HUFFMANBILL
Finally riding a big boys bike
Hello Andy,
I see that you picked up as a parts bike a February 1942 built Columbia Superb. Did you notice the remnants of a ''V'' painted on the rear fender just under the reflector and above what appears to be drop-stand rivet holes? If you also look on the front fender about 3 or 4 inches in from the front tip there is usually another ''V'' painted the same color as the rear one. The painted '' V '' signifies '' Victory '' and was factory applied by the Westfield Mgr. Co. as a way to visually show positive support for the war effort. The painted '' V '' on these bikes seem to be very rare now. Either not that many bikes received these markings prior to April 1942 when the War Production Board (WPB) imposed a 3 month freeze across the board on bicycle sales as well as weight and construction limits on all bicycles, which was the beginnings of the first true '' Victory'' Bicycles during WWII. Or the painted '' V '' markings on most of the Columbia bikes that received them have worn off after 78 years of use and/or abuse. At any rate an early 1942 Columbia that still has these markings on the fenders is quite rare today. I have taken the liberty of placing this group of bicycles under the heading of Pre-Regulation ( that would be the L-52 regulations , which spelled out the restrictions imposed on bicycle regulations from April 1942 - Sept. 1944 ). So that is Pre-Regulation '' V'' ( Victory ) Marked WWII Columbia Bicycles. I personally know of only about 6 of these specially marked bicycles, which includes yours above and mine pictured with this post. Most of those few seem to date between Dec., 1941 and as I remember March 1942. I have noticed that most of these '' V '' marked Columbia bikes are marked as a Superb model.
I understand that you plan to use this as a parts bike for your 1944 Columbia. Personally, I would wait to find another parts bike and restore the Superb since with the '' V '' mark it is so rare. However, I can also understand your desire to get as close to correct parts as possible for your military restoration so it is obviously your choice and good luck with the restoration.
Just a word of caution, the fender width on the Columbia military models is 4''. The fenders on your Superb, which may be old stock from 1941 could be 4 3/4'' wide 3/4'' wider then correct military Columbia Gothic style fenders, which would make them very incorrect for use unless you were making a tribute bike.
Columbia called these wider fenders deep-sided and evidently used them on many of their models in 1941.
My '' V '' marked Columbia Superb is Ser.# G27398 Frame date code J1, late January/early February 1942 manufacture.
Regards,
Bill
I see that you picked up as a parts bike a February 1942 built Columbia Superb. Did you notice the remnants of a ''V'' painted on the rear fender just under the reflector and above what appears to be drop-stand rivet holes? If you also look on the front fender about 3 or 4 inches in from the front tip there is usually another ''V'' painted the same color as the rear one. The painted '' V '' signifies '' Victory '' and was factory applied by the Westfield Mgr. Co. as a way to visually show positive support for the war effort. The painted '' V '' on these bikes seem to be very rare now. Either not that many bikes received these markings prior to April 1942 when the War Production Board (WPB) imposed a 3 month freeze across the board on bicycle sales as well as weight and construction limits on all bicycles, which was the beginnings of the first true '' Victory'' Bicycles during WWII. Or the painted '' V '' markings on most of the Columbia bikes that received them have worn off after 78 years of use and/or abuse. At any rate an early 1942 Columbia that still has these markings on the fenders is quite rare today. I have taken the liberty of placing this group of bicycles under the heading of Pre-Regulation ( that would be the L-52 regulations , which spelled out the restrictions imposed on bicycle regulations from April 1942 - Sept. 1944 ). So that is Pre-Regulation '' V'' ( Victory ) Marked WWII Columbia Bicycles. I personally know of only about 6 of these specially marked bicycles, which includes yours above and mine pictured with this post. Most of those few seem to date between Dec., 1941 and as I remember March 1942. I have noticed that most of these '' V '' marked Columbia bikes are marked as a Superb model.
I understand that you plan to use this as a parts bike for your 1944 Columbia. Personally, I would wait to find another parts bike and restore the Superb since with the '' V '' mark it is so rare. However, I can also understand your desire to get as close to correct parts as possible for your military restoration so it is obviously your choice and good luck with the restoration.
Just a word of caution, the fender width on the Columbia military models is 4''. The fenders on your Superb, which may be old stock from 1941 could be 4 3/4'' wide 3/4'' wider then correct military Columbia Gothic style fenders, which would make them very incorrect for use unless you were making a tribute bike.
Columbia called these wider fenders deep-sided and evidently used them on many of their models in 1941.
My '' V '' marked Columbia Superb is Ser.# G27398 Frame date code J1, late January/early February 1942 manufacture.
Regards,
Bill
