HOW TO IDENTIFY A CORRECT WW2 US ARMY BICYCLE

 

Genuine US Army bicycles are quite difficult to identify since they were based on existing models readily available from civilian shops. Most bicycles you see today are assembled on civilian frames painted olive drab!!... Original WW2 military bikes are extremely rare and if you come across one, it is highly likely it has been restored with non-military parts. The only way to distinguish a real military bicycle from a civilian model is by looking at the number located on the frame underneath the front crank set. Frame numbers were hand stamped during WW2 and should not be aligned.

Columbia wartime Army bicycles have Serial Numbers starting with either 'MF' or 'MG' and are not dated contrary to Huffman made bikes, which are dated and have a Serial Number starting with a letter ('D' and 'H' have been observed) followed by a number

Serial Numbers on Columbia (top left) and Huffman (top right and lower pictures)
Note the difference in markings between the two brands and the year of

manufacture stamped either above or below the serial number  on the Huffman frames
(Huffman Frame images via Craig Johnson, G. Desmet and Rodger Armbrust)

 

 

 

Westfield Columbia also made bicycles with frame numbers preceded by 'MC'. These were made for the US Marine Corps and some might have been sent to China under Lend-Lease Agreements. While the 'MC' Model is very similar to the Army 'MG' bikes, the front fender has no holes for a headlight and the rims are flat and of the bead-lock type fitted with special US Rubber tires. These bicycles are generally encountered with a drop down rear stand.

 

Westfield Columbia Serial N° MC14625A.
The similarities with the MF/MG version are obvious

 

 

Westfield Columbia Serial N° MC14625A
(Bicycle and pictures above from Al berger at www.bergerwerke.com)