MILITARY BICYCLES OF WORLD WAR II - US ARMY BICYCLES

Genuine WW2 US Army bicycles are amongst the rarest of vintage military vehicles around. Sure, you will see a lot of them at shows but when you have a closer look, hardly any of those are real, complete military production bikes. So few of them are left, especially in Europe, that a bicycle with provable World War 2 US Army use and in any condition is truly a very rare and expensive vehicle.
 

Gustaaf Desmet's very original and desirable Westfield Columbia Serial N° MG99828.
Note the USAAF sign attached to the upper frame tubes

Although the US Army had used bicycles for many years before WW2, none were standardized for procurement before 1942. The Army's official use for these bicycles was: 'To provide Transportation for Personnel engaged in Dispatch or Messenger Service'. Of course they were used for many other purposes. They proved a fast and economical way to get around Depots, Camps and Airfields.

The 'Bicycle, Military, Universal' was adopted in October 1942 by the Ordnance Department. It was a military version of the Westfield 'Columbia' and was equipped with heavy duty rims and spokes. It came with a D-Cell powered headlight on the front fender and basic tools were carried in a tool bag attached to the Persons saddle. A tire pump was clamped to the frame.

These bikes were manufactured by both Westfield Columbia and Huffman with only minor differences in parts. Huffman fenders were rounded as opposed to gothic ones on the Columbia, chain guards varied and Huffman front sprockets had a unique whirlwind design.... All parts were interchangeable. Early rubber pedal blocks were replaced with wooden ones later in the war. Early frames had a curved front tube but these were replaced with straight tubes on later models.

 

 

This image from the US Army's WW2 Bicycle's Technical Manual

shows a Huffman made bike.
Compare the front sprocket and chain guard to those on the MG above

 

 

The webmaster's MG138969 (rear) and G. De Groote's MG120037 (front) were both restored as near as possible to perfection.
Getting two original US Army bikes together is not an easy task.
There are only a handful of these left in Europe!

Late in WW2 Columbia produced a Women's model. Except for the frame, saddle and a smaller front sprocket, all of the parts are identical to the standard Men's type. Huffman did not produce the women's model.

MG141650 Female Model of the G. Desmet collection.
The metal basket has been welded to the handlebars and is not factory mounted.

At one point the US Army gave the designation 'M305' to the Men's model and 'M306' to the Women's model. The reason is not clear, nor is the date of introduction of these terms. The 'M' designation is however consistent with the Ordnance Corps nomination system of WW2.