sunbeam
Look Ma, No Hands!
I am selling my 1940s Sunbeam three speed. The frame is 19", it was small for me but I rode it for years and am 6'1". Everything is original except updated brake cables, brake blocks, and the seatpost may not be original as I had to put a beer can shim in their to get it from slipping. Gold lining and chrome are in excellent condition especially for a bike that is over 60 years old. There is one small patch of celluloid missing on handle bars. Other than that I have the original Terry spring saddle it came with as well which I used for years but it began to wear so decided to switch it to keep it safe. I am asking $400 which includes packing and can drop at FEDEX or similar if needed. Here is what the VCC sunbeam expert said about the bike:
" Dear Mr. Beeby,
Colin Kirsch has asked me to advise you about your Sunbeam. It belongs to the period when BSA owned the Sunbeam rights which they acquired in 1943.
The Sunbeam had been made by John Marston Ltd. between 1887 and 1937, when the Wolverhampton factory went over to war work. The name went to AMC Ltd., makers of AJS and Matchless motorcycles who made motorcycles and bicycles up to 1941, selling the name to BSA who made bicycles from c.1944 and motorcycles from 1947.
Yours is to export specification with variant handlebars and appears to be to original Light Tourist T3 specification, save for the chainguard fitted to UK machines, though Sunbeam export catalogues were not released in GB to my knowledge. The chromium plate identifies it as post-1945 and the SS series of numbers is documented up to c.1950. I have placed yours on the Register.
A fuller history of the companies can be googled, of course.
I hope that this helps. The Veteran-Cycle Club can be well worth joining.
Yours, Bob CC. The Sunbeam Bicycle Register."
" Dear Mr. Beeby,
Colin Kirsch has asked me to advise you about your Sunbeam. It belongs to the period when BSA owned the Sunbeam rights which they acquired in 1943.
The Sunbeam had been made by John Marston Ltd. between 1887 and 1937, when the Wolverhampton factory went over to war work. The name went to AMC Ltd., makers of AJS and Matchless motorcycles who made motorcycles and bicycles up to 1941, selling the name to BSA who made bicycles from c.1944 and motorcycles from 1947.
Yours is to export specification with variant handlebars and appears to be to original Light Tourist T3 specification, save for the chainguard fitted to UK machines, though Sunbeam export catalogues were not released in GB to my knowledge. The chromium plate identifies it as post-1945 and the SS series of numbers is documented up to c.1950. I have placed yours on the Register.
A fuller history of the companies can be googled, of course.
I hope that this helps. The Veteran-Cycle Club can be well worth joining.
Yours, Bob CC. The Sunbeam Bicycle Register."
Last edited:
