That’s good to know - thanks! I must admit the wind left my sails a bit when I saw those grips. Makes sense, though, since I doubt Acme Bike Shop in Pasadena sold Sears as a bicycle line.

A handsome machine. If you want to put a pulley on there that looks correct, you can buy metal ones from Jon the Gentleman Cyclist. He had a bunch made up. Those plastic pulleys are from much later and don't look the part. He also has metal fulcrum stops.

Don’t write Sears off completely. They sold good bikes from different countries like Austria to name one. They even had a Reynolds 531 butted tubed bike with good Japanese components at one time.

Shouldnt be impossible to snag a correct set of English grips for your steed.

It has a new old stock metal pulley and metal cable stop on it. They look like the later ones from a distance because they were never (or barely) used originals.

I rode my Ted Williams Free Spirit (full DB531 frame and fork) to work today, as a matter of fact. I have it set up with an SRAM 2-speed IGH.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...715abe9e7.jpeg

Alternately, Hunt-Wide has been making grips forever and can be found easily. Not English but if that doesn’t bother you go git ‘em!

Fair point. Knowing as little as I do about these three-speeds, I need to withhold judgement.

I’m not even sure where to start on finding period-correct grips. Much to learn!

Looks great - I’m digging the flat bars! Oh, and the rack. . . and the saddle. Did I mention the bars?!

Thanks for the Hunt-Wilde tip. My first effort found them at GripWorks.com. I may be hitting up a few of you to help me get to the 2,500 grip minimum order! I can order 25 black grips. I prefer red, but the minimum is 200.

I’ll keep searching. They’ll be out there somewhere.

They are readily available on the ‘bay in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, etc

Sweet

One of the best things is getting the old parts lying around sorted and into snap-shut trays. At one point all of the old parts, NOS, used, beat-up, didn't matter - they all were in a big cardboard box. I would have never found what I wanted for the project had I not taken the time over the winter to sort them and put into snap-shut trays. If you're going to accumulate old junk, have to keep it organized... learned it the hard way.

$80 Rudge in MA. Says "Whitworth" on the chaincase.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...65107805216009

https://scontent.fric1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...72&oe=613914EE

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8ef0cc2d1e.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e7588d8caf.jpg
I whipped up this pulley when my plastic one was just not working. Lunchhour at work can be spent creatively!

That was a hour? It's fantastic on a bronze green Sports!

was this done on an indexer or a CNC machine?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fecd8143f4.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0820275466.jpg
Nope. No CNC here. Just an old Bridgeport style mill with digital readout. Most have a program for bolt hole circles.
I made this one out of stainless as a lesson for my young workers on how the program works, how to find centre, and its versatility.

excellent.

You must be a machinist? Nice work!:thumb:

Yeeh, I'm a machinist/welder working in the agriculture end of food processing... we mostly build apple processing equipment. But I had my own small shop for almost 20 years, where I did some krazy stuff.

BUY THIS! $75. Carlton. 23" ladies frame. 27" wheels, it looks like. Unusual stepthrough with that high upper downtube. Please keep me from getting it.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...57863722729350

https://scontent.fric1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...d0&oe=615941FC

A couple questions:
Am I correct that the ERD of a Westrick Sports rim is in the 576mm - 578mm range? At least that's the measurement range I'm getting from my not-so-accurate old metal ruler.

Does anyone have the dimensions of a basic Sturmey GH6 offhand? Looking to build a wheel with spokecalc this fall. Trying to locate my old calipers somewhere around my garage...

Thanks

Raleigh Sports 3 Speed Cruiser - $275 (Deptford, NJ)

https://southjersey.craigslist.org/b...376255889.html



https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...635838b030.jpg

I've found this chart to be accurate both times I've used it. Your GH spoke lengths are listed for Raleigh pattern for 2x and 3X
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ed9687a2df.png

42 years was apparently enough for the chain on my 79 Tourist. I don’t see too many posts about Raleigh chains on the forum which I take to be a good sign. One thread from 2012 mentioned a KMC Z410 chain as a good replacement for three speed Raleighs. those appear to still be available so are there any caveats to using that chain over any other brands or types?

thanks for any suggestions.