agmetal

The thread title basically covers it...I've been looking for a really old 3-speed, but I found a decent deal on a DL-1 in project condition, and I'd like to turn it into something that more closely resembles a bike from the 1930s or earlier. I'd like to find a full chain case, change out the grips (to what, though?), and track down a quadrant shifter. What else am I missing? Also, what saddle? Maybe a Brooks B33?

(Pics coming when my phone stops being a piece of crap and lets me post them)

nlerner

Well, that would be a labor of love and probably at great expense. You might be better off holding out for an actual 1930s Raleigh. An excellent source for such machines (I sold him my '37 Sports) is Nick at Curious Velo in Lexington.

agmetal

It's already gonna take a bit of work as it is. I'm missing the rear fender, seatpost/saddle, and the stirrup part of the front brake, plus I'll need to get new tires. What do you expect will be the most difficult part of this project? I definitely plan to get in touch with Nick about it, but at the moment I'm more comfortable with piecing it together over a few months or whatever than spending it all at once

agmetal

Vintage Raleigh

Retro Raleighs: The Roadsters

Reference here for 54 and up

nlerner

Definitely the full chain case if you want to go that route. Sourcing a complete one that's not crazy expensive is hard. Sourcing one that actually fits is even harder. Otherwise, the technology didn't change very much from the 1930s to the 1970s. Quadrant shifters get listed on eBay very regularly, and as long as you're not looking for NOS, you can find one at a reasonable price.

Fwiw, I bought this 1930s Raleigh Sports frameset from a local friend and have fitted it with pretty much all 1970s parts to give it the period look (including a set of Araya 26 x 1 1/4"/EA1 rims). The bars are steel Soma Lauterwasser bars:

agmetal

Nice.

While doing some googling last night, I happened across a site selling chain cases and mudguards made by an Indian company called K.W. Cycles, for about $50. Supposedly these parts fit Raleighs quite well, and perhaps since they're not mechanical, they might be worth buying and de-branding?


https://www.yellowjersey.org/eastbits.html

About how much should I expect to pay for a used quadrant shifter, and what kind of cable do they use?

nlerner

I'd be suspicious about those after-market chaincases actually fitting. I'd drop a note to the Yellow Jersey folks to see if anyone has actually tried it with a '75 DL-1.

As far as quadrant shifters, the prices I've seen on eBay go from $25 to fairly corroded ones to $100 for NOS. They take a standard S-A gear cable.

Oh, and one more along the lines of what you're thinking: I took a 70s Sports and turned it into a '30s-like Sports:

crank_addict

OP's coin but you have to keep in mind the value. Parts for DL-1 are rather pricey and yet to this day still find rider level bikes from $100. Also, consider to cannibalize a Flying Pigeon. I spotted a clean one just the other day for $175. Has the chaincase, etc.


Though I do like the concept modifying a DL-1 to quirky different oldish. I've had a like project going but its now way down the list of to-do's. I wanted it more or less as a stripped down racer. I do have the alloy rims yet down to 36 spoke for the rear and then matched Sturmey IGH hub. I was planning on the semi Lauterwasser bars ($12 / steel from Nashbar) then mod with brazed tabs for the 'ROD' brake lever linkage. The idea being a 'hot ROD'....... its been done before and somewhere I have original pics of the set-up. The rod brakes being the key ingredient and character builder for riding in the hills. Don't really know if they help but Kool Stop pads are available.

mparker326

Personally, I don't see the point in making the bike look older when it isn't. The bike is already 40 years old so it qualifies as old already. For the cost of making it look old, you could probably find an old one.

Doohickie

I'd go back to the original look. Don't worry 'bout the chaincase. That's just putting on airs.

BigChief 

I love projects. I especially like finding old bikes that are ,in my opinion, not worth preservation so I can have fun modifying and/or restoring them.
It's the challenge, the work and overcoming obstacles then riding that I enjoy. I love DL-1s, so I would have bought your bike in a heartbeat.
I think making a earlier style roadster is a fun idea. Not practical, not economical, but a cool project for sure. First thing I'd do is find a pre 73 drive side crank/chainwheel. Here's my '73. It's original and in good shape so I'm preserving it. I did swap out the 16T cog for a 22T since this picture. Made a world of difference for me.

agmetal

So, an interesting turn of events, for those who didn't catch this post in the huge 3-speed thread:

My coworker and I were talking about the plans for this bike and where to get the parts, and he called up a friend who's an expert on old Raleighs. It turned out that, not only did he have the parts I was after, but he also had a whole bike with all of the things I'd wanted to do on the '75 project bike. At first, it wasn't clear to me that it wasn't just a project, but was actually in rideable condition, and after seeing pictures, I decided I needed to see it in person (the asking price he mentioned was more than I wanted to spend on a project starter, having just spent money on the other bike only a day earlier - but for a rideable bike, it was extremely reasonable, and probably less than sourcing parts would cost). So yesterday morning, my coworker picked it up from his friend and brought this bike to the shop for me to check out, and I ended up buying it.

So here's my "new" 1937 Raleigh DL-1 with its original Sturmey-Archer K-type 3-speed hub. A few parts (pedals, saddle, rear fender reflector) have been replaced with '60s-'70s stuff, but this bike is a rider:

agmetal

nlerner

^ Very nice! What size wheels are those? I have a pdf of the '37 Raleigh catalog, and the difference between various models seems to have to do with wheel size.

agmetal

28x1-1/2" wheels, and I believe it's a 22" frame. The '75 has the same size wheels and a larger frame, I assume 24". I haven't measured either of them, so that's based on knowing what sizes were available. I'd love to see that catalog, btw!

nlerner

The 1937 Raleigh catalog is in the Veteran Cycle Club Library. I would guess yours is a Tourist/Model 21 (see p. 26).

agmetal

I'm frustrated that I can't tell the actual difference between models 7 and 21, other than the chain case being optional for model 7

nlerner

Well, that might be the only difference!

agmetal

Further examination of the catalog has also made me notice that my bike also has a characteristic that is only listed with the "all weather" model. Several of the "bright parts" are painted black: the rear brake linkage starting at the head tube, the shifter, and even the cable appears to have been painted black. Interesting....

nlerner

I had a '37 Sports Tourist, and the model label was on the downtube just below the head tube:



Any label remnants on yours?

agmetal

Don't think so, but I'll take a closer look tonight or tomorrow

brianinc-ville

In my experience, it seems like the "model numbers" in the Raleigh factory were more like guidelines....
@nlerner, I hadn't seen that Sports conversion before and am bedazzled. What d'ye call those almost-but-not-quite-Lauterwasser drop bars?

nlerner

Those are called "don't try this at home!" even though I did it at home. I took an old pair of narrow alu drop bars and spread them out with a tire jack:





The result wasn't exactly evenly bent, but it worked well enough for the 2014 Velo Cheapo contest. I wouldn't actually trust those bars now in action.

drlogik 

Why not get it back to all original and call it a day? You'd have a wonderful ride and a real looker to.