I,played ball of confusion,about a hundred times in a Motown band.

Given the longevity, number of posts, and number of views in this thread, English 3-speeds and similar utility bikes could be their own sub-forum within C&V. It would have its own set of stickies, which would indeed be the "best of".

Yeah, 59 years old, don't get out much.
It's just so "au courrant'

Sorry they're not English, but they're 24" wheel 3-speeds, two of 'em! Looks like 24 x 1 3/8 wheeled bikes, one looks like Shimano and the other probably is, too. Know a kid who needs to grow up right?

https://richmond.craigslist.org/bik/5997797444.html

Bikes - $60 (Chesterfield)

https://images.craigslist.org/00M0M_...8_1200x900.jpg

make / manufacturer: Plymouth
model name / number: Cruiser

2 nice cruisers bikes mid 70s in great shape 60$ each or both for 100$ firm

Finally got back to my Rudge project. I gave the frame 3 more coats of black enamel and it's ready for polishing. Never found a correct Rudge fork, so I bought a standard style Raleigh with the shallow chrome cap. It's getting all new headset, bottom bracket parts and that downtube graphic I made up a couple years ago.
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/f...dge%202-17.jpg

Raleigh Sprite Five Speed with the S5 hub - out and about. Another unusually mild day for February here.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2ECAnejvz...211_160944.jpg
https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wNs1htZf0...211_161106.jpg
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6GvTYHxPt...211_161046.jpg

Sweet Daddy Siki!

Your LBS can order either SA or Nexus for around $10 or less. My local Co-op carries them plus the local used bike place has them.

I tried using ordinary cassette cogs on a single speed and folded it over and broke it. The larger cogs on a cassette are laterally supported by the other cogs.
Granted, you won't be riding a 3 speed as hard as a single speed.

Interesting, mine is on a two speed hub. Maybe chain-line and extra spacers are critical to making it viable.

I have many, many miles on Sturmey Archer drivers with 1/8" cogs and have never seen a failure like this. All of the 22T cogs I've used so far have been those SA chrome plated coaster cogs.

Just picked up this 1950 Rudge. My Father in law was cleaning out his junk pile and the sprocket caught my eye. Didn't really know anything about Rudges till I googled it. Seems like I have found quite the bike. Was stored inside and is in descent shape considering. Just not sure to what extent to restore it. Strip it or just clean the rust off? Opinions welcome. Have done a couple bare steel projects that I liked but this is different.

It's a gem.
Preserve it.

That is an exceptionally good find. 50s Rudges in 23" frames are super rare these days. Seems to be missing the fenders and the original shifter pulley. Not sure about the stem and handlebars. Hard to see from the picture. Considering this and the remnants of the blue overpaint, a total restoration wouldn't be out of the picture in my opinion, but it would be quite expensive. Just a clean up and servicing would be fine too. I would keep an eye on eBay for an original, frame mounted pulley though. Congrats on a super find!

Those mudguards could be original. My 52 Humber had the same colour scheme. I agree, those bars look a little larger than normal. Clean it up, touch it up, tune it up and ride it.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Yg...p=w640-h360-no

I think it's all there. Missing a headlight and the battery tube.Fenders have been painted white. I think original colour is the blue as I have stripped it down and under the chrome pieces it's blue.

Hmmm...I was judging from the closeup of the chainguard. It looks there like the Rudge-Whitworth transfer was applied to a black finish then painted over with a blue that failed to bond well. Now that I look closer, I can't tell if the seat tube transfer is applied over blue or if it was on the black and only revealed after the blue paint came off. There should be a "Rudge Sports" transfer on the down tube. It looks like it's been painted over with blue. At least I can't see it. The picture is small.

Well I got my Raleigh sport hub dated 75 It is the cleanest Raleigh 3 speed I have ever seen in person The only thing I was in doubt of the 42 year old brooks B72 setting 42 years holding up came true. After about a mile the seat gave out from dry rot . I rode it enough to know it is sweet !! I have a new brooks on order
Roy

@Niner9: nice Rudge. I think your bike may have been the same blue as my Humber:

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps16f2596a.jpg

However, it is funny that some of the decals are clearly on over black...on mine, the black is under the blue (and the blue is very fragile!).

As to the pulley, I got one off ebay pretty quickly so there are some out there!

Elbow grease will do a lot - consider carefully before you do refinish the whole bike.
Mine as bought (just a partial shot):
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...psd74b73e0.jpg

After cleanup:
http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...psjmhjtxlo.jpg

Clean it and ride!

I have a 51 Rudge, that is original but for few small parts, couple of nuts and the brake pads & tires, safety ya know.

All my chrome and the paint came back to decent to excellent shape with elbow grease and time. Paint was dull similar to yours. Rusty chrome was not quite as bad as yours.

Attachment 552845 Attachment 552846

Took a few more pics. As you can see where the chrome cap was the paint is in very good condition.Funny where the Rudge decal is it shows no sign of black paint. And it is a 3 speed.

Thanks! Mystery solved. Raleigh did over paint black frames, at least with this blue color. I remember a similar situation with vintage Fender guitars. The custom color paint would start to wear off showing a sunburst finish underneath and people would think it was a repaint. Turns out that back in the 50s, the factory would routinely paint over sunburst colored bodies to fill orders for custom colors.

Thanks. Good to know.

That's why I like this thread so much, I'm always learning new things about my 3 speed hobby. Mark's Humber proves the use of blue over black paint around the same time as your bike. A Rudge Sports would normally have the same stamped fender stays as a Raleigh Sports, but again, Clubman's Humber shows nothing is carved in stone when it comes to bikes coming out of the Nottingham factory in the 50s. These may very well be original fenders. I like this bike a lot. Finds like this are what the hobby is all about for me.

Hope this passes muster.
It's a Raleigh and it's a 3 speed.http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j5...psh5ql0rk4.jpg
Note the Sturmey Archer cross section of the rim.

That's a beauty! Taking this digression a little further, does anyone know what the model designation "Seven" means in the context of these cars? There's the above "Safety Severn", the Austin Seven, and of course the Lotus Seven (and the modern derivatives). What did "seven" represent to the car buying public back in the day?