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New member in Victoria trying to identify bike
Hi All
I'm a new member in Victoria, BC. I recently purchased a vintage CCM bicycle and I am trying to find out approximately what year it was manufactured. The head plate is partially gone but enough of it is left that I can positively identify that the bike is a Perfect model manufactured at the Weston, Ontario plant. It is a woman's bike and has wood rims. I looked for a serial number around the seat post but could not find one. The front sprocket does NOT have the CCM letters in it. It has a old bicycle license from Port Coquitlam dated 1959, so it must have been manufactured before then. It is black, but it appears to have been painted at some time (including the rims). The rear fender is white in the last 8 - 10 inches (at the back of the fender).
Can anybody help? Thanks......
If it has wood rims it would be from the Twenty's or before. Unless someone put them on at some point ,picture would help.
Not having a serial number certainly makes things more challenging but a Weston head badge should place it no older than 1917. After CCM intoroduced steel rims, wood rims were still offered (at extra cost). I'm not sure exactly when this practice ceased, but it was still an option as later as 1928 and gone by 1932.
The other major change that I'm aware during this period was with the Triplex crankset. Prior to 1923, the chainring was fastened to a large flange on the axle via 4 bolts. Starting in 1923 the flange was drastically reduced in size and the chainting was held in place by the drive side race and prevented from spinning by a lug on the back of the crankarm which engaged a hole in the chainring. There was a also change to the headset and the introduction of Gibson pedals about this time.
Pictures may help other members pick oput some nuances that would help to further narrow the range.
Thanks, guys. That's good information. The chainring is attached to a flange with 4 bolts, so I guess that would put it somewhere between 1917 and 1923. I'll post a picture soon.
A few more questions:
1. Where would the serial number be if it is not on the frame by the seat post? Did they put serial numbers on bikes on a hit and miss basis? Seems strange that they serial number is missing...why would somebody would remove a serial number?
2. I'd like to restore it. What colours were used back then? Are there any picture of original paint jobs? Are parts still available? Is it better to try to get original parts or fix old parts? What about replacing standard bits and pieces like nuts and bolts? If I use new nuts and bolts does that reduce the value of the bike?
3. Any idea of what the bike might be worth? I see people trying to sell junk bikes from the 1970's or 80's for hundreds of dollars, so I'm hoping the bike might be more valuable then that.
Thanks again.
1. CCM typcally stamped ther serial numbers on the left side of the seat lug, up unitl the very early 1960s. I don't see a lot from this era but a few have popped on the forum with a serial number in this location. Stolen bicycles often have serial numbers removed but there's generally evidence of the removal.
2. The standard colour for ,most of the very early Weston models was black. There were additional options, at extra price but I'd probably go with black. If you're looking for OEM parts the best source may be posting in the "Wanted to Buy" section of the forum. Originality is the primer driver for the prospective buyer, so non-orignal parts do drive down the price. On the other hand, a complete,proper restoration can drive the price so high, that you'll never recoup the investment upon resale. If you're planning on keeping the bicycle, you can decide what you can and cannot live without and how much you're willing to spend. However, if you're planning to sell the bicycle, my advice is to sell it as is.
3. In addtion to originality, value is highly dependent on mechanical and cosmetic condition. I seriously doubt that anyone on the forum would commit to a value without having at least seen pictures.