. If they were bare chrome, they could be OEM but I'm not positive. The war did eventually force CCM to go to painted rims, but I"m not sure of the exact transition date. They appear to be Westwood style as opposed to Endrick style. Even though the catalogues not specify the rim style, the Westwood would appear to be correct for the era, as the parts section of the catalogue mentions only the Westwood rims being available with the centre stripe. The Endrick rims were imported from England, so the war would probably have curtailed the supply.

If you want to learn about the history of CCM, I suggest you buy John's book, available though this website. It's ag odd read and well worth the price.

Sorry, John, I meant to day it's a 'good read', not  an 'odd read'. How embarrassing!  Maybe now you'll get your web designer to add an edit feature? I could certainly use it!  

I didn't even notice the spelling. I'm planning on ordering the book in the next day or two

also, not sure what's up with the two pics in my last post but if you click them, one is of a pedal and the other of my rim. Not sure what the thumbnail pics are of 

I didn't even try clicking on the pics to see if there were Easter eggs.

Yes, those are definitely Gibson pedals. They even have the OEM Gibson rubbers, though they are very worn and the Gibson lettering is almost unrecognizeable.. You can obtain replacement rubbers though forum member Ron Miller.  Click on the sidebar advertisement for his pricing and contact information.

It's really hard to tell from picture what the original finish of the rims might have been. Regardless, they are the correct Westwood style. 

The pics are of the hinge plate and cover of a Troxel seat, probibly from one of gtflytes posts. Perhaps referred  to as X -posting.  Happy New Year all 

It appeares that the Massey has 1 Gibson pedal  and 1 non Gibson pedal.  I may be able to find an odd Gibson pedal and as T-mar mentioned I make Gibson pedal rubbers.      rk.miller@eastlink.ca

That is a very good original bike  here is hopping it stays that way,  with just careful thorough cleaning  or as it is called "Conservation".  If you choose that route do not try to remove the pedal rubbers to clean the pedal as they will most likely be hard and brittle and will break up.

The rims look as if they are plated. A gentle rub with fine steel wool would likely make them shine in the places where the rust is not too thick.     Ron

Happy New Year!

Again, thank you all for your feedback.  It's very much appreciated.

Ron, it's probably just the poor photos that I posted but both pedals are the same.

I don't have any intention of repainting the frame but was considering replating the bars, stem and rims.  Was also going to rebuild the wheels with new spokes but if the general consensus is to keep it all original, than that's what I'll do.  I just thought they were far too rusted to clean up.

Also, are you recomending to not swap the rubbers on the pedals (or grips)? I guess it makes sense to keep it as original as possible or would look a bit off with a couple new pieces but, as mentioned, I'm new to this so really value everyone's input and opinions.

Unfortunately, I just have a small storage shed and no room in the house to work on it so it'll be a while before I get to it.  In the meantime, just trying to get get as much info on the bike and restoring techniques as possible.

I'm pretty good at taking my time with things to make sure it's done right so I'm not too concerened about the time it will take to clean up the plated parts but I don't even know where to begin with the seat.  How do you remove rust from the bottom springs?  Do I just concentrate on the visible part or is there a way to get in between those tight coils? 

I also have a 70's Galaxie Sport and (I believe) an Elan that are both in pretty good shape with minor surface rust that I will work on first for practice.  I'll be making separate threads about those bikes because both bikes have a couple inconsistancies with what I've seen online (so far).