1903 Sunbeam 2 speed
05-30-19, 07:25 AM
#1
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Bikes: 1903 24 spd Sunbeam, 1927 Humber, 3 1930 Raleighs, 2 1940s Sunbeams, 2 1940s Raleighs, Rudge, 1950s Robin Hood, 1958 Claud Butler, 2 1973 Colnago Supers, Eddie Merckx, 2 1980 Holdsworth, EG Bates funny TT bike, another 6 or so 1990s bikes
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1903 Sunbeam 2 speed
120 1/8 bearings around the planetary gears and 30 more on the base of the sun gear and another 30 around the backing plate.
Being in an oil bath there was nothing to indicate 116 years of usage. I rode it back home from the home of the 95 year old owner.
The unit is completely modular and fits solely to the shaft. The extended shaft fits any English BB and the unit is free of any attachment to the frame. The selector has a cam that slides against a ramp that changes the gearing by 25%.
05-30-19, 07:50 AM
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Also check out the C.A.B.E. (classic and antique bicycle exchange) for this one.
They get more into the early bikes. C&V here is more into 40 year old (+/-) road bikes, but not limited to them.
05-30-19, 08:02 AM
#4
feros ferio
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Thanks for posting -- pretty slick.
I also like the old 3-speed sliding gear bottom bracket transmissions on 1930s Adler (Eagle) bicycles from Germany.
We take modern IGH and derailleur systems as the norm, but there have been many interesting variations along the way.
I also like the old 3-speed sliding gear bottom bracket transmissions on 1930s Adler (Eagle) bicycles from Germany.
We take modern IGH and derailleur systems as the norm, but there have been many interesting variations along the way.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
05-31-19, 03:41 AM
#5
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The two claw like cams beneath the axle hole in the photo are separate and leaf-spring assisted. A small two positin rod pushes on the 'sharp' end of the claw and moves the sun gear in and out of engagement. The presence of two mirrored cams mean you can engage 2nd pedalling forwards or back-pedalling.
To the left of the seatpost and the right of the bracket securing the selector rod, you can see both of the claw shaped cams insitu
05-31-19, 06:53 AM
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@Johno59,
Thanks for the explanation and photos. I've never seen anything like this before.
If you've got any pictures of the bike it's attached to, we'd love to see.
Thanks for the explanation and photos. I've never seen anything like this before.
If you've got any pictures of the bike it's attached to, we'd love to see.
06-08-19, 02:23 AM
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The wire cable beneath the down tube pulls on a spring loaded rod that works the front mech epicyclic gear change
1930s Resilion 'Crimson Star' derailleur. Note the clockwork spring that the tiny selector chain pulls aganist to bring the red jockey wheels across the three speed rear block.
The selector for the 2 speed epicyclic .Rotate the handle and it slides up the bevelled cyclinder pulling up or releasing the wire to effect a 25% change in the gearing. Note the two spring loaded brackets attaching the lamp to the headset bracket. They enable the lamp to bounce up and down so as to not spill the lamp's fuel.
Not sure about the huge Dutch seat. I have an old Brooks I might use instead. Note the dual clamp Suntour shifters under the seat
I endured many a crap pedal but never thought I'd go for crap-colored ones.
I don't know about anyone else but I have a nightmare shaping the steel fender braces. I take forever getting them to hold the fender evenly and/or symetrically around the tire.
Used a dual Suntour lever position on the seatpost beneath the seat. Suntour seem to be the only shift lever that can handle high tension springs that hold there position and not rouge shift.
Small leather panniers attached to a nice little ornate rear rack.
The propane lamp has its own suspension that allows the unit to absorb the bumps in the road. i used 4 mm round leather boot lace as bar tape. The original had a cellulose covering - chrome wasn't around in 1903.
Last edited by Johno59; 06-08-19 at 06:33 AM.
06-08-19, 04:55 AM
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Extraordinary!
06-08-19, 07:12 AM
#10
incazzare.
Wow that's really cool. I like your setup too.
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06-08-19, 08:36 AM
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Great restoration and explanation of the unique features to this bicycle. It's really amazing when you look back to the early bikes and cars how much creativity was in play in the designs and engineering for both. Thanks for sharing.
06-25-19, 03:55 AM
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Seat change
Went with a hammock style seat rather than the heavy duty Dutch one
Changed the seats original crappy steel rivets for copper ones as well
K7
06-25-19, 05:26 AM
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feros ferio
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Now that is a hybrid transmission. 
I always liked my old Sturmey Archer AW wide range 3 speed with the 4-speed close ratio Cyclo cogset, but it would have been great fun to have two speeds up front, as well.
I always liked my old Sturmey Archer AW wide range 3 speed with the 4-speed close ratio Cyclo cogset, but it would have been great fun to have two speeds up front, as well.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
06-25-19, 05:38 AM
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Sheldon Brown 116 speed
Sheldon Brown did a 4 speed SA IGH, 7 speed block and a 4 speed front chainring.
06-25-19, 07:09 AM
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06-25-19, 11:10 AM
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Since I've finally started working on them myself, it's wonderful to see any and all pre-WWII (and especially pre-WWI) bicycles back on the road. You're now working with what I've been dreaming about - only 25-30 years back to go.
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“No one in this world, so far as I know — and I have searched the records for years, and employed agents to help me — has ever lost money by underestimating the intelligence of the great masses of the plain people. Nor has anyone ever lost public office thereby.”
H.L. Mencken, (1926)
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