Got this old bicycle yesterday and was wondering if anybody could give me a positive ID on it......
It says MK V on the frame under the seat ...and the number T9913 on the other side of the frame under the seat....there is a number on the frame under the chain wheelcrank which looks like 208....Is it possibly a BSA bike..??%%htmlItem_1%%208

email (option): jmmycmullen@aol.com

Hi Jimmy, that's not off topic, and it's really nice.

I have two Mk5* bikes which are similar but they have the rear rod brakes, one of mine is definitely a BSA as it has Gold BSA transfers on the frame, I don't know what make the other one is.

If you are lucky you might spot a BSA pilled arms stamp on the hubs or practically anywhere.

Rob

email (option): robmiller11(a)yahoo.co.uk

Jimmy,

It may be BSA but it has not got the BSA chainset, But as you have no rear brake on the handle bars it looks like a BSA coaster back hub. This is a back pedal brake and also a freewheel but no gears. If you look at the other side of the bike you will have a small brake plate anchored to the frame by a small wrap round bracket. This plate will have the piled arms stamping. My BSA cycle has no frame markings apart from a frame number under the saddle but it has the BSA chain ring and the coaster hub.

Tim W

email (option): t.j.walker@btinternet.com

The chainwheel looks to be from a Mercury military roadster. I have a mk5 and the Mercury military roadster. Out of the two the Mercury is the nicer ride, as it was the one that superceeded the BSA. I believe that soldiers couldn't wait to throw the BSA's away at the earliest opportunity, I suppose it was because it got them to the front line quicker, ie danger! If you look on the right hand side of the rack it is narrower here to allow the SMLE to sit on the crossbar. There is an online cycle museum that shows them and Ron Cobb shows one on his website too.

email (option): davmax@ntlworld.com

Very many thanks for all the replies.....much appreciated.
Have just found out that is was one of a batch supplied to the Irish Army in 1942........
It came from the same source as my ex Irish Army M 20..



Will check around her again to see if I can find any more markings....

email (option): jmmycmullen@aol.com

My Irish army M20.....Friend to the MK V ......%%htmlItem_1%%

email (option): jmmycmullen@aol.com

Jimmy,

If you look at the last crossstrap on the carrier, it's usually dated, and says MKIVB and a date, see this thread on the HMVF forum;

http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?42921-Ww2-phillips-mk-V-military-infantry-bicycle

I posted a lot of pictures there, if it has 28"wheels it's usually wartime.

Hope this helps,

Lex

email (option): welbike@welbxxx.net