old German Bauer
 

I'm stuck trying to determine the age of an old Bauer I have. Much searching of the internet and such hasn't yielded any clue. It has to be pre 1952, as there was a police department registration license plate attached from that year. Anybody got any idea?http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=481655http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=481656http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=481657

[MENTION=73614]rhm[/MENTION] might have an idea.

Neat bike!

Yeah, very cool, but I don't know. They kept making bikes that looked like that for many years after 1952, so the style doesn't really tell us much. It has to be after 1922, when Bauer moved his factory to Klein Auheim, so we've narrowed it to 30 years! The crank, with six spokes, is unusual; I can't find anything quite like it. Is it a cotterless crank, with the chain ring threaded onto the crank arm at the base? I'm guessing it's pre-war. What's the rear hub? F&S hubs had a date code, if I recall correctly. Are there any country markings? I mean, obviously it's made in Germany, but something may be gleaned from exactly how 'Made in Germany' is phrased.

More photos might be helpful!

If it says Made in Germany, pre WWII, if it says Made in West Germany, post WWII, that is until the Wall came down.

No help, I'm afraid, but the graphics on that bike are awesome.

BTW, you put me onto something. I now need a Bauer 'Weltmeister' ... :( ;)

Thanks for posting. Although one can easily find Austrian bikes from Graz-based Steyr-Daimler-Puch, including some early Sears models, plus some from Vienna-based Capo, German bicycles seem to be pretty rare in the US. I have seen one Rickert, and my former boss had a Kalkhoff, but that last one perhaps does not count, since he bought it in his native Sweden.

Brake arm is labelled "Durex" and has (PWB) imprint. There is a "5" stamped on left rear dropout. S/N is 1321275 Bottom of head badge says "KL-Auheim Main." Chainring is swedged to crankarm.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=481858http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=481859