WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

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Craig Johnson
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Craig Johnson » Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:22 pm

Information to follow

Image
Image
Last edited by Craig Johnson on Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Craig..The newcomer Johnson

MVPA 3642
My website
http://www.handcartz.com
Own a bunch of hand carts
http://handcartz.smugmug.com/gallery/509020/

Always buying anything for the U.S. Army Hand Cart. Parts, manuals, accessories. Even the smallest screw.


Craig Johnson
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Craig Johnson » Sun Dec 13, 2009 2:24 pm

Information to follow

Image
Image
Image
Craig..The newcomer Johnson

MVPA 3642
My website
http://www.handcartz.com
Own a bunch of hand carts
http://handcartz.smugmug.com/gallery/509020/

Always buying anything for the U.S. Army Hand Cart. Parts, manuals, accessories. Even the smallest screw.

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Bozman
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Bozman » Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:36 am

Columbia–Westfield produced two versions of their “folding” bicycles during 1940-1948. These Bicycles did not really fold in half like the British Airborne BSA Bicycles did. The came apart in two parts and had folding handle bars that allowed them to be folded to one side or the other. The first version which was tested by the US Para-Marines was a modified version of their Compax Sports Traveler which had thinner tires and fenders then the “Compax Paratrooper” version which had 2.125” balloon tires and the stronger, thicker frame and wider fenders. The Para-Marines tested the Compax Sports Traveler Bicycle at Lakehurst Naval Air Station in 1940/1941. The Compax Paratrooper Model came out sometime during WW2 and continued into production into 1948. There is currently no known written or photographic proof of US Airborne Troops jumping into combat with the Compax Bicycle. I’ve read that a 101st Airborne officer wrote a letter to his family stating that his men tossed his bicycle overboard prior to the D-Day invasion. I'm trying to track down the source of that information.

Johan Willaert’s The Liberator website http://www.theliberator.be/militarybicycles.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (Currently one of the best on-line sources for WW2 Columbia Bicycles) has some of the pictures of the Marine Advertisement and the only known picture of a Compax Paratrooper Bicycle in actual WW2 Military Service:

Image

The picture is of WAVE Peg Dudley at Naval Air Station Key West Florida. The Bicycle appears to have the wartime wooden pedals and it has not been determined if the rear frame has any additional braces on the rear frame.

It has been reported that sometime in 1944 or 1945 additional rear braces were added to the Compax Paratrooper bicycle. I’m currently tracking down original examples to correlate serial numbers, the year of manufacture and whether they have braces or not. It appears that several 1945/46 civilian models may have been left over military frames which have the braces.

Here is a photo of a WW2 Compax Paratrooper with added braces (a military bicycle that was either sold right after the war or more likely restored in civilian colors). I do not have the serial number of this bicycle. Note the cutouts in the front crank gear. I have noticed these on several WW2 Military Compax Paratroopers and 1940-1942 civilian Compax Sport Travelers.

Image

Both my 1946 Compax Paratrooper and Compax Sports Traveler do not have the additional rear braces. I will post pictures of the braces when I photograph some original unrestored WW2 Military models located in Maryland.

Recently I have seen a restored Compax Paratrooper bicycle for sale with the oval Columbia Headbadge that appears on the G519 bicycle. This is incorrect; all Compax bicycles will have a round oval headbadge that will either state that it is a Westfield Compax Sports Traveler Bicycle or a Compax Paratrooper (this badge has only been identified in the 1947/48 models). Both of my 1946 Compax Sports Traveler and Compax Paratrooper models have the Westfield Compax Sports Traveler Badge on them.

Image


A great article on the Civilian Compax Paratrooper Bicycle located at the National Bicycle History Archive of America (with pictures of a mint NOS unrestored bicycle) can be found here:

http://nbhaa.com/indexCOMPAX.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This Bicycle appears to have the Columbia Compax Paratrooper Headbadge.

My 1946 Compax Paratrooper does not have chain adjustment screws while my 1946 Compax Sports Traveler does have the chain adjustment screws.

Like all Columbia Westfield Bicycles of Wartime vintage the serial number is stamped on the underside of the crank. In the late 1950’s thru 1960s Columbia stamped the frame number near the back tire axle on the right side of the bike.

The Columbia Westfield production numbers are as follows:

1940.……E5000 - E168879
1941.……F5000 - F213132 and G5000 - G17433 (MF/MG serial numbers = military bicycles)
1942.……G17434 - G112858 (MG serial numbers = military bicycles)
1943.……G112859 - G195135 (MG serial numbers = military bicycles)
1944.……G195136 - G200000 (MG serial numbers = military bicycles)
1945.……J5000 - J114781
1946.……K5000 - K256116
1947.……L5001 - L313474
1948.……M5001 - M345445

Here are the Before and After pics of my Restored 1946 Compax Paratrooper.

Image
BEFORE
Image
AFTER
Last edited by Bozman on Tue Dec 15, 2009 12:41 pm, edited 5 times in total.
JD Boswell
1942 GPW 25717 "Lorin's Lament"
1942 MBT Trailer "Swiss Miss"
1943 Columbia G-519 Bicycles MG137342 and MG151142
1946 Compax Folding Paratrooper Bicycle "Uncle Chinky"
MVPA #21677
http://www.classic-pinup.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Johan WILLAERT
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Johan WILLAERT » Tue Dec 15, 2009 8:34 am

Bozman wrote:I've read that a 101st Airborne officer wrote a letter to his family stating that his men tossed his bicycle overboard prior to the D-Day invasion. I'm trying to track down the source of that information.
Upon my request about the use of the Compax bicycle by US Army AB troops during WW2, George Koskimaki, who was an NCO in the 101st AB Signal Company/101AB Division in WW2 (He was General Taylor's radio man), made that statement to me in a letter dated approx 1995-1996. He did NOT remember the exact bicycle model, but did say bicycles were thrown out of aircraft while flying over the Channel en route to Normandy...

Johan
MVPA#14204
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator

Ernie Baals
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Ernie Baals » Tue Dec 15, 2009 1:40 pm

Hi
Thanks for all the great info..
there is a picture of a jeep being backed into a glider for Market Garden, and in the back of the jeep there is 1/2 of a compax.
I will try to find the picture, i cannot rememebr where i saw it at his time.

I wiwll get some pictures of my bicycles
I have 2 military Columbia mens
1 military Columbia womens
1 early thin tire/fender Compax
1 late fat tire/fender Compax
BSA folding
1939 Workman three wheeler,ex navy shore patrol
Ernie
Rip Dad 1/22/24 to 12/21/11
I will always love and miss you.
Ernie Baals MVPA 104C and 3104, AACA, SJC MVPA

Fathom the hypocrisy of a Government
that requires every citizen to prove
they are insured……but not everyone
must prove they are a citizen”

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Bozman
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Bozman » Tue Dec 15, 2009 3:36 pm

Ernie Baals wrote:Hi
Thanks for all the great info..
there is a picture of a jeep being backed into a glider for Market Garden, and in the back of the jeep there is 1/2 of a compax.
I will try to find the picture, i cannot rememebr where i saw it at his time.

I wiwll get some pictures of my bicycles
I have 2 military Columbia mens
1 military Columbia womens
1 early thin tire/fender Compax
1 late fat tire/fender Compax
BSA folding
1939 Workman three wheeler,ex navy shore patrol
Ernie
Ernie,

Cool! This sticky is working just as I had hoped. Can you post the serial numbers for your bicycles when you post your pics? That will help build up our data base.

The picture you are talking about is shown on Johan's website and it is in fact a Simplex Servicecycle motorcycle not a Compax Paratrooper. Here is the link for Johan's site:

http://www.theliberator.be/militarybicycles.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We look forward to seeing your pics!
JD Boswell
1942 GPW 25717 "Lorin's Lament"
1942 MBT Trailer "Swiss Miss"
1943 Columbia G-519 Bicycles MG137342 and MG151142
1946 Compax Folding Paratrooper Bicycle "Uncle Chinky"
MVPA #21677
http://www.classic-pinup.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ernie Baals
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Ernie Baals » Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:37 pm

Hi
as soon is i cab, i will dig out the bikes, and get the info.
The photo i am talking about is similar, but not the one in the link.
This is a single shot of a jeep and you can clearly see the frame split, where is couples together.
I wonder about the jeep n the back groundm backing in the glider. i can't make out what is in that.
Ernie
Rip Dad 1/22/24 to 12/21/11
I will always love and miss you.
Ernie Baals MVPA 104C and 3104, AACA, SJC MVPA

Fathom the hypocrisy of a Government
that requires every citizen to prove
they are insured……but not everyone
must prove they are a citizen”

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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Craig Johnson » Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:48 pm

Here are my bikes. I waited a long time to buy these and passed up on quit a few hoping I would get these in the end. Patience paid off.

Huffman Men's
1942
677
D 51 646

Columbia Woman's
K 6
MG 140092


Some things about the bikes.
All four tires are U.S. Royal Master Centipede Grip (marked War tire) 26 x 2.125 They are checked (tiny cracks) and cannot be ridden on.
Light original to bike
Pump original to bike. Not in the right spot. Can see paint worn where the pump should go.
Bell. Have not taken the time to see if it is Bevin marked.
The bikes were surplussed and to the best of Jim's (the seller) knowledge were not touched by the previous owner.

I found these on the Internet about 12 years ago and have been waiting for them to come up for sale. He lived in a town that now escapes me ,but he eventually moved to Clark Fork, Idaho where my Dad went to get them. This is by Post Falls.

Here is what little history I have on the bikes
"Quote from the seller"
“Well our military bicycles came from the Oakland Army Depot. CA. The man I bought them from used to go to a Lot of actions, military and otherwise. He collected all kinds of odd and weird things. From mannequins to a horse drawn hearse. Kinda cool really, but you need a big place to put it all. That's about all the history I have on the bicycles.”

A bunch of photos in this gallery.
http://handcartz.smugmug.com/gallery/8763603_92MzR" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Image

Image

ImageImage
Craig..The newcomer Johnson

MVPA 3642
My website
http://www.handcartz.com
Own a bunch of hand carts
http://handcartz.smugmug.com/gallery/509020/

Always buying anything for the U.S. Army Hand Cart. Parts, manuals, accessories. Even the smallest screw.

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Johan WILLAERT
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Johan WILLAERT » Tue Dec 15, 2009 11:01 pm

Westfield Columbia Front Sprocket Variations

Usually the front sprocket encountered on Columbia's is a 'Sunburst' style but I have noticed a variation on several bikes.... This odd sprocket was observed on bicycles with Serial Numbers MG134319 (Mark Chapin's Collection), MG138969 (Mine), MG143313 (Alexis Salomé), MG145375 (Airborne Museum, Sainte-Mère-Eglise, France) and on MG145642 (Gustaaf Desmet). Initially when I restored my bicycle, I suspected it wasn't correct for a WW2 specimen, but seeing it on other bicycles leads me to believe that at least roughly 10.000 of them were in fact manufactured that way....

Image

French farmer Seraphin François holding Westfield Columbia MG145375 which he rode daily until he donated it to the Ste-Mère-Eglise Airborne Museum on October 15th, 1975.... Note the front sprocket...

Image
MVPA#14204
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator

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Johan WILLAERT
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Johan WILLAERT » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:43 am

Ernie Baals wrote: The photo i am talking about is similar, but not the one in the link.
This is a single shot of a jeep and you can clearly see the frame split, where is couples together.
Hi Ernie,

Please post a scan of that picture if you can. It would answer many questions that still surround the possible military use of the Compax in combat operations.

Johan
MVPA#14204
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator

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Johan WILLAERT
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Johan WILLAERT » Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:53 am

Bozman wrote: Image
Image
If you compare both bikes above, you will see that the rear forks from the saddle post to the rear axle on the WW2 model are straight, while those on the postwar (i.e. 1946 model) are slighty rounded. I believe this to be a key factor in determining a Compax frame being WW2 period or later.

JOhan
MVPA#14204
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator

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Bozman
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Bozman » Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:14 pm

Here is an original WW2 Bevins' Bell that was manufactured by a company that made M-1 Carbine Magazines.

Image

The box it was sold in had the Carbine data stamped out on the box!
JD Boswell
1942 GPW 25717 "Lorin's Lament"
1942 MBT Trailer "Swiss Miss"
1943 Columbia G-519 Bicycles MG137342 and MG151142
1946 Compax Folding Paratrooper Bicycle "Uncle Chinky"
MVPA #21677
http://www.classic-pinup.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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Johan WILLAERT
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Johan WILLAERT » Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:09 am

Toolbags issued with these bikes were made by Persons, also manufacturer of the saddle.

These toolbags were essentially a piece of leather wrapped around two metal side cups and closed with two clips.
They were attached to the saddle with two leather straps.
The flap bears the Mfr logo marked PERSONS over WORCESTER MASS. U.S.A.
The leather is attached to the side cups with 5 flat rivets on each side.
The straps are slid thru the flap and have a small rectangulare parkerised buckle, while the clips and grommets are painted OD, along with the side cups...

Image

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Image

Image

Image

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Image

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Yes, this is the very same bag shown in the Columbia Folding Bicycle book which was published in 2008.
Pictures were shamelessly taken from the internet and included in the book without any credit whatsoever...
Last edited by Johan WILLAERT on Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:27 am, edited 1 time in total.
MVPA#14204
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator

User avatar
Johan WILLAERT
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Johan WILLAERT » Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:22 am

NOS Handlebars, made by Torrington and thus marked towards the left end.
No idea what the small hole near the left end is for, it is not on the right hand side.
Painted flat OD over red oxide primer

Image

Image
MVPA#14204
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator

User avatar
Johan WILLAERT
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Re: WW2 Bicycle Data - Sticky

Post by Johan WILLAERT » Thu Dec 24, 2009 2:44 am

NOS Rim, DropCenter Type in Size 26 x 2 1/8
The nipple holes are large to accept the heavy duty spoke nipples.
Note how the spokes are arranged left and right of the valve stem hole. This is different on civilian type rims with drilled out holes...
Rim was painted OD with no traces of primer at all, no markings found

Image

Image
MVPA#14204
Huffman D50546 (1942)
Westfield Columbia MG138969 & MG140418 (1943)
HD 42WLA31854 (1943)
Ford GPW272xxx (1945)
Bantam T3 56433(Est) (1945)
John Wood M3A4 17564 (1943)
Johnston Lawn Mower Co RL35-A 1255 (1944)
BSA Mark V* T136102 (1944)
The Liberator


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