WW2 Bicycle Mystery

[jack neville]

It bears similarities to the British Army BSA bicycle in the frame and obviously the pedals but the headstem has a decorative pattern whereas the British model I understand has a plain headstem. There were no serial numbers like the British bicycles.

The seat stem and rear brake hub look correct.

[jack neville]

I stripped the bicycle and scraping off the paint underneath the crank I found something interesting.
Someone may know what the letters and numbers mean but there is no mistaking the D^D stamps.
The numbers on the outside appear to read 19 39 but reading the other way could also be 62 61. There is also a faint 4 in the centre.

[jack neville]

Removal of the front forks located the only other numbers.
Hoping someone can offer some further advise or information.

[Ganmain Tony]

From my limited knowledge Jack...

Malvern Star supplied ALL bikes to the Pacific theatre and used up a huge amount BSA parts in the process.

It is quite likely this is a Malvern Star manufactured bike and it will have BSA stamped bits.

Just bought a WW2 pushie and am reading a book called The Bicycle in War Time.

Amazing feats performed by Canadians, Aussies, New Zealanders, South Africans, Rhodesians and Brits on these machines.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Interesting to see an Australian made one. I really like military bicycles, but there is not a lot of info available.

Here's a thread I started a long time ago on my bicycle: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=20143

You can look at http://robvanmeel.nl/?q=search/node/bicycle for reprints of period manuals.

Googling for Malvern Star, finds you results like these: https://oldbike.eu/ww2-malvern-star-military-model/

There's an Australian forum with some references too: https://www.bicycles.net.au/forums/

HTH,
Hanno

[Ganmain Tony]

According to my 'one reference"...

Malvern Star received its first Military bike order in 1940.

So if this is a 1939 bike it is more likely a complete BSA bike.

Australia was forced to manufacture all its own components after we were completely cut off from oversea's supplies.

My understanding is Malvern Star copied BSA bike bits once they had used up all the exisiting BSA stock on hand.

Maybe the War Memorial may have records Jack?

[jack neville]

Thanks Tony and Hanno.
The bike could well be a ‘bitsa’ after all these years as the owner is unsure of its history. There is only green paint on it so doubt it has been rebuilt before. The frame is missing the Malvern Star trademark on the head stem so unsure what frame it is. Unless Malvern Star only added them later.