JohnDThompson 

The problem with the TCW series hubs is that the coaster brake is actuated through the internal gearing rather than directly. What this means is that when the hub is in "high" gear (i.e. when you are likely to be going fastest), the mechanical advantage of the brake is decreased, making it less effective. Conversely, when the hub is in low gear, the mechanical advantage is increased above what it would be if actuated directly. At least that situation shouldn't be dangerous. And if you're barreling along in high gear and need to brake, you would get best performance if you shifted to low gear to apply the coaster brake.

BigChief 

You could also add a caliper brake to the rear wheel.

gster

Raleigh Oddball
Listed on Kijiji as a 1930's Glider. I suspect it's from the 50's

Note the interesting double pulley set up for the gear cable


It's got a 3 speed dynohub coaster and rod brakes up front.



Seller is asking an optimistic $500.00

noglider 

Wow, I didn't know that about the TCW. I've heard warnings of other flaws in the hub, too.

clubman 

Hey gster, pretty sure that's not unlike your post from the other day. Not Raleigh but Birmingham. Same ledge on the top tube and typical fork crown. I had one of those early Gliders, a men's double top tube and it was huge. Nor was it a Raleigh. I think the Glider might be 40's but it doesn't matter. Nice big brass headbadges.
That one's a hodgepodge. Looks like a US stem, CCM mudguards and chainguard. Double shifter pulley? I guess the 'builder' couldn't find a long enough cable but did have an extra pulley on hand. Creative and bizarre.

gster

Good analysis.
I'd always assumed that Raleigh was the Eatons supplier but perhaps that wasn't established
until the mid-50's or so.
Hodgepodge is a good description.
Also the name of a stew of sorts......

RRJohn

I have a pair of Raleigh Sports from 1966 that need the SA indicator chains replaced. The hub is labeled 66 and 1. The chains ordered were HSA 125. The spindle is the same length as the original but the the original chain has 6 links and the replacement only has 5 links. Will this affect the shifting? Where can I get a 6 link indicator chain?

Thanks for any suggestions or advice,
Robert

clubman 

As long as the chain is long enough to run out of the indicator nut cleanly, it doesn't matter. Maybe there's still enough thread range to allow proper adjustment of your gears. Try it. If not, you can adjust position of the Fulcrum stop to give you a little more slack to make up for the shorter chain. Remember to lightly grease the indicator and back it off a half turn from full insertion and continue until the chain runs smooth and straight over the nut.

usarnie1

I thought I would share with you the prize of my bicycle collection. It is a near mint 1953 Hercules Windsor QEII coronation celebration bicycle. Aside from doing a re-spray to the chain guard, adding a replica Hercules Windsor sticker to it, installing a set of Michelin tires, thorn proof tubes, Brooks B66 leather Saddle & tool pouch, NOS Hungerford Supper jet hand grips, all new barrel adjusting cables & brake pads, NOS Hercules pedals, 3" bell, new air pump, Dual Miller headlights with modern LED bulbs installed, stem mounted concave rear view mirror, replica 1950s Space Patrol Terra IV space ship front fender stickers, QEII Coronation badge and a NOS Midland rear carrying rack. The remainder of the bike is mostly all original.

The bike originally came to me with only a single speed rear coaster brake and no hand controls. I changed all that back to stock using a Hercules B type rear hub, new 185mm spokes (trimmed down to 183mm), both caliper brakes, hand controls, brake cables and a Hercumatic 3 speed shifter with all the necessary hardware, cable and indicator chain.

I purchased this bike on E-bay. It was located in Rhode Island. I had a cousin of mine, who lives in Massachusetts, go pick it up and then ship it to me in California. The seller of this bike purchased it from a storage auction. Judging by the excellent condition of the paint and decals, I presume the bike spent many years, or decades, locked up in a storage facility. I won the e-bay auction with a bid of $55. Plus $100 for shipping. So far I have spent over $700 to add all the components to the bike as listed above.

I have 10 vintage European 3 speed bicycles in my collection and my Hercules Windsor is my favorite of all of them. The replica stickers were purchased from redbubble.com and all the other parts were purchased on e-bay. To me all the work and money spent on this bicycle was worth it.


1953 Hercules Windsor QEII Bicycle

rogerm3d

That's a great looking bike. I like the dual headlight configuration. I've always enjoyed the chainrings like on your bike with the lettering.

My Dayton Roadmaster, the original rear hub was date stamped to 1955

gster

That's quite a bike!
Looks like it should be leading a parade.
Imagine finding that under the Christmas tree...

BigChief 

Nice one!

nlerner

In case anyone is thinking about treating your old 3-speed to some new, high-end shoes:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Grand-Bois-...UAAOSw-bRehM4-

clubman 

Wish I had $200 to blow. I've got some alloy rims that would love these.

gster

That's more than my shoes cost....

adventurepdx

I bought a pair of these in 2018, slapped them on my Robin Hood, rode Pepin. And promptly got rid of them.

Yeah, sure, they are "Grand Bois" quality, but I have no idea why they did them as a 32 mm width. While they looked OK (though skinny), the higher psi required for running a tire that skinny negated any benefits of "suppleness" that the tire supposedly has. Col de la Vies look good and do the trick for at least half the price. Now, if Grand Bois would release a version that's 37-40 mm wide...

nlerner

^ That’s good to know! I do like the Col de la vie tires a great deal, better than the version made for 650b wheels for some reason.

PeterLYoung 

Here is an informative article "On the Drops' (https://on-the-drops.blogspot.com/20...1946-1951.html) on the range of Clubmans Raleigh produced after the war, 1946 to 1951. There were three models, Raleigh Lenton Clubman, Rudge Aero Clubman and Humber Beeston Clubman.There was at that time a very large Club Riding Movement in the UK. I am restoring a Beeston Clubman currently, it was given to me by its original owner now in his eighties and no longer able to ride, he is following my restoration progress, see photo attached. I think after 1951 they evolved to "Sport" models.

Humber Beeston Clubman.

gster

Looking forward to the progress.
I still think that my 1955 Humber Sports is a Club bike.


Despite the 2030 tubing....

Or maybe it was a standard model modified with EA1 rims after the fact...

PeterLYoung 

In the UK the Club Culture declined as the 1950's progressed due to more people affording cars/motorcycles but club riding did continue and riders would have bought a suitable bicycle that took their fancy so yes your Humber could well have been a club bike, I was referring to the specifically named Raleigh range. Your bike is very smart, a lovely machine. The article did also refer to Sports models predating the clubman range also.

gster

I've got a line on an elderly neigbour's/friend's club bike as well.
He's owned it since new.
He's not ready to part with it yet......
A 1955 Norman

With a Cyclo derailleur..

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...l#post21156766

Ged117 

That bike needs your help, gster! I bet after some work with evaporust, polish, and wax that what is left of the green will come shining through. Rum surface looks rough in some spots. The hybrid gearing is the same as I have on my Superbe few a few years earlier. It certainly makes for useful gear combinations, but it is very touchy to operate. Failure to heed its eccentricities and you'll drop the chain again....and again.

The AG hub will likely still produce electron juice for your night rides through town.

PeterLYoung 

That’s an interesting bike and I would think very rare, especially with that Cyclo Derailleur. Chrome looks like it could clean up pretty well too. A nice original machine.

gster

Yes.
He bought the bike (his mum bought the bike) and almost right away went back
to the store
and bought the conversion kit to install.
I may offer to restore and return to him with the
understanding that he will give it to me when he's ready.
It's been sitting in his shed for a least 40 years....

PeterLYoung 

That would be a very nice and generous thing to do. As one gets older we tend to reflect on our past and he would love to see his bike in its former glory and know when the time comes it will go to someone who will care for it. The gentleman who gave me the Humber Beeston Clubman is following my progress and I promised him I would take it to his home so he could see it restored and virtually as it was when he bought it in 1948. He gave it to me because he knew I would take care of it and I think the same applies in your case.