So excited... Just purchased a dream frame (Carlton content)
 

Hello!

I hope everyone is doing well. Today I made a very impulsive purchase on Ebay UK via a seller that I've worked with before named Jon. The advertisement was up for just a couple of hours before I saw it and frantically read through the description and looked over the photos and cross-referenced with a scanned copy of the original Carlton brochure. I found the auction Jon originally purchased this frame set from in January and he made a good turn around but that's fine, as the price he got it for was a steal and only involved local pick up a continent away!

This is a Carlton Super Python from 1953 (one of the last years for this rather iconic mid-range model) in an unusually tall 24.5" frame size, which is exactly right for me! Some of you may recall that last year I purchased and fixed up a rather amazing time warp Carlton Continental from around 1950 with a Cyclo 3-speed derailleur and beautiful flamboyant paint. That bicycle rode exceptionally well but I was not in a financial position to hang onto it, and it was also only a 23" frame which I feel is rather tight for my aesthetic taste.

Jon attached some components that do or do not match the Super Python's 1953 date and I cut a deal to have him keep the GB Super Coureur brake calipers and the Benelux Mark 7 derailleur, which were both released in 1957. That saved me a bit of cash. Otherwise, I'll be getting the GB "hiduminium" spearpoint stem and GB maes handlebars, Reynolds dome top alloy seat post, Williams C34 single speed chain set (with rivets rather than bolts), and the Benelux shifter, all of which are period-correct.

The paint and chrome is totally original and far from perfect, but since it's regular black and white enamel touch up work will be easy to accomplish. Some of the decals are in decent enough shape for me to leave them as is, and I can personally re-enamel the head badge.

I have lots of projects in the works and won't get around to tinkering with this frame for at least several months. But I wanted to share it since I'm so excited! These are the advertised photos, since it still has to come all the way from merry ol' England! So I'll report back sometime in the future, sooner or later... Cheers!

-Gregory


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:thumb: Well done lad, well done. ;)

That is most excellent. Definitely subscribed to this thread. :thumb:

Stunning frame and in great nick too.

Oh my! Just the kind of vintage bicycle that I like to restore and ride. Beautiful.

I like that a lot. It's too tall for me, but it would have been a great frame for my 12-speed hybrid hub (14-16-18-20 Cyclo cog block/adapter on a standard ("wide range") Sturmey Archer 3-speed epicyclic hub). That original and distinctive Benelux / Simplex clone shift lever is an added plus.

Will take scrounging to find the parts but the result should be rewarding.

I don’t know enough about these but the illustration shows a single speed or fixed and the actual frame was built for a rear derailleur at least. I assume lots of options back then.

What a beautiful frameset.

.
...it's kinda cool when something like this ends up in the hands of an appreciative new owner. :)

Handsome bike and like the name, too.

For 1953 that's quite a sporting bike. I'll bet it weighs half of my recent acquisition 1953 Schwinn World. When finished, guessing the Schwinn will weigh 50 lbs. sans mudguards..

Thanks all!

I won't come back with any updates until I start working over the frame. I spend a lot of time perusing Ebay UK and am not afraid to pay high shipping costs, because the prices for the supposedly "rare" period-correct components already available in the United States are always inflated. It's almost always cheaper to pay for something to be shipped from England. I could undoubtedly completely equip this frame with decent condition and appropriate components after an hour of searching Ebay UK right now, but I don't have the cash to do that!

Yessir! Here's the bottom of the catalogue page that I had to cut off to get the "print screen" image to the resolution I wanted... Of course the original gear specified for this bike was probably not Simplex so they did not put on the Simplex dropout. My frame also lacks the standard lamp bracket. There were many options available, indeed... Cheers!

-Gregory


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c62fe4d37d.jpg

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You shall enjoy no end of fun doing a period correct build out. :love:

Minor error on brochure/catalogue page -

chain brand should be RENOLD rather than RENOLDS

these are beautifully finished with beveled plates

Lets set some Harden hubs!

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As the Super Python will push back or entirely eliminate my 1950 Sun Wasp project (which is a frame requiring full restoration) I may use several components I researched and had in mind for the Wasp. A Bayliss-Wiley Continental high-flange front hub with a matching high-flange "unit" hub that has an integrated freewheel are high on my list. These rear hubs can have three speeds using individual 1/8" cogs or four speeds using 3/32" cogs. They were optional equipment in the 1951 Sun catalog, which brought them to my attention, and I'd really like to try one out.

-Gregory

my ‘71 International has a Renold chain.
All hail the Empire

The Super Python arrived at my parents' country property yesterday. I went over and inspected the contents before putting it in storage for the time being. I'll pull it out when the world is a bit less hectic.

It pretty much looks just like the photos suggest, though I found a few little spots of old touch up paint crudely applied, which will need to be removed with thinner/sanding before being gone over again. I'm looking forward to touching it all up, getting the head badge colorful again, and preserving what I can of the original finish under a few fresh clear coats. I'll report back once that process is moving along. Cheers!

-Gregory

Gorgeous. I was about to put this on the "Are you looking" thread
https://www.facebook.com/groups/vint...omment_mention
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...41a9fcb3e7.jpg