Colson chain ring can of worms

[Balloonoob]

Thanks Pete!! I was thinking they looked a bit short too.

 

[BcCleta]

Hello Cabers, looking for info on this setup, possibly 24 tooth Colson?

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Yes, the crank and sprocket are Colson; and yes there are 24 teeth, as used on 28" wheel bikes.

 

[BcCleta]

Yes, the crank and sprocket are Colson; and yes there are 24 teeth, as used on 28" wheel bikes.

Is this pre 35 ?

 

[Archie Sturmer]

Is this pre 35 ?

Not sure about that specific example, but there may be some 1935 examples on the serial numbers thread?

Pre 1937 Colson serial number project | General Discussion About Old Bicycles

I'd like to compile a list of Colson serial numbers and take a stab at cracking the code. I have a few written down with a description of the bike and a few pics, but would appreciate any info other Cabe members would care to share. If possible, please post the serial number and a pic of the...

thecabe.com

The posted pages of the 1936 Colson catalog neither list nor picture any 24-tooth sprocket, (although some 28” wheels were still offered)?

 

[BcCleta]

Not sure about that specific example, but there may be some 1935 examples on the serial numbers thread?

Pre 1937 Colson serial number project | General Discussion About Old Bicycles

I'd like to compile a list of Colson serial numbers and take a stab at cracking the code. I have a few written down with a description of the bike and a few pics, but would appreciate any info other Cabe members would care to share. If possible, please post the serial number and a pic of the...

thecabe.com

The posted pages of the 1936 Colson catalog do not list or picture any 24-tooth sprocket, (although some 28” wheels were still offered)?

Thanks @Archie Sturmer

 

[mrg]

Only owned one early Colson, 36 Wingfoot if these pics help.

 

[SKPC]

Sweetheart mania! So this is to add a bit to the confusion(or maybe not) as to WHAT your sweetheart ring originally came on? Well, here we go. Below is a just recently sold chainring possibly thought to be a Miami ring... It is NOT!

See below the World Bicycles advertisements matching this recently sold ring above..

I believe now that Miami was not the only maker of sweethearts with the offset drive pin. World (schwinn) also made them.
Westfield/Pope also made a sweetheart, but with the DD center opening and no drive pin...see below.

Confused still? Well, what I am beginning to think about these many-maker sweetheart rings is that MIAMI sweetheart rings have TWO KEY IDENTIFIERS that set them apart from all the "others"...
This ring below is a Miami ring. What determines if it is a MIAMI sweetheart is the 1" center crankarm opening/interface, a smaller drive pin hole than all the others and the offset pin location. It does not have the 2" drive pin spacing the one piece Merkel crankarms require but does have the 1" center opening. 100% Miami identifier. It is seen in many Miami advertisements, even perhaps on Merkels, but not absolutely sure about that.

Closest match to the Miami ring above is the COLSON sweetheart below that does not have the drive pin hole outside of the 5 arms as do the Miami & World rings. Also matching the Miami and Colson ring design is the Westfield DD ring...almost exact same design, with different center opening. So there you have it...Miami, Colson and Westfield all look alike, but sport different center opening specs....this is how you tell between them and others.

I have begun to think in every case, the Ring follows the Crankarm, not the other way around. Chew on that a bit...

 

[Ricker]

Sweetheart mania! So this is to add a bit to the confusion(or maybe not) as to WHAT your sweetheart ring originally came on? Well, here we go. Below is a just recently sold chainring possibly thought to be a Miami ring... It is NOT!
View attachment 1886846
See below the World Bicycles advertisements matching this recently sold ring above..
View attachment 1886837

View attachment 1886838
I believe now that Miami was not the only maker of sweethearts with the offset drive pin. World (schwinn) also made them.
Westfield/Pope also made a sweetheart, but with the DD center opening and no drive pin...see below.
View attachment 1886825
Confused still? Well, what I am beginning to think about these many-maker sweetheart rings is that MIAMI sweetheart rings have TWO KEY IDENTIFIERS that set them apart from all the "others"...
This ring below is a Miami ring. What determines if it is a MIAMI sweetheart is the 1" center crankarm opening/interface, a smaller drive pin hole than all the others and the offset pin location. It does not have the 2" drive pin spacing the one piece Merkel crankarms require but does have the 1" center opening. 100% Miami identifier. It is seen in many Miami advertisements, even perhaps on Merkels, but not absolutely sure about that.
View attachment 1886850
Closest match to the Miami ring above is the COLSON sweetheart below that does not have the drive pin hole outside of the 5 arms as do the Miami & World rings. Also matching the Miami and Colson ring design is the Westfield DD ring...almost exact same design, with different center opening. So there you have it...Miami, Colson and Westfield all look alike, but sport different center opening specs....this is how you tell between them and others.
View attachment 1886839
I have begun to think in every case, the Ring follows the Crankarm, not the other way around. Chew on that a bit...

The 1" hole on that miami sprocket looks to have been reamed (not professionally). The hole placement does point that direction...

 

[SKPC]

You might like the other side better In this case, somebody looks to have attempted if not succeeded to force another misfit crankarm to not wobble in the 1" hole by jamming some shims in, otherwise the out of round rotation of the ring would be tightening then loosening the chain every revolution of the cranks. .