THE REAL THING ???? OR NOT????

The Columbia shown above was spotted in Normandy during the 2006 D-Day Commemorations. While it looks good at first sight, it is NOT a genuine US Army WW2 issue bike! This is however what most Columbia's look like at Military Vehicle shows.

This is a typical example of a militarized 40's or 50's bicycle. Only the headlight, handlebars and chain guard are identical to the correct WW2 parts. Frame, rims, axles, spokes, seat, fenders, crank set, brake and forks are all different from the real thing.

A very quick way to determine if the frame could be correct US Army Specs is by looking at the head badge. Until 1946 Columbia's, including the US Army models, had head badges attached with the screws on the left and right hand side (horizontally). After 1946 the badges were attached by a top and lower screw (vertically) and frames with this feature are most likely post WW2 and hence not military.

Note how the black paint is wearing off the whitewall tires.

The civilian bike on which this USAAF member poses clearly shows how the military bicycles were based on existing models of the wartime era.
The similarities of frame, fenders, rims and sprockets are obvious.

This particular bike is equipped with springer type front forks and the frame has an added 'fuel tank' between the upper tubes, a common accessory.
 

John Dickerman has identified it as a 1940-41 Schwinn Model DX with rare front brake and foxtails.

These bicycles are still very common and rather inexpensive. A lot of these are restored to military trim to appear as an original Army bike, which of course they are not.

 

 

 

 

VIDEO - SWISS ARMY BICYCLE MO-05 VINTAGE (1945)

Rugged and fine quality military bicycle.
This bicycle manufactured between 1905 to 1988 in swiszerland

VIDEO - SWISS LIGHT BICYCLE INFANTRY FOR MOUNTAIN WARFARE

VIDEO - JAMES MAY TESTS OUT HIS SWISS ARMY BIKE

 James May's Man Lab  - BBC Two

 

 

 

 

 

 

VIDEO - VINTAGE BICYCLES STYLES - 1955 TO 1965 BICYCLE STYLES

 

 

VIDEO - ARMY BICYCLES

 

 

All about army bicycles.. 

 

 

 

US ARMY USE OF CIVILIAN BICYCLES IN WW2

In an effort to help Uncle Sam conserve rubber, gasoline and oil, the US Army tried to set the example by using bicycles instead of motor transport whenever possible.

This seems to have been particularly true at the California McClellan Field, where every available bicycle in the region was bought up by Military personnel and by thousands of civilian war workers right after Pearl Harbor.

The pictures below all illustrate the use of both Army issue and civilian bikes by Military personnel during WW2.

'Saluting the CO.'

US Army Signal Corps Picture

 

 

Private Lewis Hites salutes his Commanding Officer Colonel John M Clark at McCellan Field, Sacramento, California in 1942.

 

The front sprocket and chain guard of the bike ridden by Pte Hites identify it as a Huffman. The kick stand is different than the standard model and the tool bag is clearly visible.
Colonel Clark's bike is a civilian model of the era.

 

 

 

'Ride to Work'

 

US Army Signal Corps Picture

 

Officers, Enlisted Men and civilian employees ride their bikes to posts and to their work at McCellan Field, Sacramento, California on May 7th, 1942.

 

Note the mix of official US Army bikes on the left and various civilian models ridden even by Military personnel.

 

 

 

'Aircrew Transport'

 

 

US Army Signal Corps Picture

 

 

Civilian bicycles are parked in their racks, purposely placed near planes being serviced, by the crews that own them at  McCellan Field, Sacramento, California on May 7th, 1942.

 

All bikes seem to be civilian models; some have a sign added to the frame.

 

 

'Air Force Band'

Cpl Ed Hillman poses on a civilian model bicycle at an Army Camp in the US before shipping out as a gunner to the Pacific. Cpl Hillman was part of the Base Army Air Force Band and the bike is marked as such!

 

The bike was pressed into military service and looking at the chrome finish which appears under the paint on the handlebars, it seemed it was painted OD.

 

It's safe to assume some civilian bicycles were used around camps and bases, especially stateside. 

 

In Europe the USAAF was issued British made bikes and many GI's obtained a bicycle of their own for use on and off base.

Private photo from Robert Snow
 

 

Many civilian bikes were used on airfields and military bases, and some were even painted OD, but they are still civilian bikes and not as rare as genuine Army contract bikes of WW2.