Originally Posted by Iron Horse (Post 21521086)

I'm afraid I would be extremely leary of putting any weight on that rear rack. Your fender stay shifts, and there might be a mess.

Originally Posted by 56ford (Post 21521093)

Saw this on my local Craigslist. It’s a Norman. No price but has the goodies on it and the paint looks pretty good. Any possibility it’s from the 50’s based on paint style. https://stlouis.craigslist.org/bik/d...122987524.html

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...666f993e4.jpeg

Originally Posted by BigChief (Post 21493248)

Wow! This is a pre-Raleigh Rudge. Late 30s I figure. I'll poke through some catalogs and post what I can find. Great find!!!

Originally Posted by capnjonny (Post 21486944)

How about a Rudge Fast Sport?

I was dropping off a couple bikes at the Bike Exchange today after doing at home Covid resto and was snooping around to see if there was anything interesting in the pile that I hadn't worked on.

There in the front was this ladies model Rudge Fast Sport that someone had just donated to us. I have never seen one of these before and can't wait to tear into it. The most unusual feature is the brake set up. They are a type of cantilever design with a difference. When you squeeze the brake lever instead of pulling up on a straddle cable forcing the shoes into the rim, on this design the brake cable forces the rigid v shaped straddle to push down on the canti arm and push the pad into the rim. while this is interesting it seems totally unable to create much stopping power. another interesting item is the seat , which is made by a company named Mesinger in Bethel Connecticut. It has a solid steel seat pan with springs in back. I have never seen that either.

The number stamped on the bottom bracket is A44 2050 so if anyone is rudge knowledgable what year is that? Also, the bike hes wing nuts on the axles. Don't know if that is original. They look new.

I am going to clean everything and probably do a repaint , masking of the decals. I don't know what to do about the brakes though. The shoes are not something I have seen before and the bike won't stop without something being done about that. hopefully I can get kool stops to work . https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8d2bf9e017.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c2b538d7f8.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...367b76a7df.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f87792d331.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3e1329289e.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...517ee2f811.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5db3accbfb.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f30c51bbbe.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8708279edd.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7dc083ed67.jpg

Oh, Almost forgot, I just finished a rather large Ladies Raleigh sport. This one was in silver metalic and sported Weinman side pull brakes. Nothing else special about it. I clear coated the fenders and chain guard and replaced the brake cables and covers and re greased the front axle. Everything else was in good condition including the steel wheels. I had a set of Cool Stop brake pads in my stash so I gave the lady a new pair of shoes. Girls usually like that. added new reflectors and she is ready for her debut. All you tall ladies out there, this bike is for you.

Originally Posted by bikerosity57 (Post 21523648)

Don’t repaint it! Get a can of gloss parade black shoe polish and rub it down real good. Then buff it. It’ll surprise you and keep the finish original. It’s too rare a bike to molest.

Originally Posted by gster (Post 21531642)

For sale here in Toronto
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d158b5913f.jpg
Seller is asking $1700.00.....

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 21532946)

Whole lotta springin' goin' on...

Evidently, this is available on eBay UK right now.

https://advrider.com/f/attachments/fs-1-jpg.2365951/

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 21532946)

Whole lotta springin' goin' on...

Evidently, this is available on eBay UK right now.

Originally Posted by cszipper (Post 21533994)

The shift cable runs unhoused to hub, so I bet that it shifts itself if you go over a big bump.

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 21532946)

Whole lotta springin' goin' on...

Evidently, this is available on eBay UK right now.

https://advrider.com/f/attachments/fs-1-jpg.2365951/

Originally Posted by jackbombay (Post 21534389)

Well, something blew up in the 3 speed hub on my 3 speed coaster brake road bike on a ride today, lost 1st and 3rd, was able to finish the ride in just 2nd though at least. Autopsy tomorrow...

This bike the hub was NOS, I've only put ~300 miles on it, I did clean out the old grease and reassemble it, I'm guessing I reassembled it incorrectly, but what would it ride fine for 300 miles then quit?

This bike,

https://i.postimg.cc/yYq506BC/86-E76...CBBAB6-F93.jpg

Originally Posted by gster (Post 21534497)

Odd that it would fail.....
My only thought is your reference to "grease".

Originally Posted by jackbombay (Post 21534389)

Well, something blew up in the 3 speed hub on my 3 speed coaster brake road bike on a ride today, lost 1st and 3rd, was able to finish the ride in just 2nd though at least. Autopsy tomorrow...

This bike the hub was NOS, I've only put ~300 miles on it, I did clean out the old grease and reassemble it, I'm guessing I reassembled it incorrectly, but what would it ride fine for 300 miles then quit?

This bike,
<---image--->

Originally Posted by Ballenxj (Post 21535052)

my comment would be to what a pretty color. Reminds me of Mopar Plumb Crazy.

Originally Posted by jackbombay (Post 21534803)

I own several non coaster brake sturmey archer hubs and have thousands of miles on them with no issues with any of them, so to be the reason the ride had to be cut short yesterday was annoying, the worst part about it was that I was joking with my buddies that their "french geared bikes" had drivetrains that were unreliable unproven technology being first produced in 1905 where the first variant of my hub was produced is 1902...

Originally Posted by Salubrious (Post 21535427)

IIRC the coaster brake hubs are known to be problematic. Also IIRC the Sachs Tornado (coaster brake 3-speed) hub holds together.

Originally Posted by jackbombay (Post 21534803)

Grease only for the bearings, oil for the gearbox.

I own several non coaster brake sturmey archer hubs and have thousands of miles on them with no issues with any of them, so to be the reason the ride had to be cut short yesterday was annoying, the worst part about it was that I was joking with my buddies that their "french geared bikes" had drivetrains that were unreliable unproven technology being first produced in 1905 where the first variant of my hub was produced is 1902...

What was odd was that when crunching sounds started coming out of the hub I wasn't even pedalling all that hard, slight downhill in 3rd gear....