Hi I just recently bought this sunbeam and was hoping someone could help me put a year on it. As far as my research has told me the frame number being on the rear drop out might put it during the time that AMC and owned sunbeam between 1937-43. However the decal on the rear fender is a Rich Child Cycle Co which started post World War II. The rear hub is and shifter is also made by BSA which confuses things even more. Any help would be greAt thanks!

Nice Sunbeam!
And welcome to C&V, jc.

I can't help much with the dating, but FWIW, the round, frame mounted BSA shifters were available into the 40's and so too the three spring Terry saddle. I would surmise that your bike, like the fender decal you noted, is early post-war era.

Thanks for the info! Yeah I am kinda thinking the bike should be early post war it is just the one mention I found of the frame number on the rear dropout being an AMC 1937-1943 thing. Maybe the frame was built slightly earlier? Either way I absolutely love it!

What's the AMC connection?

This page here says that the rear dropout frame numbering was common on the sunbeams when AMC owned the company from 1937-1943. No footnote or anything to say where this info come from but interesting none the less.

grubb1937: Frame numbering

Ah, yes, I'm with you now.

I don't know. You're definitely in the right ballpark, somewhere around WW2 or a little earlier or a little later, but I don't know how to narrow it down beyond that. I would not regard the two dates you have (that is, 1939-43 and post-war) as incompatible.

You may already know this by now. I have only recently joined Bike Forums. I have a Sunbeam a bit newer than yours. I found your post when researching the age of my own Sunbeam.

The Rich Childs Cycle Co. sticker on the rear mudguard/fender of your Sunbeam puts it between 1945 and 1954 as these were the years of operation of the Rich Childs Cycle Co., who had exclusive rights to BSA sales in the U.S.. The 3 speed shifter on your bike suggests [to me, at least] that the bike is pre-1950. My own bike would have a BSA Snap Control shifter (which I am looking for if anyone has one... oh, and also a BSA 3 speed hub) and I think my bike was imported in the early 1950s.

Hey there, this thread is a little dated so why not post detailed pics of your bike in the English 3 speeds thread? It's more current and will get lots of views and good feedback. FWIW, BSA hubs are rare and the shifters even more so.