Trust me to get an awkard one

I purchased a CCM ballooner/middleweight here in New Zealand from a man who had lived in Canada sometime earlier in his life and he claimed it to be from the 1950's. It has all the characteristic Ballooner traits except the F.12 (S-7) rims and tires of 26" x 2" x 1 3/4". It's VERY unlikely these were later added as the frame only has a single top tube. However, the serial number is more like that of a 1940's bike being 9V3996. That V as a second digit is not mentioned ANYWHERE.

The saddle is Dunlop with thick plates for rails instead of skinny rod. The hubs are CCM and the fender braces are all stamped from sheet steel, not formed rod as found on middleweights.

Either way, no matter what age it is, the chances of finding another CCM here in New Zealand is minimal making this bike probably very sought after here amongst all the New Zealand made british-licensed bikes e.g Raleigh etc etc.

From looking at serial number charts the latest second digit as a letter was T in 1948 and then in 1949 A became the last digit. Is it possible it is somewhere between this?

It may not be complete and a very few minor nuts and bolts aren't original, cosmetically it's worn out but it certainly rides extremely nicely. I don't wish to spoil any of it's history, even the brushed paint touching up the repainted fenders.