1930/40? CCM Rambler

Submitted by C. C. Schultz on Tue, 08/05/2025 - 15:26

Hi everyone 

My latest acquisition is a CCM bike that I am told is a Rambler. The story behind it is that it was owned by a local who bought it new in 1939 and used it to deliver papers until he was well into his 70's. When it went to a relative of his they had someone look up the serial number and determined it was a 1940 bike. My first question is what years was it actually made in? The serial number on the bike is 2D1874.
I am also wondering what parts of the bike would be original and what were add later add ons. The seat is likely newer as it is vinyl covered and if someone rode it for decades delivering papers every day it makes sense that the seat would wear out. The chain guard is a different colour then the frame and has a price of $1.00 written inside. Pedals may be replacements, not sure about the basket, some bolts in it are newer. I don't know if the straight bar bolted on across the handlebars is an add on.  
any information you can provide would be appreciated.  
Thanks

8 Comments

Submitted by C. C. Schultz on Tue, 08/05/2025 - 15:35.

Here are the pictures of the Rambler

img_2429.jpeg img_2442.jpeg img_2432.jpeg img_2443.jpeg img_2431.jpeg img_2430.jpeg img_2436.jpeg img_2440.jpeg img_2445.jpeg

Submitted by C. C. Schultz on Tue, 08/05/2025 - 15:39.

Here's another picture of the chain guard. Also it looks like there may have been an attachment on the front end of the front fender, I'm wondering if maybe it had been a light.

img_2433.jpeg img_2441.jpeg

Submitted by C. C. Schultz on Tue, 08/05/2025 - 18:18.

Here is the extra bar on the handlebars. Front tire rims have pin stripes on them, rear rim does not.

img_2437.jpeg img_2430.jpeg

Submitted by T-Mar on Sun, 08/10/2025 - 16:43.

That's a Rambler Motorbike. The bolt-on crossbar for the handlebars is OEM. The chaingaurd is a addition, as this model did not come with a chainguard. The pedals are older replacements. The carrier was not factory installed but looks like a period correct CCM model. This was a very short lived model. It was discontinued in the autumn of 1941 as part of the materials conservation efforts for the war as the Motorbikes used a lot of extra steel with the 2nd top tube, longer handlebars and fork truss rods. Off hand, I don't remember the exact year this model was introduced but I believe it was just before the war. I'll confirm the introduction year when I get home, in a couople of days.

Submitted by T-Mar on Tue, 08/12/2025 - 05:59.

I've verified that the Rambler line was introduced for the 1939 model year. Consequently, this model was only produced for three model years, 1939-1941. Essentially, it was an economically priced CCM brand, with the most significant  difference being the use of the single piece crankset, as opposed to the 3 piece Triplex crankset. A  1939 Rambler Motorbike cost $37.50, whereas the Triplex equipped Motorbike cost $44.00.  By the time of its demise, the price for the Rambler Motorbike had increased to $46.50 (i.e. 24% infllation).

Submitted by C. C. Schultz on Sun, 08/17/2025 - 19:04.

Thanks TMar for the information you provided on CCM Rambler bicycles and on mine specifically. From the serial number 2D1874 can you determine what year my bike was manufactured?

Submitted by DdB on Mon, 08/18/2025 - 05:52.

D is 1940

Submitted by T-Mar on Mon, 08/18/2025 - 07:06.

Agreed, the serial number  indicates that the frame was manufactured during the 1940 calendar year. Additionally, while we do not have records of CCM's output in 1940, we do know that the total domestic production for that year was 86,500 bicycles. Given that CCM would have produced the majority of those bicycles, the serial number is low enough that it would have been built very early in the calendar year and therefore be a 1940 model, as opposed to a 1941 model built late in 1940.