Usually the front
sprocket encountered on Columbia's is a 'Sunburst' style but I have noticed a
'Heart Shape' 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 and on at least one WW2 period picture leads me to
believe that roughly 10.000 of them were in fact manufactured that way.
The
more common design on the left with the variation encountered on five bicycles
on the right
A WW2
GI astride a straight tube Columbia MG Model bicycle.
The
second pattern (heart shaped) front sprocket is clearly visible and the bike is
equipped with a bell and toolbag attached to the saddle.
Location and time of the picture is not known
but the soldier wears WW2 style Herringbone Twill uniform with cold weather
'Blucher' boots.
Private photo from the JD
Boswell Collection
French
Re-enactor Alexis Salomé with Columbia MG143313 in Bethune, France on September 1st, 2002.
Note
the second pattern front sprocket fitted to the bike.
This bike was retrieved from a farmhouse in
Northern France several years ago
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