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Originally Posted by AD-SLE
(Post 21043714)
Oddly...I live in Hopkinton NH but I have my Father's Raleigh Sports purchased, I estimate, 1935 from the BicycleExchange in Cambridge Mass. The same store I purchased my Raleigh Grand Prix in maybe 1974. The Grand Prix is gone but I still have his Raleigh, SN 57658 stamped in seat tube AFTER paint. I need this 1950 version like a hole in the head. I hope to someday get my Dad's on the road. Interesting to me about the bike. The bike is 100% original. IMO. The Sturmy Archer shifter is on the top tube. The rims are not what Sheldon calls the Raleigh Pattern Rim. They have no center ridge. The front wheel is radial spoked. My father told me that he and his two buddies got Ben Olken to order three of these new high tech multi speed bikes and they rode them all over New England. The original catalog is somewhere in the small fraction of stuff I kept when cleaning out the parent's house of 50 years. I sure would like to find it!
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Prior to the war could well have been Dunlop steel rims, which are quite nice.
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Here she is. There is absolutely no alpha with the SN. I will try to get other photos. Since I was a small child this bike was in the stall. Rarely ridden by my father but still his pride and joy. He grew up in Cambridge Ma, the small front odometer says 1192. Sadly one of the rotted rubber hand grips blew off as it rode in the back of my truck. I have the chain guard. He was born in '23. I would assume he got it when 13. That would make it a 1936. I suspect, since he tells me he had the first 3 speed in Cambridge and he had to have the bike store special order it, the cost was significant. 1200 miles on a 3 speed is doing something. I suspect that when he turned 16 or 17, cars quickly replaced the bike. I think the bike is a bit of a time capsule that I will carefully clean and ride some day. The handlebars are black, not chrome or nickle. And very narrow. You have to work at keeping your knees in to avoid hitting the end of the bars. he was 5 11, I am 6. I mean other than hang it up in the shop and ride it for parades, 3 speeds in my part of NH are hard to work up and down the hills. The rear hub does not have the normal dating so that is of no use.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9b7e74004.jpeg |
What are the markings (or lack thereof) on the rear hub? AW with no date usually = 1936, I believe. Until the 1940s, the AW hubs were dated with a single digit for the year, e.g., AW-7 = 1937.
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My wife will shoot me. I asked her to drag it out of the barn and take a photo. And check the SN again. I think I have used up my pretty please at this point. I am leaving Columbus and heading to Eau Claire WI for the next assignment. Work. Gets in the way all the time. Here are a few other photos. I will work on the hub. My recall, oily. I could not find anything. But, I was likely keen for the conventional Sturmy Archer logo. The shifter has the SA logo. It is my belief it is a stock bike from that era.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b3e5b0ac8b.jpg https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6c9f430075.jpg |
Originally Posted by AD-SLE
(Post 21044970)
My wife will shoot me. I asked her to drag it out of the barn and take a photo. And check the SN again. I think I have used up my pretty please at this point. I am leaving Columbus and heading to Eau Claire WI for the next assignment. Work. Gets in the way all the time. Here are a few other photos. I will work on the hub. My recall, oily. I could not find anything. But, I was likely keen for the conventional Sturmy Archer logo. The shifter has the SA logo. It is my belief it is a stock bike from that era.
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Originally Posted by AD-SLE
(Post 21044962)
Here she is. There is absolutely no alpha with the SN. I will try to get other photos. Since I was a small child this bike was in the stall. Rarely ridden by my father but still his pride and joy. He grew up in Cambridge Ma, the small front odometer says 1192. Sadly one of the rotted rubber hand grips blew off as it rode in the back of my truck. I have the chain guard. He was born in '23. I would assume he got it when 13. That would make it a 1936. I suspect, since he tells me he had the first 3 speed in Cambridge and he had to have the bike store special order it, the cost was significant. 1200 miles on a 3 speed is doing something. I suspect that when he turned 16 or 17, cars quickly replaced the bike. I think the bike is a bit of a time capsule that I will carefully clean and ride some day. The handlebars are black, not chrome or nickle. And very narrow. You have to work at keeping your knees in to avoid hitting the end of the bars. he was 5 11, I am 6. I mean other than hang it up in the shop and ride it for parades, 3 speeds in my part of NH are hard to work up and down the hills. The rear hub does not have the normal dating so that is of no use.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9b7e74004.jpeg https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8782062605.jpg |
An interesting aspect about this bike is that it answers the question we had all those years about why Raleigh named their regular roadsters "Sports" when they weren't actually sports bikes. This medium weight frame was made for a sports model, but made from the usual mild steel instead of the exotic chromolly steel of their top end sports bikes. Then, they offered the same frame with upright bars, different rims and mudguards and called it Sports Light Roadster. Compared to the rod brake bikes with bolt on seat stays they were pretty sporty. Then they dropped the drop bar model and added chainguards or chain cases, but the name Sports stuck. So for the next 40 years we had roadsters named Sports that weren't sports bikes at all.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...937eb440f2.jpg |
Originally Posted by AD-SLE
(Post 21044962)
Here she is. There is absolutely no alpha with the SN. I will try to get other photos. Since I was a small child this bike was in the stall. Rarely ridden by my father but still his pride and joy. He grew up in Cambridge Ma, the small front odometer says 1192. Sadly one of the rotted rubber hand grips blew off as it rode in the back of my truck. I have the chain guard. He was born in '23. I would assume he got it when 13. That would make it a 1936. I suspect, since he tells me he had the first 3 speed in Cambridge and he had to have the bike store special order it, the cost was significant. 1200 miles on a 3 speed is doing something. I suspect that when he turned 16 or 17, cars quickly replaced the bike. I think the bike is a bit of a time capsule that I will carefully clean and ride some day. The handlebars are black, not chrome or nickle. And very narrow. You have to work at keeping your knees in to avoid hitting the end of the bars. he was 5 11, I am 6. I mean other than hang it up in the shop and ride it for parades, 3 speeds in my part of NH are hard to work up and down the hills. The rear hub does not have the normal dating so that is of no use.
I am 6.0" and no worries with my knees and the handlebars on my 1935 Sports Model (which is a Roadster FWIW) but that has more to do with inseam than it does height. The stem on this bike is quite a bit different in appearance than the post-war stems so do be careful with it. I can't see from the photos- does your machine have a gallows seatpost? Allegedly the K did not have the big neutral between 2nd and 3rd but its most definitely there on my machine, which was equipped with stainless rims. My hub is a type KB, having a drum brake integrated into the hub. BTW I would very much like to see what the graphics on the seat tube look like. It appears that yours are similar to mine, but mine are mostly covered by spray paint which has been the devil to remove! |
Originally Posted by Salubrious
(Post 21046246)
If a 1936 then it is a type K hub which have much prettier graphics than the later hubs. So right by where it says 'K' you will find a number; '6' will be 1936 (seems to me the AW was introduced in 1938).
Sturmey-Archer Heritage :: History Looks like there was some overlap between the K hub and the AW. Actually, I think I have a K hub in the bin that's a 1937. |
@AD-SLE I and I'm sure others here would greatly appreciate close detail photos of this bike for reference. Information on these pre-war bikes is very limited so examples like yours with so many original features intact is a wonderful source of knowledge for us enthusiasts. Things like the handle bar grip. These are extremely rare and yours appears to be original. The lug shapes, stem, brake calipers, mudguards, all are of great interest. You mentioned a chainguard, but I don't believe this bike had one originally. The rear reflector might be a later type also. This bike would not of had a kickstand, if one was never bolted on and the chainstays are undamaged, it would be a rare and wonderful thing. Great bike. I love this thread. Always learning new things here.
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This one is going to a new home, the smallest and newest of our three Sportses. One of the four of my wife's bikes currently for sale in C&V Sales, I found this one years ago for a neighbor who envied my own Sports and wanted one for herself. This one showed up at a yard sale in absolutely pristine condition and twenty years old at the time. $24. My neighbor, predictably, never rolled a block on it and gave it to me two decades later after leaving it in her back yard to marinate. Well, my wife's niece stopped by for a visit yesterday and she said she could use a town bike so my wife offered this one, so this little bike (named "Cathy" after that neighbor) is moving to a hipster neighborhood where I hope the thieves and vandals and will give it a pass.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c7a6062168.jpg |
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6cbd8ae54d.jpg
SA with Low, N, High BigChief. Et al. Perhaps odd, but, my circumstances are that I am not in NH where my stuff is and more importantly, my lovely bride of 30 years. Corporate America is not as predictable as it used to be. I now live for 2 to 3 years in other cities helping, fixing operations, culture. My next gig is in Wisconsin. Closer to MSP than Madison. I know cold. I get cold. I was up there this weekend and my Dad's time capsule will now be even farther away. And tonight is the first time I have had a chance to attend to non work computer stuff. My Dad, born in '23, was an engineer. Anything mechanical, electrical was his passion. Fitness, health was not a thing back then. It was just wheels to get somewhere. It is somewhat amazing that this bike survived teenager-hood to adult-hood. True, he did not move from New England. Cambridge to Weston Ma is not that far. To me, that he somehow held onto the bike that his father purchased new for him, told me it was special. Hung upside down in the barn for YEARS, I can remember heading out as a family. Me in an odd square plaid child seat and my older sisters (twins) with their matching Schwinn single speeds. How do I remember? Who knows. Picnic of course just 3 miles from the house but it was a memorable outing given that I was maybe 5 or 6 at the time. How many folks here remember being ridden by your parent is a youth seat.....and I was born in '62? Oddly, my first bike was a Red Columbia single speed that my Dad rescued from the dump. Bought new tires and was handed a bike that was too big I could hardly reach the pedals. I learned...painfully and somewhat traumatically...on our gravel driveway how to ride. My father induced much loss of blood and oddly....I continue to bike now some 45 years later. That Red Columbia single speed became my ticket to freedom. I biked up hills that today....no one would think possible. I cut lawns for two summers to save up $149 to buy a fancy new Raleigh Grand Prix. Not the Raleigh Record sans chromed fork. But all those bikes are gone. My dump salvage, my Sister's matching pair of Schwinns just got junked 5 years ago. But...the dusty, rubber rotted 3 speed of my Dad's remains. I suspect is it not a fancy bike. I do have a fully enclosed chain guard that was packed away and has some mouse pee corrosion. I knew him to ride it less than 5 times as a child. Certainly if he got me a trash pick bike, and did not give me his...what does that tell me? Odd. I would give my son any bike he wanted from my collection. He just needs to ask. More photos. I guess make a list and I will ask my son to do some shutter work. The remaining grip is petrified. Almost melting off the end of the handle and a bit sticky IIRC. Tires also petrified. Rims, some surface rust. Any rust it has is from the condensation affect. The most joyous part of riding this bike is the slow but steady "ping" of the pin hitting the odometer. It just sounds magical. Perhaps the radial spoke contributes to longer lasting resonance which reminds me of days gone by. Send me a list. I advised them to only knock off the dust with a rag. No more than that. |
I'm adjusting my AG hub after installation. I adjusted the drive side cone as you do, set up the indicator, and shift cable. I backed off the drive side cone a half turn (perhaps a little more), and fastened the lock ring. However when I push the bike forward, it engages the driver and the pedals move. Folks do minor non-drive cone adjustment on AW hubs to loosen things up a tad and prevent that, but how can I do that with a generator attached? Has anyone adjusted an AG before? I think the outer cone on the face of the generator / non-drive side is to adjust the tightness of the generator cover to the axle end, not the hub bearings. But perhaps I am wrong.
I'm starting to wish I had a regular AW and separate Dynohub. |
Originally Posted by Ged117
(Post 21051506)
I'm adjusting my AG hub after installation. I adjusted the drive side cone as you do, set up the indicator, and shift cable. I backed off the drive side cone a half turn (perhaps a little more), and fastened the lock ring. However when I push the bike forward, it engages the driver and the pedals move. Folks do minor non-drive cone adjustment on AW hubs to loosen things up a tad and prevent that, but how can I do that with a generator attached? Has anyone adjusted an AG before? I think the outer cone on the face of the generator / non-drive side is to adjust the tightness of the generator cover to the axle end, not the hub bearings. But perhaps I am wrong.
I'm starting to wish I had a regular AW and separate Dynohub. |
Originally Posted by AD-SLE
(Post 21050936)
BigChief. Et al. Perhaps odd, but, my circumstances are that I am not in NH where my stuff is and more importantly, my lovely bride of 30 years. Corporate America is not as predictable as it used to be. I now live for 2 to 3 years in other cities helping, fixing operations, culture. My next gig is in Wisconsin. Closer to MSP than Madison. I know cold. I get cold. I was up there this weekend and my Dad's time capsule will now be even farther away. And tonight is the first time I have had a chance to attend to non work computer stuff. |
I guess THE Ohio State or THE Wall Street Journal was not the only one to use an article to "disambiguate" the description in the sentence. In the day, were bikes make of anything else? Sadly with a scratch.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f2025a02e8.jpg |
Originally Posted by AD-SLE
(Post 21052288)
I guess THE Ohio State or THE Wall Street Journal was not the only one to use an article to "disambiguate" the description in the sentence. In the day, were bikes make of anything else? Sadly with a scratch.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f2025a02e8.jpg |
Originally Posted by clubman
(Post 21043432)
Fine work @harlond Looks like a mobile beekeeping hive. :thumb:
I was going to ask if you have a dog or a small child but I think it's both. (wanna-be Hercule Poirot) |
Originally Posted by AD-SLE
(Post 21052288)
I guess THE Ohio State or THE Wall Street Journal was not the only one to use an article to "disambiguate" the description in the sentence. In the day, were bikes make of anything else? Sadly with a scratch.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f2025a02e8.jpg |
The bottom bracket was shot on the little green Raleigh I'm fixing, so I had to remove the fixed cup. It wasn't easy, but with the Park HCW-11 and the Sheldon Brown Bolt/Washer method, I got it out:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...68200f1918.jpg A different coworker found a Malaysian-made Sports at a yard sale. He got it for the princely sum of $6: https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ec847a7a29.jpg https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bcd8859285.jpg The fenders are not original. I have some blue ones that may make an unusual color scheme. |
Back on New Year's Day I rode all my bikes and made notes on what each of them needed. Decided to execute that command today after realizing I'm gaining hooks with the departure of bikes. I had this ladies' Sports 23" boxed at the old place and got it out after the move to get some pix for this thread. I won't need the bike until the time when I can no longer swing a leg over my men's 23" Sports so back into the (same) box it goes, and gets stuffed away.https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a335b44306.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cfa3f538f3.jpg |
With the packing and stowing of that Sports I have the same number of bikes as I do hooks, so the floor is less cluttered than it has been in years. I decided to celebrate by adding bars to a notoriously underbarred little Condor 3-speed I got from the co-op a year or so ago. I since found some rusty Wald bars at the same place, the only thing with that bend for cheap, and today I put them on the Condor and actually rode it for the first time. The 20" frame is too small for me but with those 700C alloys it rides very nicely
As found. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...735dbe09ff.jpg Today. I actually bought this little bike for its wheels, intending to use them on my Raleigh Pro 3-speed build, if I ever get around to that. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...848d09d2dd.jpg |
If people would quit re-posting and re-re-posting each other's pics I bet these threads wouldn't get to be 842 pages long.
-Dan |
Originally Posted by Trinity Pratt
(Post 21054218)
If people would quit re-posting and re-re-posting each other's pics I bet these threads wouldn't get to be 842 pages long.
-Dan |
Originally Posted by Trinity Pratt
(Post 21054218)
If people would quit re-posting and re-re-posting each other's pics I bet these threads wouldn't get to be 842 pages long.
-Dan |
Originally Posted by Trinity Pratt
(Post 21054218)
If people would quit re-posting and re-re-posting each other's pics I bet these threads wouldn't get to be 842 pages long.
-Dan |
Originally Posted by clubman
(Post 21057125)
Yup, it would only be 631 pages. But most here can't reed or right so hi rez pictures for everyone!
They provide a point of reference for the comments/advice. |
I agree with the exception that we should keep the pictures targeted by editing out the images irrelevant to the post.
Robbie and Trinity, you're pretty new but you'll soon realize that the English 3 Speeds is a slightly eccentric thread so don't be deterred. We like pics of old machines. |
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