News
Value of 1943 CCM Bicycle
I would appreciate knowing the approximate value of a CCM bicycle which was purchased new by my father about 1943. I can not say for sure the exact year, but think it was 1943 because my father said he purchased it when age 25. The accompanying booklet containg directions for care and operation, also traffic rules, was printed in Canada and is dated 1941-42. This bicycle has 28" wheels. It requires complete restoration. There are multiple layers of black paint, and both fenders are rusted and misshapen. Most of the parts are complete, except for the head tube badge and rear fender reflector which are missing. There are two brand new tires, never mounted. The original colour was black; I understand it was due to scarcity of chrome during the wartime that the only chrome on this bicycle is the handlebar stem and the seat post.
Please refer to the attached photo image (the handlebars are turned sideways and pedals mounted in reverse in order to save storage space).
Also, if anyone is interested in purchasing this bicycle, please let me know. It is located in Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Where is image(s). From your description, value would be nominal. If it was a "war grade" bike it would have had a CCM decal rather than the metal headbadge. Are the hubs black (they were actually "blued")?
Wayne:
Thank you for your prompt and informative reply.
I think there must have been some delay in getting the image posted to the forum. I see the image is there now.
Your comment regarding a CCM decal instead of a headbadge explains why I thought the badge is missing. The decal is probably still there, albeit under several coats of black paint.
Regarding the hubs, they are not black. I have little knowledge of "blued" steel, but I think that the hubs, also most of the other parts typically chrome plated such as wheel rims, the handlebars, and the sprocket and pedal crank assembly were all "blued" instead of being chrome plated.
Please let me know what you consider to be a nominal value.
Again, thank you for your reply and comments.
I had a war era bike and it had a very thin, cheap looking, head badge.
the price would be $125-150
When exactly did CCM drop chromium plating in favout of bluing? TIA.
T Mar: I'm not sure if they dropped the chroming process, rather they used gun bluing or a similar acid to blacken the chromium plated hubs; it was done only on those bikes designated "War Grade" . These bikes had brightwork darkened with paint or the acid process, this included handlebars and chainring, excepting the quill and seatpost, which were spared. They also had a decal headbadge rather than a metal one. The "War Grade" bikes were built to certain specs outlined from the Controller generals office, spec order # CS 39. I believe that, although these specs were for bikes designated for the Military, some were sold through CCM dealers.
Each of the "War Grade " bikes had a tag affixed to them which outlines this order and the fact that the equipment must not be changed in any way. See a copy of this tag which is shown with one of my "War Grade" bikes( I have 2 - 1943 models) , which was purchased new in Truro (I have complete provenance for this bike and I am in the process of donating it to one of the Truro museums) http://s917.photobucket.com/albums/ad20/dobie45/1943%20CCM%20LADIES%20WAR%20GRADE/
It appears that during the early stages of the war; CCM continued to make some bikes of their regular lines with the metal headbadges and brightwork untouched. I have a 1941 Roadster, 1941 Mororbike, and a 1942 Rambler which have not been "blacked out" and are unaltered, except for the ravages of time. As I don't have any 1944 or 1945 bikes I'm not sure if all the bikes from 1943 onwards and including 1945 were all "War Grade". Perhaps 1943 was when spec order # CS 39 came into effect.
Some of our compadres who have 1943, 1944 and 1945 catalogues may be able to shed some light on this point. Also does anyone have 1943, 1944 or 1945 bikes with metal headbadges & bright work untouched?
Lawrence: What year was your war era bike?
@Wayne.Gillies:
I had a 1945 CCM with chrome 26" rims, cranks, bars and truss rods and metal badge.
1944
I gave that frame away to a guy that lived near 41 st in Vancouver who bought and sold bikes.
It's probably still around if someone wants to go get it.
The frame was yellow orange.
Ya know something I think was Kool about that war time decal is they used that colour set I found under the head badge of my '37 which was Chinese red and powder blue.
The following is shamless commercialization. If anyone is re-doing a "War Grade" bike, or wants to use the decal on another bike, I had some mylar decals made up which are a passable representation of this neat decal; if you are interested, contact me by email bmwchev@msn.com. $10 ea, I still have a few left, see http://s917.photobucket.com/albums/ad20/dobie45/MYLAR%20CCM%20HEAD%20BADGES/
The comments by Old bikes and Lawrence's 1944 with metal headbadge tend to back the supposition that CCM continued to make other than War Grade bikes, although bikes made after wars end in 1945 would have reverted to pre spec order # CS 39 ( tooling, etc. (certainly not a scientific assumption, but better than nothing in the absence of documentary proof ).
Still need info from catalogues to prove/disprove this assumption..
The 1945 company catalogue has only 2 bicycles listed. These are them. Hope it's clear enough.
Thank-you, gentlemen, My only war era catalogue is from 1941 and it does not mention "transfers" under the nameplate category. All the model descriptions carry the generic entry " bright parts, CCM chrominium plated" and the specific component descriptions in the parts section of the catalog mentions chromium plating for the hubs, hangers, stems. handleabrs, etc. So, metal headbadges and chrominum plating appears to have been standard on consumer models through at least 1941.
John's 1945 catalogue does not specifically mention the material finish on components except for the rims and mudguards, so it's inconclusive unless it is specifically mentioned in the components descriptions contained in the parts section of the catalogue.
Hello John , can I have this sheet by e-mail please thanks ;)
johnny-cash@hotmail.fr
Hi, Is this bike still for sale? If so, please send me an email. Thanks! --David
dwebb16@cogeco.ca