German WW2 ARMY “ACHILLES” Bicycle- very original and complete condition. I was on a trip to Normandy with my friend in the 1990's and he bought this bicycle from an older French collector. The French guy said that when he was a kid, his father took him to area of the Falaise Pocket after the destruction of the eastward retreating German Forces. They brought this bicycle home among other battlefield pick-ups. He was an older guy when we met him, he probably in his late 60's. His basement was full of his collection; German equipment, uniforms and weapons. This bike is in original condition, except for replaced tubes, and a few nuts and bolts on the front fender. It was made by A. Schneider & Co of Ober-Politz, in the Sudentenland. The model is called “ACHILLES”, as the screwed-on name plate identifies, and is serial numbered on the right frame down pipe; “6648977”. This was a state-of-the-art German touring bicycle, and as “Modell One” was introduced in 1934. Here is some details of it’s components and it’s condition. It has a “TORPEDO” brand coaster brake on the rear wheel, and it’s original plunger brake on the front wheel with a right hand brake lever. The handle bar has a cast iron quick release system, with “EXPRESSWERKES” cast into it. This unit slips over the finished top of the front fork stem. This metal stem was finished bright and has rust haze. The handle bar grips are original also.  They have the maker’s name “HABILIT” molded into their ends. And interestingly, this info is backward because the mold form was not reversed to show this logo positively. The bike is set up for an infantryman and his rifle. It is complete with the rifle carrier, ammo/equipment box., front headlamp, rear gear carrier rack, tool pouch and bicycle tire air-pump. The rifle carrier consists of a butt cup below the =seat, and a verticle piece, of steel stock, located back from the handle bars, with a hinged clamp at it’s top. The clamp is lined with leather, which is riveted to the hinged assembly, top and bottom. The ammo/equipment box would allow ammo or stick grenades to be carried. The head lamp is missing it’s bulb. I believe this unit could run from a battery within or a generator, which is not and has never been on this bike. The interior is clean with minor rust haze, but does not have a battery within it. The tool pouch is missing one of the three mounting straps. The tire pump is original to this bike. The wooden handle has bee releaved on one side to better fit on the bike with the front rifle mount present. The original “MICHELIN” tires with English; “18 x 1 5/8 x 1 3/8” and metric “700 x 35 C” together with “MICHELIN” on the side walls. These tires, although original to the bike have dry rot cracks and some creases where the bike stood without air in the tires. MICHELIN still produces this tire size today, if this bike was to be used as a “rider”. However, many of the spokes are loose and the tires would need to be trued. The wheel axles have oil zurks (ports) to keep the bearings lubricated and the rear wheel has threaded tensioner screws on the frame at the rear axle, to tighten the chain evenly to a proper tension. The saddle is sprung at the front and twice at it’s rear. The seat material is coarsely woven material with a finished top laminant. The seat makers logo in impressed into the seat, however, their name is indistinct due to wear of the saddle laminant, which through use has exposed the material underneath. There are two metal “skid plates” at the rear sides of the saddle. The peddles are steel with reflectors on their edges. The chain is rusty. The bottom of the rear fender is painted white with a reflector present. These bicycles were painted black and this example has much of it’s original finish. There are spots of paint loss and some rust spots. There is paint loss on many nuts and on the front plunger rod, typical of paint loss due to maintenance. Over-all the paint is in excellent condition. Some pieces were in un-finished bright metal, and these have a rust haze. All these features reflect higher-end design and quality. Over-all the bike is dusty. I have left it as-is as found, to allow the next owner to clean it to their personal specs. It is a time capsule of what it is, and in amazing condition for a 1930’s German WW2 Army Bicycle.On this bicycle please contact me to discuss delivery or shipping. Price: $5,000.00 (ref C-290)