BSA Opperman Special ID help

[Fat Tire Trader]

Hello,
I bought this as a bare frame set. I already had the seat post, hub and stem. I was told by the original owner's son that it is an Oppy. Can anyone confirm this and help me establish a year for it. I would like to build it up as a 3 speed. I think I have a complete Cyclo derailleur and shifter. Alternately, I could build it up single fixed. EA 1 rims are hard to find here in California. I have a reproduction badge for it and it fits!
Thanks!
Chris

 

[Mark Manley]

From the countless hours I have spent perusing this model over the past week or so I would say it is, I am not sure if the derailleur mount relates to any particular year or if one was only fitted if that gear system was specified by the customer but you have that choice.
Thanks for posting.

 

[juvela]

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gear hanger Cyclo Ref. no. T/E





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[Jonny69]

You probably saw me mention in the other thread that by the 1938 catalogue BSAs didn’t have a head clip headset. So we can say yours pre-dates that (edit: I was wrong about this. The Opperman forks had head clips in the 1938 catalogue if you look closely)

1936 or 1938 Opperman Special with 3-speed Cyclo?

https://oldbike.wordpress.com/1936-bsa-catalogue/

 

[juvela]

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headset locknut Brampton Bros. Nr. 915 020 (also offered in nickel & black finishes)

headset clip Brampton Bros. Nr. 845 101 (also offered in nickel & black finishes)

would expect hs to employ floating u-races and take 1/8" ball

fork ends Brampton Bros. Nr. 880 061, note distinctive lateral offset

mudguard eyes on stays & blades Brampton Bros. Nr. 860 330

suspect lugs, crown & shell to be Brampton items as well but not finding exact matches in me one catalogue from the manufacturer dated 1948; so there was a decade, or a bit more, between subject frame's production and catalogue - plenty of time for some design changes...

upper is Brampton advert of 1931




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