A short note on the army bikes, bicycles were cheaper than horses and a lot of different nations had military bikes - the Swiss are particularly well known for their bikes as they are still used. These bikes are self contained, many had luggage and various models were used to transport (buggies) and even weapons such as grenade launchers or small canons.
I purchased for a fair price. The seller had the typical luggage and toolbox in the pictures however they were no longer on the bike - they had between stolen and as such I haggled. The luggage however wasn't original (just the toolbag). Other details, I asked for the saddle, an original Stephan (no longer exists) in leather but unrideable. A dodgy plastic in faux leather was mounted and was discarded. Also some grips were provided but I later discovered that they didn't fit. In the photos the bike is show without grips. Unfortunately the original pump was not on the bike, just the pump holder.
The bike is technically in great condition and the frame structure is sound. It is stamped with 1935 and I cross-checked the serial number before purchase to confirm that it was actually correct. The production year and serial number are stamped on either sides of the top of the seat tube. As a size note, based on production year and the distinct chainring - this was is a Condor manufactured bike.
The first step was a complete cleanup. It would not be stripped and repainted, rather cleaned and the frame protected. There are a number of superficial rust areas and the frame is heavy scuffed and scratched but this also adds to the charm. There was fairly heavy grim and I relied on elbow grease and 'balistic oil' - Balisttol. The oil is naturally based (though historically was chemically based) and is great for rust to clean and then to protect. It is not a hard or aggressive cleaner so used as a smear and doesn't actually cuts through rust as such. Previously I have used car wax as a protector which works well however a lot is removed in buffing and it is not actually or specifically active to protect against rust.
An interesting thing is that in service, the bikes did go through upgrades and the rear fender is newer as well as the front reflector. The Swiss introduced number plates and this bike has a registration number (the green one) while the second one with the Swiss Canton (state) was not on the bike.
The chain is wonderfully massive and it is interesting, on the torpedo hubs there are small nozzles whee oil can be refilled. It has three brakes, a plunger brake at the front, a drum brake and a coaster brake. The cables are degraded and I don't want to replace - rather keep it original but wondering if I can protect.
Likewise, the saddle is beautiful and I could organise someone to do a new leather so the bike is more rideable however it takes away plenty of charm. The saddle was produced in Germany by Stephan (which was founded in 1851 but and then was part of East Germany and became a Government company (VEB) and eventually disappeared).
I purchased new grips, they were cheap as they are fairly generic (but postage was 4 times the cost of two grips). Saddle bags, particularly one that are appropriate for the era are about 400 - 650 Euro and I would love to get a tool kit but this could also be 100 - 200 Euro.
It ride nicely - fairly upright and even though the handlebars are wide and control is nice, it feels narrow - like a classic gentlemans bike. It is not fast - so steady and stable with a specified weight of 22.5kg... you notice the weight when moving it but riding doesn't feel like a burden as such. While it has some comfort, riding long distances would still be a challenge for comfort - I am considering that the upright seated position and reaching down to the bars is not as relaxed or ergonomic as a modern geometry.
Because I like the saddle and overall presence, I will probably keep it as a display bike and potentially organise a second saddle for an occasional ride. I want to take care as replacement parts are pricey and I would prefer to keep it as original as possible.
There is a fair amount of info about the Ordonnanz 05 (Swiss Army) bikes - though mostly in German. If you are curious, you can run this resource site through Google Translate: http://osth.educanet2.ch/ordonnanzrad/. ... /index.htm
Or ask me (I am fluent... in German, not Swiss-German)
Christopher
