question Military Bicycle Identification ???

[POPPY]

Hi fellow members,

 

Can any one possibly identify the Make/Model of my old Bicycle ???

 

A good friend of mine gave me the bike as he believed it to be a military model (which I've always wanted)

 

I have discovered several serial numbers on the bicycle which are as follow:

 

1. Saddle bracket tube (Right hand side and very hard to read but looks like) a f a 53

 

2. Saddle bracket tube (Left hand side) nice and clear, S 1 2 1 4

 

3. Rear carrier rack (Nice and clear) FA&S Ltd MK IV B 1944

 

 

I will now attemp to attach some pictures. (so sorry they have up loaded upside down 😊)

 

Any information would be very welcom indeed..... 😃

 

 

kind regards,

 

Mark

[Enigma]

Looks like a BSA MK5.

https://www.google.nl/search?q=bsa+mk5+bicycle&biw=1536&bih=746&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMI6cT3kNL5xwIV45dyCh0DiAon#imgrc=-zuxuCLBwfuouM%3A

[Tony B]

Australian? Looks to be a Mk V* that has lever brakes on both wheel, the MkV had a coaster brake in the back hub. .

[Greenlanekit]

Looks like a Mercury..

[Tony B]

How many teeth on main cog? That may give the answer . If the pedals have cleats on the end that is a military pedal, designed to stop hob nail boots slipping. .

Edited September 16, 2015 by Tony B

[POPPY]

Hi Tony,

 

Thanks for your reply😃....... I've just counted 48 teeth on the main cog, and can confirm that there is no pleats on the rubber pedals .

 

I have however found another Mark on the cross member sentry of the handle bars.

 

.......

[Tony B]

48 should make it a BSA. The frame though may be a lot older, 1930's, than the date on the rack suggests. I've recently passed mine on to a real military vintage cycle enthusiat (Knees are giving up) the frames were manufactured as one model, then fitted according to order. The holes in your frame that hold the back brake rods on the Mk V* are present on a MK V frame, with blanking nuts screwed in. A lot were supplied to US Forces, over there the preference is for Coaster brakes in the rear hub, though BSA were a world leading manufacturer of them. My guess is that a Coaster brake is a complex thing to manufactuer, given war time demands the twin rod system was decided on to save production cost and time. But it does tick all the Military Boxes. Rifle barrel by the way, it should fit onto a loose fitting canvas strap attached to handle bar, though your way is the most common seen. You are missing the rear U shaped rifle clip that fixed to frame, hence carrier is flat is on one side.

Edited September 16, 2015 by Tony B