Super Champion Osgear bike but which one

[lewisfoto]

Evening Gents,

I recently acquired a English lightweight with the Super Champion derailleur system but the frame manufacturer is a mystery.

Some specs: 27.2 post, standard English thread BB shell, stamped 1551 on the forward part of BB shell and again on steerer. also stamped with a 20.

Another oddity is the headlight mount is on the left fork blade which some have suggested means it was an export?

love to hear any input...

 

[lewisfoto]

This 1930s Carpenter has the same notch in the seat stay cap and also the four digit serial number however by the 1930s Carpenter were up to the 3xxx range in numbering.

 

[Midlife]

Some early English bikes had the headlight boss on the left side to illuminate the kerb?

Shaun

 

[keithglos]

Re:

With those cast lugs I would guess between 1939 and 1949. Any decent bike shop with a bit of skill and enough heat could build frames. No jigs required.

Lamp bracket boss sensibly looking at the kerbside (UK), not a shadow of the front wheel.

Hope someone can recognise the lugs.

Keith

 

[lewisfoto]

Thanks for the info, and yes another collector pointed out there were hundreds of boutique builders in London alone at the time.

 

[keithglos]

One early user of gears and bike builder was road racer Percy Stallard.

Keith