Pre-WW2 BSA, something of a diamond in the rough I believe

What decals should I use on this bike?

  • It is almost certainly a BSA Opperman Special and the decals should state this.

    Votes: 2 66.7%
  • It is almost certainly a BSA and the decals should state this.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • It could be anything and it should not have decals.

    Votes: 1 33.3%
  • I should listen to friends who say I should shut up about it.

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    3
  • Poll closed .
1936 catalogue: https://oldbike.wordpress.com/1936-bsa-catalogue/

I was going to say this looks like the latest catalogue where the bikes still had head clip headsets, but actually if you look carefully some do have them in the 1938 catalogue.

1936 Gold Medal has a 531 frame with the high mudguard mounts and celluloid-covered Lauterwasser bars.

1936 Opperman Special without gears had drop bars and only a rear brake (presumably was fixed gear?).

1936 Opperman Special with gears had both front and rear brakes but probably would have had a Cyclo derailleur hanger on the chain stay.

They’ve all got cantilever brakes in 1936, though. By 1938 many of their bikes were using caliper brakes, which was a BSA thing. And the pump pegs are still in the wrong place.

I don’t know if that helps even a single bit 😆
 
1936 catalogue: https://oldbike.wordpress.com/1936-bsa-catalogue/

I was going to say this looks like the latest catalogue where the bikes still had head clip headsets, but actually if you look carefully some do have them in the 1938 catalogue.

1936 Gold Medal has a 531 frame with the high mudguard mounts and celluloid-covered Lauterwasser bars.

1936 Opperman Special without gears had drop bars and only a rear brake (presumably was fixed gear?).

1936 Opperman Special with gears had both front and rear brakes but probably would have had a Cyclo derailleur hanger on the chain stay.

They’ve all got cantilever brakes in 1936, though. By 1938 many of their bikes were using caliper brakes, which was a BSA thing. And the pump pegs are still in the wrong place.

I don’t know if that helps even a single bit 😆

That is great thank you I have seen a couple of these pages but not the whole brochure. I have now seen an Opperman with the same lugs as mine, they were incidentally used on post war top of the range Gold Column and have concluded that it is the oddly named Super-Eeze De-light with the down tube mounted pump as in a previous photo, the resolution is not good enough to say if it has the same lugs but they could be.
The frame is painted but I am now awaiting decals before clear coating.
 
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@juvela

Do you have any ideas about the drillium seatpost in the attached image below that i noticed in the BSA advert upthread?

alas, no

was equally puzzled as others above

reminded me of a much discussed photo online wherein a hipster looking young man appears to be holding to his ear a cellphone

he is amongst a group of people on a street corner and the date is nineteen forty


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Some progress has been made, quite a lot actually, it has been resprayed and decals applied, for the time being I have settled for a head badge and seat tube badge along with an early Reynolds 531 decal, I am of the opinion it is a Super-Ezee De-Light due to the pump position which came with and without the signature on the down tube and might get one at a later date.
The handlebars and seatpost have been resprayed but most of the other parts are new to the bike but I believe more or less correct or appropriate, there is a nos BSA three speed hub which was an option at 21 Shillings, a very nice condition second hand crankset with a Reynolds chain and some Phillips pedals until I finish refurbishing the originals.
There was a good condition pair of Michelin tyres on the original wheels which I will eventually get some 26 x 11/4 rims for, the 26 x 13/8 only just clear the rear stays.

IMG_20250807_120719605 - Copy.webp

IMG_20250807_120836171 - Copy.webp
 
That's already turning out to be something magnificent. Love the black paint little detail in the crank recess. 👍 :cool:

[ why is it though like 99.9% of people here perfectly restore in about 0.1% of time compared to me :rolleyes: What do you have breakfast? ]
 
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