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Prewar 3speed project
Hi, I'm thinking about fixing up a CCM 3 speed that my Dad bought new in North Battleford Sask 1941 as a kid. The serial no. appears to be 9V6732 but some of the numbers are stamped upside down so it could be 9A67432 making it a 1937 model. I've got the 1941 tin licence plate for it as well which is pretty cool.. Unfortunately the rims are too far gone with rust so they will have to be replaced. From what I have gleaned from the web, the rims are the 26x1 1/2 westwood type. The paint on the frame is pretty good although faded and the fenders are a bit dented and scratched.
So the questions are, can I find some rims and should I repair and repaint the fenders and frame?
Thanks
any pictures?
When you post pix, ensure you show close ups of the headbadge and serial #.
If it is stamped #V####, the frame would have the anomoly letter V in second position, which would make it late 40s. This anomoly has been discussed a couple of t imes on these forums. It would make more sense if it were bought pre war that the letter would be A ; in which case the headbadge would be the telling factor.
The only model for 1937 that had 26" tires were the boys model with a smaller frame than the adults models, which were 28"
So, as locomotion asks, send pics
Oops, thought I'd added a picture. Here they are:
Forgot to mention that late 40s makes more sense to me anyway, especially when I misread the license plate which is actually #41 issued in1952. Thanks for pointing that out. Maybe 1949?
Thanks
It's a CCM Men's Balloon bicycle based on the single top tube camelback frame, 26" x 1-1/2" wheels, Motorbike handlebars and dual brace fenders..
Circa 1949 seems correct. It's definitely post war based on the perforated, oval, head badge and curved fork truss. However, it would also appear to be pre-1950 as the enamelled, oval, head badge was in place by then and that year's Men Balloon used colour matched fenders and had a contrasting, sun burst head tube.
The 1950 catalogue specifies this model with the standard CCM '37' coaster brake. I've never seen the Sturmey-Archer ABC, Tri-Coaster brake spec'd on a CCM model but I don't have any literature from 1946-1949. Still, the Tri-Coaster was a CCM catalogued item during the inter-war and post war years. The wording is is a bit ambiguous in the catalogues but it may have been a custom order, factory option. Being a Sturmey-Archer, it should have an open fomat date to help determine its originality. If it's 1950 or later, I'd say it would appear to be an aftermarket addition. Anything pre-1950 could be original. Circa 1946-1949 would almost certainly be OEM, but even something pre-war could be factory installed. I imagine CCM din't sell a lot of them and could have had stock hanging around for a long period. They probably also didn't rotate the stock.
Another point to consider is the absence of a chainguard. The pre-war and war era men's models did not use the. However, they were used on this model in 1950. I'm not sure about 1946-1949. Hopefully, another member can supply some more information.
Yes, 26", Westwood rims are still available, though in the correct 571mm bead seat diamter, I've only seen the slightly wider 26" x 1-3/4" verion. I've seen new 26" x 1-1/2" style in the larger 584mm bead seat diamter.
To repaint or not is a personal decision. Some just like to neutralize the rust, then seal it, preserving the patina. Others like things new and shiny. It all depends on your personal tolerance level and the condition of the bicycle. Things get harder if you're going to resell the bicycle, as you never know the potential buyers' preference. However, you rarely recoup your investment.
Hi and thank you for all the information about my bike. Interesting about the Sturmey-Archer hub. For what it is worth it is stamped AB-? where ? might be the top half of a 9. Attached is a picture.
It probably did have a chain guard as the downtube is missing paint where it may have been attached and there are also some indentations in the paint on the chain stay. I'll ask Dad some more questions about the bike.
I looked a bit more at the rims and decided that they will clean up enough and are at least usable. As you mentioned I would have to go with non original rim sizes ( not that they are much different) and then I would have shiny rims and I would feel that the rest had to be shiny too. So I will probably apply the maxim "Do no harm" and just clean it up though I might go crazy and spring for some nice new grips. I plan to just cruise around the neighbourhood a bit with it on dry days.
It's not a tri-coaster. I was mixing my terminology.The ABC was a 3 speed with a cable operated drum brake. Near as I can tell, the AB was the rod operated version of the ABC.. Still, Sturmey-Archer may have simplified the designation to AB for both versions? Anybody?
I couldn't find mentionof the AB prior to 1951 (1950 literature mentions only the ABC, while 1951 mentions the both and individually and 1952 uses the hybrid notation AB/C. If so, it would appear to post date the bicycle and indicate it's a aftermarket addition.