Sunshine Questions

Hi Brian,

With regards to tires, the only 28" tire sizes available in Canada that I know of for the F13 rim (ISO 622) were labelled 28 X 1 1/2 or 28 X 1 3/4. The 28 X 1 3/4 tires were usually imports from England since this is where the so called 28 X 1 3/4 rim originated. Of course, the English 28 X 1 1/2 size is much larger in diameter (ISO 635). You can find modern tires that are labelled 700 X 50C that will work and give you a 2" diameter tire. The Russians also made a vintage looking tire for this size rim that had a 2" diameter.

Regards,

John Williamson

I believe that 1972 was the year that USA legislated the compulsory use of reflector pedals and Canada quickly followed.  But, they were in use before that.  I presume that on your pedal the reflector is glass and not plastic, if so, they were also available on the 50s CCM baloons..and perhaps earlier.

 Union pedals started using reflectors in their pedals in 1937, Torrington in the 30s, as well.

Here is an informative, although not comprehensive link at the pedal history museum

 http://www.speedplay.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pedalmuseum.quill

I should clarify that reflector pedals are required on purchase of most bikes from bicycle sales outlets; certainly track and racing bikes are exceptions, there are probably a myriad of others.  

Also should you remove the reflector pedals, that is your choice..I've never heard of anybody being prosecuted for not having reflectors in their pedals.

As with any rule/law/directive there are ways of getting around it,  /

The only bicycles that can be sold without reflectors are sidewalk bicycles. Track and racing bicycles are not exempt. However, the manufacturers get around this by selling these models without pedals and leaving pedal choice up to the customer, as there are no reflector requirements for the sale of aftermarket pedals.

A lot of people assume that 1972 was the year that most bicycle safety regulations came into effect. However, this is not true. 1972 was only the year that the CPSC (Consumer Products safety Commission) was formed. . However, the manufacturers were well aware of the proposals and many started lobbying the component manufacturers to implement changes immediately. Most of the changes seen on bicycles during this period were actuall voluntary on the manufacturers' part, with actual enforcement not taking place until 1978. 

Looking at CCM's reflector policy during this period is an interesting study.

1972: Pedal reflectors standard on all rubber block pedals but not quill style pedals. Rear reflectors standard on all models except Tour du Canada. Fork blade reflectors standard on all models except Tour du Canada and Citation.

1973: Fork blade reflectors dropped. Reflectors introduced on quill pedals except for Tour Du Canada.

1977: Front reflectors introduced on all models.

1978: Wheel reflectors introduced on all models.

I think this pretty much reflects the CPSC proposals. Everbody knew what was coming and CCM wanted to implement things quickly, as they were planning a large advertising campaign in the USA to capitalize on the bicycle shortages due to the boom. They would have to ensure their bicycles were compliant with pending USA leglislation. 

The side reflectors were an attempt to address proposed legislation but CCM ran into a lot of issues of bicycles being received with damaged reflectors. Consequently, they were dropped pending a better solution or actual enactment of legislation. The eventual solution would be the 1978 wheel reflectors.

In 1972 CCM sourced most ten speed components from Europe. Consequently, unless the reflectors couild be an add-on, they were omitted on the ten-speed racers. By 1973 they had a source for reflectorized quill pedals.

The Tour du Canada was was exceptiion, not because it was racing bicycle but because it was externally sourced. The Silver Ghost was also a racing bicycle (i.e tubular tires) but it met CCM's internal policy because it was manufactured in-house.

Well, here in Quebec, never had problems with the reflectors. I have an old bike without reflectors. I often passed along the police car and no plicemen stopped me because i had no reflectors on this bike...Howver, this is the only bike with no reflectors, the others have their reflectors.

Thanks everyone. I think the reflectors are glass but it's hard to tell. They are still clear, not what I would expect 45+ year old plastic to look like. I am thinking of buying 700x50C whitewall tires but still hoping for more info. I will try to post a photo that got lost the first time.

Unfortunately, pedals and saddles are two of the most common replacement items on bicycles, so they very well could be non-OEM, On the other hand, both two tone saddles and reflectorized pedals were available in the late 1950s, when balloon tire bicycles were in their final years. Given how well the blue on the saddle matches the frame colour, I'd be tempted to say it is OEM and that the bicycle dates to circa 1960. However, I'd still be searching for more evidence. Depending on the brand, the rear hub may have a date code, which would aid in detrermining the probability of the pedals and reflectors being original.

Your bike has the correct fenders, rims and seat for a late Sunshine. I had access to a 1953 catalogue so I scanned the pages with the bicycles and tricycles. This is from a long time employee and I was told this was the last year of production. I have a few stripped  frames so here are a few pictures of the rear fender mount differences. 28" on the left with the balloon on the right. The seat and chain stays are the same length with the frender mounts being the difference. All deluxe models were painted with an ivory head tube and came in 28" and balloon tire. I have 2 different brass badges with the earlier on the left and both having bright plating. The aluminum diamond was used later in production on tricycles and standard bikes at first. I have only 2 frames over serial number 042000  and both are using the diamond badge, one being a deluxe. No frames over 042431. This pedal I found on 2 of my bikes and 1 had Phillips. I have seen one 28`` girls bike in the hands of the original owner having drop side fenders similar to CCM.  Can someone tell my the manufacturer. Most of my frames have no head badge so I'm looking for any good spares that anyone may have.

Walter

The question of the manufacturer pertains to the pedal.

Thanks Sunnyboy for the helpful info and great photos. From your frame photo I conclude that the balloon models rode on 26" rims because the fender mount is further in despite the larger tires, is that right? Mine has 28" rims and the 28" frame from the photo so it's not a balloon model. Do you know what tire size the 28" came with from the factory, was it 28x1 1/2 like the CCMs, or a bit larger? And black walls? I don't know the manufacturer of that pedal, sorry.

If sometime you could post the scanned image you have of the bike page from the1953 catalogue that would be really great. If the image file is too large I've discovered that cropping it helps get it uploaded to this site.

Thanks again!

I came across this girls sunshine locally,looking for parts to help restore my mens bikeThe ad doesnt say whether its a 26,or 28 inch wheel,& i cant quite tell by the pic.Anyways its a little pricey.If i purchase it,parts will become for sale if anyone is looking.

I would say looking at the tires they are 26 ballon.

Hi Darryl34, did you buy the Sunshine parts bike? 

Sunnyboy, thanks to your frame photos I've finally realized that the Men's Sunshine I bought recently is not a 28" bike at all (see thread: Are these CCM parts on my Sunshine?). It is in fact, a 26" balloon bike. I noticed the rear fender was squished towards the wheel at the fender mount and pulled away from the wheel at the rear fender stays. It looked just like a 28" fender forced onto a 26" frame. Then I checked your frame photos and found that it has the 26" setup at the chainstays. What threw me off was the 28" front forks. Now I believe those forks are also not original to the bike and are probably CCM forks. This explains why there is no handlebar stem nut - because the threads on the top of the fork do not rise high enough to thread a nut on. This bike is more messed up than I had originally thought. I do have a 26" ladies Sunshine I can use as a parts bike, but can you tell me what make of hub brake a 26" Sunshine had originally so I can verify mine is correct? Did the 26" balloon tire bike come with chrome or painted rims originally (my parts bike rims are painted silver)? Finally, what do you make of the frame mount for the rear fender on my bike? See photo. It's curved and different from the ones in your photos.

My new Sunshine seems to have two serial numbers, one at the seat tube: 008871 and one under the bracket: 0P5066158. That last number makes me wonder if the 50 after the 0P stands for 1950. In other words, the 66,158th bike made in 1950, model code 0P.  But why would it have two separate numbers in two locations? 

The answer to the earlier question is the 28" tire is the CCM size.

I've seen a few early bikes with BENDIX hubs but most have PERRY. The ballon bikes came with chrome rims.

I've attached the notes I've made of my 20 Sunshines I have so all can see differences I've found in the construction and models.

The serial number under the bottom bracket appears to me to be an ID for theft recovery.

Walter

still waiting to hear back from the owner on the one above,i was hopeing it is a 28"wheel on the bike.Hes asking kind of a high price,so not sure if im going to purchase it or not.I will have the fenders stem etc you need..........

Good score on the mens sunshine Brian.

I havent bought the sunshine as of yet.I sent the seller a second email today.............

Here is a photo of how this ladies Sunshine Waterloo looks now. I tried 28x1.75 tires but they still looked too small. I finally bought 28x2.0 tires with a cream sidewall. They fill the space nicely but clear the chain stays by only a few millimetres. Thanks to Sunnyboy I have a catalogue picture of the 1953 model. I found a nice saddle on EBay for $27 which is closer to the original. The catalogue shows black tires and grips, but I think the cream tires and white grips suit the bike. I still don't know why the fenders are different than on the catalogue bike. I now seem to have a 28" balloon tire bike.

Thanks John for posting the photo. The tires are Schwalbe Century 700x50-622. I am going to keep my eyes open for white Coke bottle type grips to finish it. It was a beat-up $50 ladies bike but for some reason I like it. With the paint worn off the top tube I can imagine many little kids over many years perched in that spot while being doubled by an older sibling. It has character. Really heavy though - built like a tank.

The 3 complete 28" bikes I have, have double braced rear fenders which isn't showing in the cataloge. The early serial number has a double braced front fender and the other 2 are single. I don't take the cataloge as being 100% acurate with the braces. If you look at my spread sheet the rear fender brace also changes back and forth from a stamping and tubing. The metal pan saddles on the early bikes were from Troxel. Although the first mens balloon I bought was from a farmer and he was the original owner. He bought it in 1951 at a feed mill in town and it came with a rubber Dunlop saddle. When the years passed he replaced it with his uncles leather Persons and it came with the bike.

Walter