b dub 

I haven’t done anything yet but am very excited. The seller thinks it’s from 1957.

it has its share of patina but it rode fine when going around the block.

The front cyclo derailleur is fun.

I received the rear derailleur in a box. Apparently the spring broke. We’ll see what I can do with it. I also received the original rear fender. Front fender is gone.

Sellers pictures.

b dub 

Look at that. Same as this one.
And unfortunately no leather Brooks saddle.
More pictures.




the cl add is still up.
https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/b...273943025.html

https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/b...287200657.html

obrentharris 

Nice!
I'm looking forward to following this one. Paint looks pretty good for 60+ years old.
Post a photo of the rear derailleur when you get a chance: There's no telling what spare parts may be lurking in the collections of some of us here.
Brent

b dub 

Is this a Cyclo Benelux Mark 7 derailleur? Rear freewheel is a 4 speed.




And the rear fender.

big chainring 

40 years ago I found one of those in an Amvets resale shop. Basically showroom fresh. Absolute mint condition. Original tires, handlebar tape, everything. Bought it for $40. Regreased everything, rode it once or twice. Loaned it out to a Raleigh dealer to display in his store. Then it sat behind my furnace for 20 years. In 2007 I sold it to a mega collector in Chicago. A couple years ago it popped up on ebay. I believe it sold. And besides me riding it a mile or two, a brand new 60+ year old bike.
​​​​​

b dub 

Yeah, big chainring I saw your comment in this thread about this same model bike. I think you said something like it sold for $600 on eBay. That's why originally the seller of my bike posted the bike for $800 on craigslist. Needless to say no responses so he had to readjust his asking price "a bit".

John E

I had a similar Cyclo or Benelux bandspring / pull chain rear derailleur on my Armstrong 3-speed which had been converted to a 12-speed with a 14-16-18-20 cog block. I finally gave up on it and happily substituted an early generation Campag. Gran Sport, which was a huge improvement and actually worked and shifted across all four cogs.

b dub 

Is that why the crank includes two chainrings of almost same size, to deal with the spread of 4 rear cogs that are hard to handle by the Cyclo rear derailleur?

Of course this bike sparked my interest because of the unusual derailleur setup. I had to see it up close.

John E

Most early derailleurs, front and rear, had trouble dealing with wide gear ranges. Half-step gearing, such as 49-46/14-16-18-20-23 or 52-47/13-16-19-23-28, was an elegant and efficient way to provide a fairly tight ratiometric progression, albeit it with limited range.

I was running a single chainring up front and the 3-speed Sturmey Archer internal epicyclic transmission in back, with the Cyclo 4-cog adapter and elongated axle. My bandspring derailleur had trouble moving far enough laterally to shift into all 4 cogs, probably partly because I had 1/8", rather than 3/32", chain, with fatter cogs and cog spacing. It would have been OK with a more common 3-cog adapter.

Longer cages in back solved the chain wrap capacity problem, and the SunTour slant planograph of the late 1960s revolutionized the design of rear mechs.

b dub 

First time in broad daylight. A quick look. Pretty neat. 691 original miles😀

FYI - curious Tinkerbell is checking it out.

b dub 

The new fenders are looking pretty good so for now they will stay. Probably not the crooked rack. I think the original Lenton light set is fun too but I really don't like all the loose wires.

And oil ports in the hubs and bottom bracket.

b dub 

I have some decisions to make.

This Raleigh is fascinating but it’s a bit large for me (23") and the frame is a run of the mill Raleigh with interesting decals and parts.

Then I have this great Belgian bicycle from the same era. I could instal the suicide front shifter from the Raleigh as well as the crankset.

And lastly I have this mid 60s Campagnolo Record group. I could add the Record rear derailleur to the Belgian bike.

I’m considering to sell off what I won’t use. First priority is to finish the Belgian bike and actually ride it by late spring.

Any thoughts?

nlerner

The only Lenton Sports Raleighs that I've seen with that particular logo were pretty low-end 1960s models--and there were Robin Hood variation that had a Robin Hood headbadge and "Lenton Sports" on the downtube, which I show below. My guess--and it's only a guess--is that someone slapped a rod-operated FD and a Cyclo RD on that bike , perhaps taken from a late 50s Lenton Grand Prix, and that those parts are not original.

b dub 

I don't believe so. I have seen 3 examples with this exact setup. All so far were found in the Chicago area (I think), perhaps sold by Mashalls Fields.

My 1972 Canadian Tire Company Supercycle is almost the same frame minus some braze-ons.

b dub 

As you can see in the pictures there is quite a lot of patina. I’m wondering if I should dunk the frame in Evapo rust or just steel wool it, then turtle wax it. I don’t mind the patina look but I would like the decals to be a bit less faded and prevent from further rusting.

KenNC

I would be very careful with the Lenton decals, I have a Lenton Grand Prix frame from about the same time, and the decals are quite delicate. BTW, I think that Belgian frame and bike is a beauty!

markk900

Personally, since the bike is so complete, regardless of the provenance of the derailleur I would vote for keeping it all together. It very beautifully shows a period of time that a “catalog correct” bike misses. But it’s your bike and tbh I have succumbed to the temptation of moving parts between bikes myself....

Re your comment about steel wool - you might want to try the aluminum foil trick first as it works very very well for light surface rust on chrome.

And do be careful with the decals!

b dub 

Good. Voice of reason. I needed to hear that. You’re right. I’m keeping the Raleigh as is.

I did remove the lights (for now) and the rear rack.

Then I took it for a spin yesterday with my daughter, adding 7 miles to make the total mileage 698 in 64 years. It’s a pleasure to ride.

After I’m finished with my Belgian bike to use as my weekend rider, will I switch my focus to the Raleigh.

seedsbelize 

In the sixth of the seller's pics, what is that gizmo connected to the front brake shoe and pointing down?

mkeller234

I think maybe you are seeing the release button for the light generator. The picture almost makes them look connected.

b dub 

Yup, it’s the release.

nlerner

Hmm, that looks to be a braze-on for a pulley wheel right under the seat lug, as would be found on 50s Raleigh Sports (as @cudak888 just installed on his Sports). Guess there was an IGH option for this frame.

cudak888 

The odd thing is that it shows up on these '62-64 Lenton Sports frames only - which are otherwise more or less the same as any 1962-64 Sports frame with exception to this braze-on, which always seems to show up on them: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...curiosity.html

I wouldn't be surprised if it's a safe bet that these Lentons are Nottingham overstock 1958/59 Raleigh Sports frames (which had both the braze-on and the later lugs; '57 had the transition lugs, IIRC) painted with the Lenton scheme. Aside from the paint job, it's a standard Sports frame and matches these years.

-Kurt

b dub 

Frame serial number: 99206 RA, positioned like Convention #2 from here.
Williams crankarm date code: FE. Doesn’t seem to match anything here.

b dub 

My gosh. I can't get away from these beautiful 1950s bikes. Now I'm taking a look at this 1958 Raleigh Lenton Grand Prix tonight.