Pre 1930 Malvern Star serial numbers

[Jenny1977]

Just bought myself my first Malvern star! Hoping someone would be able to identify year and model. Serial number is 43314.


Other interesting thingI've seen.... Small triangle shapes on rims

[jhea57]

On the TW I wanted to know if the serial number helped date the frame. Its obvious, as Warren mentioned, that its a MS rebadged.

On the black bike, I am confident that the stamping is original ie the "M" has not been put there at a later date. Based on the serial number stamping in this thread its was made in Melb in 56. The Williams cranks on it also are maked "AW" which dates it at 1956.
Maybe Warren can confirm if outside suppliers made frames for MS and if so did they use MS stamping...its never been mentioned before...it was more that MS made frames and sold them to other bike shops.

The thing about this frame is that the lugs (Haden) are the same (exactly) as 5 and 3 star MS frames made in the 50's...it has the same cut outs in the lugs
There are similar lugs in 50's Healing and Toselands but these lugs are the same as other MS's so its a good assumption, based on the serial number stamping and the lugs that it was originally a MS.
For example this 5 star frame currently on ebay is exactly the same frame...other than the stars of course...
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/331193126700 ... 197wt_1238

Maybe Warren can shed some light and thoughts on the serial number...

[bicyclepassion]

Black frame 56M 3529:
I'll preface these remarks with "AS FAR AS I KNOW"..........
Does not look like a malvern star stamping. M looks wrong, number on bottom of dropout unevenly stamped. But could have been stamped on a bad day by a crook apprentice using the wrong hammer, while the boss was up in the office chatting up the telephonist.
Yes, it does look like the 5 star on ebay, except for no stars. So do bikes with haden lugs from all the big framebuilders, (Insert your favorit brand here ..........) It also looks like all the other semi racers with haden lugs made in all the one man shops still operating around Australia in the 1950's.
If it was a Malvern Star, and the stars have been removed, there will be little dots of bronze or filler where the pins that held the stars in place during brazing once were. Holes were drilled, pins inserted, stars brazed, pins filed off.
This eveidence may be visible inside the head tube if you dont want to remove the black paint.
Outside suppliers made some race frames for riders who were sponsored by Malvern Star. Not the other way around. In Melbourne at least. Other things may have happened interstate.
The seat stay - rear dropout junction looks a bit rough for a Malvern Star factory frame.
Warren

[jhea57]

thanks Warren
As its not the original paint I plan to strip it back and repaint it so I will see if I can unearth the mystery...

[5 star freak]

If you take your time and wash the black paint off you may be lucky enough to find something to ID it. Good Luck.

[Tinker]

Hi Warren,

After asking your advice on the other 1 Star I mentioned to a friend I was looking at one and lo and behold he had one buried deep in his shed so I snapped it up.

Hubs aren't orginal and the handlebars don't quite seem to match the bike. Other than that is all seems pretty original. Serial #6596

What year and style of bike is this 1 star version? Thanks in advance.

Jason

[5 star freak]

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/121339888915 ... 1436.l2649" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This 2 star Roadster on ebay looks to be the same era as the posting above. Very original and complete with accessories . Would it be late 30's early 40's?

The Sturmey Archer shifter on the crossbar would date it 1938 or earlier ?

[jhea57]

If the cranks are Williams you should be able to date the cranks.
Look on the inside of the chainring and there should be some marking (usually Letters under a sword like symbol).
http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/wi ... ating.html
Nice find..

[Tinker]

It seems they are probably utility cranks/chainwheel and unfortunately those aren't dated.

[bicyclepassion]

1 Star with number 6596.
The 'one star' models came out in 1939. This number does not make sense, but would be consistant with other bikes with similiar parts and features, if it had a prefix. 1M 6596, for instance.
Anyway, it is almost certainly 1939, 1940 or 1941 production. In my opnion, the paint is original.
It would be interesting to see if the number is repeated (and is the same) on the steerer tube of the fork.
Top bike, great find.
Warren

[bicyclepassion]

Ladies loop frame with number 43314.
Is the number stamped vertically on the right hand rear fork end?
This one is 1960's. There are a few of these around, with loop frame. Made for South Australian market? They seem to crop up in that state.
This one has original 1960's paint and decals, 1960's parts, including those rims, and an old fashioned looking chain guard but a 1960's item none the less.
Malvern Star went to straight bar ladies frames in approx 1935/6. They advertised the departure from loop frame in the 1936 catalogue.
Then they start cropping up again in the 1960's but as far as I can make out, they were not made in the Melbourne factory, or if they were, they were not distributed in Victoria.
This is one of the Malvern Star mysteries. Albeit a minor one. Anyone know more about the 'later' loop frame models, and where they were made?
Loop frame lug and tubing sets were still around in the 1960's, and some other Australian makers persevered with loop frame production into the 1950's.
Warren

[Jenny1977]

[Clydesdale Scot]

With Warrens date on the loop frame bike
2 straight bar MS bikes (with the same chainguard as Jenny's) as a prize in 1962 in NSW
and the loop frame MS given as a prize in 1965 in South Australia

[Jenny1977]

Nice, thanks for the info! Now to begin the restore......

[timbosinoid]

Hi All, just after an approx. year on a 2 star I have purchased, and to add to the list/registry that Warren is compiling. bottom bracket has a 7 stamped on the underside on one edge and the right rear dropout has a vertical number 17478. it has a Renak coaster hub with the numbers 24 40, a twist grip with L N H on it, and a headlight that has a red badge that reads Hotsure (I think) left crank arm reads made in Japan, right was missing. original colours look to be purple around the bottom bracket and red/silver elsewhere. any info would be appreciated, most parts are in poor condition but I will get it back to a rideable condition of some sort. thanks, Tim

Anyone, anything?

[Clydesdale Scot]

Anyone, anything?

photos promote answers

[Tinker]

Adding another serial # to the list.

6M17592, If I'm getting this right it's a 1946 Melbourne made 2 Star Roadster.

Some of the decals hae remained in very nice condition for its age.

[Tfitzk]

I have a malvern star 2 star, which I got given to me by my grandfather, it serial number is 69637 located on the top of the seat tube, it also has a BSA A83 serial number under the b/b... Is has bolt on rear stays, wheels are quite a bit bigger than my 700c I use today?? Dunno if any of that helps, your first post said that any 5 number serial numbers where pre 1930, but my grandpa and dad don't think it's that old, but they do seem to also say there a bit dusty on the fine details... If you have any idea on the age that would be muchly appreciated

Regards Tim

[bicyclepassion]

#69637.
In the absence of photos, hard to be sure, but the numeric sequence would put this in 1936.
Warren

[Tfitzk]

Thanks warren for the promt response, I'm not real savvy with computers, I have a couple of photos of the frame, I can email them to you??

Regards Tim

[Tfitzk]

#69637.
In the absence of photos, hard to be sure, but the numeric sequence would put this in 1936.
Warren

Hi warren, thanks to Clydesdale scot I have uploaded a few photos I think?





Hope this helps

Regards Tim

[HappyHumber]

Photos - Yay! Nice one, Tim.

[Tfitzk]

Hi all, grandfather came through with the goods, the bike was purchased by my great grandfather pre-war in 1939 from a shop in Echuca, Victoria by the name of "Hazleman Bike Shop". He said it cost 3 pound.

[Max Brinkworth]

Hi i recently picked up a Malvern star 2 star with the id code of p604 . viewtopic.php?f=23&t=76040&p=1135237#p1135219" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .any help with year model would be appreciated

[Imwit]

G'day Warren.
Happy to have something to add. This thread is great. I always learn something from it.
Two star delivery bike. Frame number 51984 left hand side seat lug. Bought in Sydney. Had previously belonged to a film prop guy I think. Used in Baz Luhrman's Australia film apparently. No proof though. Nobody has ever seen that movie.
The plan is for the better half to use it to sell her baked goods at markets. Kinda what it was intended for?
Renak coaster hub be original? Opinion of welded chainstay?
Cheers Tim