Hello Brian,
Great bike! (Please don't take it apart.) Here is some info on a Phillips Mark V with 26" wheels:
https://bsamuseum.wordpress.com/1939...tary-roadster/. It has been questioned if this is a WW2 bicycle as those "in the know" state that wartime bicycle all had 28" wheels. Problem is that there is very little info about military bicycles. What I could find is that the Military Bicycle indeed had 28" wheels. In military contracts references to "trade pattern" roadsters can be found. The "Roadster" type bicycle was a sturdy old-fashioned style of bicycle popular in the countryside. These usually had 28 x 1-1/2" wheels with Westwood rims, long cranks and long wheelbases, and very shallow frame angles (68 degrees or less). Roadsters used "roller-lever" brakes operated by rods. They were built for durability above all else, and were intended to be able to cope with dirt roads, cobblestones and unpaved footpaths, with a bare minimum of maintenance. No serious attempt was made to save weight in their design or construction. Finish in "service colour", fit some military items like gun clips, luggage carrier and you have a bicycle for military service.
Woman's bicycles were intended for garrison type of duties only, hence no "service colour" was required, and also it may not need to comply to other military requirements, hence the 26" wheels? In the case of women's bicyles a regular trade pattern bike would fit the bill perfectly, just add no frills. So the fact that is has no chrome bits to me is an indication it was likely built under a military contract, with austerity and functionality over anything else. I have seen a Hercules bicycle with only the frame and mudguards in "service colour" (some kind of OD) - everything else is painted black: rims, handlebar, pedals, luggage carrier etc.
I really like
military bicycles; I have an unrestored large size frame Hercules.
Regards,
Hanno