randyjawa 

Had to go to the city today to deliver this Rocky Mountain to a local buyer...


After that, I enter the land of danger and shopped for some groceries and other supplies. While in the grocery store, my phone rang and this was given to me. The question is - is it a Raleigh, as is indicated by the head badge or a Carlton..?

ascherer 

Yes. It was a strange year or two in Worksop.

bertinjim 

Randy-

It's a British market Carlton superficially re-badged for export to NA.

ascherer 

It's a really interesting mashup. To the extent it's possible, Peter Kohler wrote what's probably the most complete history of Carton - Raleigh - Huffy connections of the mid-to-late 60's. That bike is identified as a Corsair, which wasn't really in the Raleigh Carlton lineup - it really seems like some days they just slapped parts on and shipped 'em out.

randyjawa 

Even at my age I still learn new things all the time. Thanks for the information. Does it look like it says Corsair on the top tube?

Now the question is what do I do with it. I am trying to downsize again, this time I had eight bikes and have managed to find new homes for three. Then the confused Carlton shows up, a complete surprise today, and for free at that. I do not need another project.

beicster 

Looks like it says Corsair to me. I have seen a few other bikes that have Carlton on the down tube and Raleigh everywhere else. Seems like they are mid to late 60's models for the most part. That headtube badge is a 68-70 one for Raleigh. What size is the seat post?

branko_76 

The "72" on the top head-tube lug I suppose is the angle.

My 1972 Grand Prix with "Carlton Race Approved/Made In Workshop" sticker also has a "72" on the top head-tube lug. Three other GP's I have, a 1974, 1978 and 1978 Super GP all have "73" in that location. Not sure if that helps but there it is...

nlerner

Raleigh Carlton, of course.

steelbikeguy

from my perspective, since Raleigh bought Carlton, I don't see why it can't be both.

Even my '74 Raleigh International carries a Carlton decal on the seat tube.....



with the usual mid-70's down tube decal...



Steve in Peoria
(the brake hoods say "Carlton" too)

Pcampeau

I have a 68 Super Course with a 67 serial number and the same decal dilemma




I think the only correct answer is both. Since Carlton was swallowed up by Raleigh and then Raleigh swallowed up by Tube Investments, I suppose it could also be neither. At this point it’s all corporate branding semantics and our bikes are branded twice, yet each of these bikes were clearly made by Carlton and not by Raleigh. Hmmm? So there’s my unhelpful and inconclusive ramble. Cool Bike by the way! I love the blue paint and chrome lugs.

branko_76 

That's a very nice and interesting Super Course Pcampeau , it has beautiful wrap-around seat stays, much nicer than the Grand Prix's. Yours also has Bocama (?) lugs, rather than Nervex. The seat stays are also slender like the GP, the later SC's had beefier seat stays.

It seems your Super Course is a well dressed version of the Grand Prix...

Pcampeau

Thanks branko_76!

oneclick 

Check the serial number if it's on the on the dropout and starts with G or a lower number, then it was made when Carlton was Carlton (G=1959).

Also pop the top nut off the headset; looks like a Raleigh pattern. I have a Raleigh/Carlton (1983) with that headset, it is a Worksop bike, the headset is the same pattern but is 24tpi and stamped "24".

beicster 

I have a 68 Super Course with those same lugs. Those are Crespera lugs. That took me a while to figure out.

beicster 

Here is a link to a conversation about a similar bike from RetroBike out of the UK. Help me identify this Carlton (67 - 71) | Retrobike

randyjawa 

@ nlerner...

A Raleigh Carlton, who would have thought? Mine, however, does not have the chrome socks and the Raleigh Carlton does not sport chrome head tube lugs. None the less, that picture, coupled with the information provided by bertinjim brings me closer to identification.

I should add that today is "dump day". Who knows what someone might have tossed away today..? Got this old Bianchi at the dump. tacko-ed back wheel and all, last summer...


and this old CCM, already given away to a friend...

randyjawa 

The bicycle serial number is Y1762, Does that shed any light on the subject. Also...

Pcampeau

I believe Y is 1967. The Corsair appears in the 1968 Carlton catalog. “Flamboyant Ducal Blue with Black head tube and seat panel”.

randyjawa 

1967 seems about right to me. The Simplex rear derailleur suggested that it was made in July of 1968. The more I look at this old bike, the more I like it. Oh oh!

bertinjim 

Oh, well Randy, at least you now have another cracked, Simplex Delrin front derailleur. How can life be complete without one?

randyjawa 

And, only minutes ago, I got it working. The cable was seized and the new cable, of course, needed the head to be filed for it to fit the Simplex shifter. None the less, the bike is good to go. It shifts. The brakes seem to work well in the work stand. And the tires look to have seen very little use. They look like Michelain World, as I recall. Anyway, the bike seems to be cleaning up pretty good.

And, as for the cracked derailleur - I just won't shift the front derailleur. Don't have big ring legs any longer. Wonder where they went..?-( Oh, ya. I did see a new throw away at the dump and I scored three new foam pipe wraps, for a soon to be shipped Cannondale, and I also got two brand new Corning Ware dishes with lids. My wife was very happy.

randyjawa 

Well, I am going to strip the bike and harvest the components for other projects. That leaves the frame/fork set which I will offer for a trade in the For Sale forum soon. Anyway, went to the dump today and nothing there for me. This Norco showed up and I did score two brand new Corning Wear cooking dishes for my wife. Anyway, today's new dump bike...