Originally Posted by brianhamp (Post 21155337)

Originally Posted by gster (Post 21160440)

Thank you.
Research tells me that very few of these "kit" boats survive due to
a number of reasons;
-poor workmanship
-poor glue
-poor filler
This one seems to have spent most
of it's life stored in a shed.
All of the old filler on the hull was picked out and replaced
with modern epoxy filler.
We will see.....

Originally Posted by HPL (Post 21161116)

"Pre-Raleigh" Hercules (possibly "Gent's Artisan", or "Roadster Special") original condition except bar wrap, pedals, tires/tubes, and pump(?). "Bolt-on" seatstays, rod (roller) brakes, Hercules 3 speed hub and "Her-cu-matic" shifter, Dunlop rims, Hercules saddle. Refitting with Brooks' B.17s saddle and front/rear tool bags, and rear sidebags. Just need some period "Hercules" grips (white "DARE"?) and pedals (make?), and pump (if not proper vintage). Repairing front wheel, couple of broken/missing spokes; still rides well.

Originally Posted by carl@davidson (Post 21160769)

Hello to all. My late Aunt left me a Hermes bicycle that, after having tuned up, rides excellent.

I would appreciate some help in identifying the year and model so I can try to find original accessories.

Was told the bike had a tire pump at the very least and I would like to keep it as authentic as possible.

Possibly add some "bells and whistles". Any Help on this is would be fantastic. Thanks, Carl
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b79e6c7fdf.jpg

Might spell "sport" ?

Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 21160524)

Took a photo of the '51 Sports this morning:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ae1576f0be.jpg

-Kurt

Originally Posted by BigChief (Post 21161693)

Speaking of short rod brake grips...Here's something odd that I found while doing my usual "vintage grips" search on eBay. These "R" grips are very close to the mid to late 50s Raleigh grips and are the best option I know of if you want an authentic period look and feel. Here, they are offered in pairs of one regular one short. Why anyone would want one short and one long grip is beyond me, but a pair of those short versions would work well on the older rod brake bikes.

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f825adde26.jpg
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bic...oAAOSwBNtbC7oE

Originally Posted by curbtender (Post 21161776)

The cruisers use them for the twist grip shifters.

Originally Posted by BigChief (Post 21161574)

Beautiful! I don't remember seeing any photos of this project as it came along. Any before pictures? Great bike, well done.

Originally Posted by clubman (Post 21160448)

Fixing those deficiencies brings that boat up to Muskokas 'Lake of Bays' standards. Very envious.

My wife and I were on just such a mahogany runabout when Elizabeth felt sick. I asked whether it was the margarita she'd had earlier and she gave me that look ...you know, the one that sends you immediately to the pharmacy for the pregnancy test? Yup, child #2 at 40 years old.

Originally Posted by SirMike1983 (Post 21162407)

Nice day for a ride. The weather is starting to turn here in western New England.

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VqLKjLgYh...013_122024.jpg

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-duxZEdAAF...013_123956.jpg

Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 21162548)

I built this one 13 years ago. There were a few scattered build threads on BikeForums about it, but I haven't been able to find them. This is what it looked like when it arrived from eBay (excluding the rear wheel, which I'd just built and hung in this picture) - frame, fork, and fenders only. It came from a barn in New York.

<---image--->

The brakes came from [MENTION=2064]oldroads[/MENTION], wheels came from the UK via eBay, another forum member in Canada provided the FG 4-speed (unfortunately, can't find record of who it was), while [MENTION=45088]nlerner[/MENTION] provided the bars and I believe the crankset as well. The pump is a '90s plastic AFA which looks good enough to fill the frame, while the grips are Peter C. Kohler's very cushy reproductions. Cables are a mix of homespun Shimano with soldered ends and the front is an NOS Clarks cable from Gordon Bradbury.

For the longest time, it ran Duro whitewalls too. This was taken in 2009, when the paint on the chaincase hadn't flaked off and before I had located a headlight for it. I'd really like to find a chaincase that still wears its original Raleigh enamel - the one on it is the only thing I could find at the time (lost out on the original when I bought the bike on eBay. Seller piecemealed the thing). I bought a replacement from eBay recently, and it turned out to be green. Not that I'd object to a 1950's 23" green Sports or Superbe...

<---image--->

The nice - if a bit later period - rubberblock pedals served well for a long time, though they would chronically roll on their shafts. Then, one day, the block on one of the pedals decided to split and jettison itself into the great unknown. Decided to go with the MKS pedals only because they take the abuse I give them a lot better.

Those whitewalls became less-than advisable for use in mid 2018, when I decided that creme tires were the ticket.

<---image--->

Headlight used to work too, but I'm not sure if I kept blowing bulbs or whether the contacts on the PCB lost continuity. Haven't had time to check, and it is more or less moot given that it doesn't have a rear lamp.

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 21160830)

Found this nice little Sports at an estate sale this morning. Sticker from a local shop, 71 hub date, broken gear cable and a $75 price tag. We don't need another and I'm not a flipper so I let it go and only discovered on the way out that everything is 50% off today, so $37.50. I still passed. Hope someone deserving gets it. I can see it being sent to the dump. Will have to check again tomorrow.
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b615d1877d.jpg

Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 21162548)

I built this one 13 years ago. There were a few scattered build threads on BikeForums about it, but I haven't been able to find them. This is what it looked like when it arrived from eBay (excluding the rear wheel, which I'd just built and hung in this picture) - frame, fork, and fenders only. It came from a barn in New York.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e6b2b5b783.jpg

The brakes came from [MENTION=2064]oldroads[/MENTION], wheels came from the UK via eBay, another forum member in Canada provided the FG 4-speed (unfortunately, can't find record of who it was), while [MENTION=45088]nlerner[/MENTION] provided the bars and I believe the crankset as well. The pump is a '90s plastic AFA which looks good enough to fill the frame, while the grips are Peter C. Kohler's very cushy reproductions. Cables are a mix of homespun Shimano with soldered ends and the front is an NOS Clarks cable from Gordon Bradbury.

For the longest time, it ran Duro whitewalls too. This was taken in 2009, when the paint on the chaincase hadn't flaked off and before I had located a headlight for it. I'd really like to find a chaincase that still wears its original Raleigh enamel - the one on it is the only thing I could find at the time (lost out on the original when I bought the bike on eBay. Seller piecemealed the thing). I bought a replacement from eBay recently, and it turned out to be green. Not that I'd object to a 1950's 23" green Sports or Superbe...

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...08c868fc0c.jpg

The nice - if a bit later period - rubberblock pedals served well for a long time, though they would chronically roll on their shafts. Then, one day, the block on one of the pedals decided to split and jettison itself into the great unknown. Decided to go with the MKS pedals only because they take the abuse I give them a lot better.

Those whitewalls became less-than advisable for use in mid 2018, when I decided that creme tires were the ticket.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...badabd59eb.jpg

Headlight used to work too, but I'm not sure if I kept blowing bulbs or whether the contacts on the PCB lost continuity. Haven't had time to check, and it is more or less moot given that it doesn't have a rear lamp.

-Kurt

Originally Posted by HPL (Post 21160916)

My 1970 Raleigh Sports has the OE Sturmey-Archer hub with date of 69 14; February 1970, yours March 1970 (sourced from decades long English restorer of vintage S-A hubs). Don't ask me why; I've only seen this odd dating on "69" hubs; makes me want to see if there's a "70" marked hub with a January, February, or March date code. I don't know how long this anomaly existed. I have 2 hubs without any code, year or month, another anomaly from 1941-1942 apparently.

Originally Posted by cudak888 (Post 21162548)

Those whitewalls became less-than advisable for use in mid 2018, when I decided that creme tires were the ticket.

Originally Posted by adventurepdx (Post 21163395)

FYI: Schwalbe is now making their Delta Cruisers in "whitewall" which is really more the cream color they use for the all-cream tires. Still looks good. I put a pair on my Superbe. Now if they only made the Delta Cruisers in gumwall...

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3ef7152b84.jpg

Originally Posted by Ballenxj (Post 21162884)

This would seem like a group effort that included forum members. Have you considered an LED conversion for the lamp? Nice looking Bike. :thumb:

Originally Posted by gster (Post 21163165)

My local (Toronto) supply of MKS pedals @ $29.00 has dried up and
I'm not keen on the prices I see on Amazon....
I would gladly buy 4 pairs to stock up.
P.S
I use your site frequently for reference.
Thanks

Originally Posted by adventurepdx (Post 21163395)

FYI: Schwalbe is now making their Delta Cruisers in "whitewall" which is really more the cream color they use for the all-cream tires. Still looks good. I put a pair on my Superbe. Now if they only made the Delta Cruisers in gumwall...