ID Help needed... any prewar experts?

[Unchained]

I've got these two bikes (posted them both a while back), but so far I have no clue as to the manufacture of either one. I would really like to know! The plan is to eventually do a full resto on the green one (an old family bike) and I'd love to make the rusty camelback a rider. The rusty camelback is a 26", with the singletube tires (? terminology) and the green one is a 28". The Model D hub on the rusty camelback is a real early one by the looks (short, thicker brake arm, completely different sprocket and lockring, I forgot to get pics but will get some if need be)... the seat is not original, nor are the cross brace bars (borrowed those from the green one for a just-for-kicks mockup). The seat pictured last is the one that is actually original to the camelback, as are the small boy scout looking bars. I tried to get some clear pictures of the fork crowns, dropouts, and drive trains... I know approximate ages, but would like some help really pinpointing these. Please let me know what you guys think! Any help would be appreciated. I will retrieve the serial no. for the camelback ASAP, and will check out the green one for a number...

 

[rms37]

The Rusty camelback is most likely a Colson product. The dropouts, the seat stays, the fork, the chainring, and the dropstand all point in that direction. 26" single tube bicycles were to 28" single tubes what 24" balloons are to 26 inch balloons; the entire frame and generally the components were downsized to fit a smaller rider. The Green bike is not as easy to atribute to a manufacturer, the serial number may help.

 

[Unchained]

The Rusty camelback is most likely a Colson product. The dropouts, the seat stays, the fork, the chainring, and the dropstand all point in that direction. 26" single tube bicycles were to 28" single tubes what 24" balloons are to 26 inch balloons; the entire frame and generally the components were downsized to fit a smaller rider. The Green bike is not as easy to atribute to a manufacturer, the serial number may help.

Wow, too cool! Thanks for the help, that's terrific. Would you happen to know what badge would be correct for this Colson? Would this bike originally have had a chainguard, and do you think the bars, stem and seat would be correct?

I will take a look and see if I can't find some kind of number on the green bike. I haven't looked again, but I think I remember seeing one on it when I flipped it over.

 

[rms37]

37Fleetwood has built an excellent website and Forum for Classic bicycle enthusiasts and has posted several scans of original literature there. Here is a link to a 1934 Colson Catalog which shows a camelback model like yours.

http://classicbicycles.comuv.com/phpBB3 ... ?f=48&t=70

Colson did not brand their product line as broadly as many but as always, without a badge it is nearly impossible to be sure what was original to the bike. The most common Colson badge from that period is probably the “Flyer” badge with its curlicues and flourishes. Boy’s bikes from that period typically were not equipped with chain guards but everything else on the bike (except the saddle) looks period correct.

The Green bike is more problematic; some of the features are familiar but point in different directions and some may have been changed out over the years. The sprocket looks like Schwinn but the frame does not. The fork crown is “Westfield like” and the headset is “Shelby like”. The fenders are unique with the twin grooves but I don't recognize them. Again, perhaps the serial number will help.