Originally Posted by Salubrious (Post 22191180)

The SW would be easy to identify because of the friction style pawls- very unlike a the S5 of FW in that regard.

Originally Posted by gster (Post 22194711)

Tires!
I just picked up a nice pair of tires from a guy down the street
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...96a6e49648.jpg
They have a nice "vintage" block tread,
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...654b9ade07.jpg
Branded Vee Rubber.
As we know, it's getting hard to find 26 x 1 3/8 tires.
Even Canadian Tire doesn't seem to carry them any more.

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 22195603)

NINETEEN dollars. Terrible pix but a great price and a B72 saddle.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...16051713602584

https://scontent.fric1-1.fna.fbcdn.n...d8&oe=61279067

Originally Posted by gster (Post 22194711)

Tires!
I just picked up a nice pair of tires from a guy down the street
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...96a6e49648.jpg
They have a nice "vintage" block tread,
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...654b9ade07.jpg
Branded Vee Rubber.
As we know, it's getting hard to find 26 x 1 3/8 tires.
Even Canadian Tire doesn't seem to carry them any more.

Originally Posted by markk900 (Post 22195640)

gster : I have been looking everywhere for a source in Canada for those tires. They have the “right” tread but could not find them through any of the regular sources in Canada. Wheelchair supply places but they tend to have gray and rarely have any in stock. Can you ask your friend where he sourced them?

Originally Posted by dirtman (Post 22193153)

It looks like an S5 gear set but with no left side axle hole or push rod. The left side sun gears, spring, and axle ring are the same, but no slot, no push rod. The key that would meet the push rod is not there.
Another thing is that the axle is stepped where the lock nut is, on all the S5 hubs I've had apart, the axle has one size thread on the left, this has a larger thread that begins where the lock nut sits and a deep key way cut into the threads through both levels of the threading. The lock nut takes a 16mm wrench not a 15mm as on an S5.

Both sun gears are the same as on an S5 as is the spring. I see no way for it to shift the pinion gears and the whole mess just functions as a three speed.
It fits into an AW or S5 shell.
The smaller pinion gear is always engaged with the axle, and the larger gear can't be moved using just the standard AW type indicator.

Maybe some oddball aftermarket mistake? None of these were marked with Sturmey Archer, the packaging was more like what I'd expect from military parts than from SA.
An axle swap and left side pin would make it into an functional S5 If it were just missing the axle hole, I'd drill it through, but there's no slot for the key that engages the pin.
I would have ignored the larger lock nut and threads figuring it was just an early or later version but the lack of a slot as well has me puzzled.


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0d0d61d8bb.jpg

Originally Posted by gster (Post 22195632)

Hope you bought it.

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 22196504)

Too far away and I don't need it, and I have Sportses and Brookses and plenty of other projects.

Originally Posted by dirtman (Post 22194758)

I used to see that brand, Vee Rubber, here back in the late 70's and 80's. They were sold by a local auto parts store that also sold bikes. I till have a set on one of my bikes here that never seemed to age much over the years. They were likely just a rebranding of another major brand to allow neighboring dealers to sell essentially the same tire.

Originally Posted by dirtman (Post 22193153)

It looks like an S5 gear set but with no left side axle hole or push rod. The left side sun gears, spring, and axle ring are the same, but no slot, no push rod. The key that would meet the push rod is not there.
Another thing is that the axle is stepped where the lock nut is, on all the S5 hubs I've had apart, the axle has one size thread on the left, this has a larger thread that begins where the lock nut sits and a deep key way cut into the threads through both levels of the threading. The lock nut takes a 16mm wrench not a 15mm as on an S5.

Both sun gears are the same as on an S5 as is the spring. I see no way for it to shift the pinion gears and the whole mess just functions as a three speed.
It fits into an AW or S5 shell.
The smaller pinion gear is always engaged with the axle, and the larger gear can't be moved using just the standard AW type indicator.

Maybe some oddball aftermarket mistake? None of these were marked with Sturmey Archer, the packaging was more like what I'd expect from military parts than from SA.
An axle swap and left side pin would make it into an functional S5 If it were just missing the axle hole, I'd drill it through, but there's no slot for the key that engages the pin.
I would have ignored the larger lock nut and threads figuring it was just an early or later version but the lack of a slot as well has me puzzled.

Originally Posted by Johno59 (Post 22196500)

The Alpha Cycle Company was located in Birmingham 174 Corporation St in 1910 (now a hair-dresser) and in 1932 / 34 on Morville Street Birmingham. The Veterans Cycle Club's Library has 1910, 1930 and 1934 catalogs for Alpha cycles . Morville Street today is very short, maybe 100 yards long and has housing on it now so I imagine the works was knocked down but the hairdresser is in the original building with a roller door and ramped entrance.
Interestingly the 1910 Alpha bikes are very expensive - about twice the price of a Raleigh or Humber of this era. Whereas the 1930s bikes are less than half the 1910 price tag and as such are around the price of the competition.
I'm guessing they moved from the very swank part of Birmingham to Morville St to reduce costs and the price tag drop was also an effort to stay float as the motor-car began to take hold of the transportation market. Like the other 99% of British marques of this era, the ploy was doomed to fail.

Originally Posted by thumpism (Post 22197394)

Posted by Clang in the Are You Looking thread. It's for sale for forth bucks!

https://scontent-msp1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...50&oe=6128E1A5

Originally Posted by 3speedslow (Post 22200706)

^^^ That’s one of the tall frames. Looks like you made it just the way you need it! Happy riding into the fall.

Originally Posted by ConnoisseurEqua (Post 22201324)

Hi
Is it possible to use a SA 4 speed hub with a 3 speed shifter? That until I find a 4.
Thanks

Originally Posted by dimini (Post 22206669)

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...119d87adb1.jpg
This is the 3rd time that I've attempted to post in this 3spd thread and it vanishes rather than getting published. (I sometimes hate computers!) Third time's a charm--maybe it was crashing when I attempted multiple photos. This Indian Scout is a recent purchase and if any one is interested, I'd be happy to post more photos and details about my (new to me) 1954 Indian Scout.

Originally Posted by dimini (Post 22206669)

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...119d87adb1.jpg
This is the 3rd time that I've attempted to post in this 3spd thread and it vanishes rather than getting published. (I sometimes hate computers!) Third time's a charm--maybe it was crashing when I attempted multiple photos. This Indian Scout is a recent purchase and if any one is interested, I'd be happy to post more photos and details about my (new to me) 1954 Indian Scout.