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My latest folly- 1935 Raleigh Sports
I acquired this in boxes about 7 years ago. First I assembled it to see if the frame had any problems. It was OK but the finish was deplorable. Note the slack seat tube and headset angles. The geometry seems to have a lot in common with rod brake machines, but this was never a rod brake bike.
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7aba63389c.jpg So I slowly went about the process of refinishing everything. It had been repainted with rattle cans several times. There was only a hint at the original graphics. The 'net wasn't all that helpful at first, but over time we found what the graphics looked like. Jeff Bock did the paint. This bike is equipped with a 'barrel shifter' also known as the 'K Pratt' rather than the traditional quadrant shifter. Its very simple and relays on the cam shape with landings for indexing. Its very easy to operate. I used a conventional shifter cable with a brass end I swagged on for the adjuster end at the hub. Also pre war, no 'white tail'. Note the rim color- front and rear are stainless, with stainless spokes. I was unaware these were available before the war, but the original owner might have had them changed out? https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...12d26e856f.jpg The bars were originally black. Note the graphic, different stem and headset, which is more complex than the post war versions. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...61d1ec0193.jpg The headset is different too. The Heron doesn't have a rivet in its eye. Beneath it was revealed the original headset color as seen. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2fb3bbbb1b.jpg The drum brakes were an option at the time. Fancy! I added the wing nuts. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8cbf30bb05.jpg I do not know what pedals these are, but they are British (having Whitworth threads on the shafts for the blocks). They have alloy hubs! The blocks are new. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...011e1e429e.jpg Having drum brakes of course the rear hub is a KB ('5' denotes 1935). https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...85e8e0708b.jpg The Brooks badge is heavily embossed. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...73c455e5c2.jpg The word 'patent' is faintly visible on the brake levers. They are universal, no left and right as seen in post war bikes. And it is 'All Steel'. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4663ebb95c.jpg This is what the only graphic that was still visible actually looks like. Only the top 1/2" or so was intact. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d8deca927e.jpg The ride is very regal- much like a rod brake bike in that regard. I'm still sorting out minor issues |
Folly?
Fine work you did, wow. The premium components are the grace notes on a wonderful early bike. Congrats!
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Holy hole! My 1968 Austrian 3 speed hub has an oil port! New project and I never spun the wheel around. Just like looking at the graphics. All this time I’ve been putting oil in through the chain pull axle side.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9c79efe98.jpeg |
Dutch, methinks. Never heard of the brand. $75.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...18071299674232 https://scontent.fric1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...ed&oe=614BE70B |
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Originally Posted by thumpism
(Post 22236033)
Dutch, methinks. Never heard of the brand. $75.
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Nice bike in 23" at a super price ($50 in MA), but it's a good thing they did not take a flash photo with all that reflective tape on the thing.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...49997842034051 https://scontent.fric1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...46&oe=614D3257 |
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Looks like all the Raleigh action today is in MA.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...18728154941507 https://scontent.fric1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...ab&oe=614DDC42 |
Originally Posted by thumpism
(Post 22238137)
Nice bike in 23" at a super price ($50 in MA), but it's a good thing they did not take a flash photo with all that reflective tape on the thing.
https://scontent.fric1-2.fna.fbcdn.n...46&oe=614D3257 |
Great thread! Lots to go on. Has anyone ever run across a Robin Hood 3 speed ?
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Originally Posted by Greg R
(Post 22238346)
Great thread! Lots to go on. Has anyone ever run across a Robin Hood 3 speed ?
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I wonder how the Robin Hoods stack up to the other models. Mine was acquired new in 1965, still have it. Very light frame, and for all I've done with it, pretty tough too.
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Originally Posted by Greg R
(Post 22238438)
I wonder how the Robin Hoods stack up to the other models. Mine was acquired new in 1965, still have it. Very light frame, and for all I've done with it, pretty tough too.
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I wish I had some. I just this week took it apart for a cleaning and re-lube. The back story is it was my 1st bike. I acquired it in 1965 in Lancaster, PA. It was my ticket to the world at large, living miles in the country. After I got my driver's license in 68, I last rode it around 1969 then I was off to the military. It stayed at my mother's place for about 49 years and then to a storage unit. I finally got it out to Oregon about 2 years ago. Unfortunately the lighting disappeared as well the tire pump and rear rat trap rack; and some minor damage such as bent fender stays and 1 or 2 broken spokes. I was fastidious about maintenance when I used it. Camping, touring, delivery routes; it went everywhere. Working on the bottom bracket I found this:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3e40e8dd01.jpg Sir Robin took a hit in the arse. This was NOT how I left him. There's rumors it was borrowed. (though against my wishes when asked several years ago) |
Originally Posted by Greg R
(Post 22238438)
I wonder how the Robin Hoods stack up to the other models. Mine was acquired new in 1965, still have it. Very light frame, and for all I've done with it, pretty tough too.
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Originally Posted by 52telecaster
(Post 22239167)
I had a Robin hood I used to ride my son all over the neighborhood with. Excellent three speed.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5f03d8d75d.jpg I have one from the early 60's set up as a semi scorcher. Quite nice https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fc1ee1d515.jpg It came as someone else's abandoned project. |
Nice!
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I have a raleigh courier with a 19T sprocket and want to change it for a 22T, but I'm already over half way down the dropout. Can I just add a new link to the chain to extend it? I only recently put a new chain on and kept the spare links
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Originally Posted by rich110
(Post 22241598)
I have a raleigh courier with a 19T sprocket and want to change it for a 22T, but I'm already over half way down the dropout. Can I just add a new link to the chain to extend it? I only recently put a new chain on and kept the spare links
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Originally Posted by Greg R
(Post 22239109)
I wish I had some. I just this week took it apart for a cleaning and re-lube. The back story is it was my 1st bike. I acquired it in 1965 in Lancaster, PA. It was my ticket to the world at large, living miles in the country. After I got my driver's license in 68, I last rode it around 1969 then I was off to the military. It stayed at my mother's place for about 49 years and then to a storage unit. I finally got it out to Oregon about 2 years ago. Unfortunately the lighting disappeared as well the tire pump and rear rat trap rack; and some minor damage such as bent fender stays and 1 or 2 broken spokes. I was fastidious about maintenance when I used it. Camping, touring, delivery routes; it went everywhere. Working on the bottom bracket I found this:
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3e40e8dd01.jpg Sir Robin took a hit in the arse. This was NOT how I left him. There's rumors it was borrowed. (though against my wishes when asked several years ago) |
Originally Posted by clubman
(Post 22241712)
Looks like a kickstand was cinched down way too hard and then weather did the rest. I'd wager it would still last another decade or three.
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I recently picked up a Dawes kingpin folding bike and it has this absolutely massive seatpost: 530mm/21" long by 28mm diameter
Does anyone know if it's original and why it has the holes? 1200g for the saddle and 590g for the seatpost! http://i.imgur.com/Qh94ET5l.jpg http://i.imgur.com/0rQIanel.jpg |
I'd wager it would still last another decade or three. I've done a fair amount of brazing in my day job, nothing related to bike frames. I'm kicking around the idea of brazing reinforcing saddles (1/2 or 1/4 rounds of tubing) over the affected areas with heat blocking paste and wet rags to control heat spread. Good idea or not? It's so close to the bottom bracket, maybe not. |
DAWES
Crazy idea would be to somewhat lighten it up. Not gonna mention anything musical... good chance the post is original but not sure about the saddle. Those early cheap ones were massive heavy! Would love to see the full bike! |
I'm not sure what that seat is, but I just parted out two late 60's Raleigh Sprite ladies bikes that both had that same seat but in black.
They were probably what ever the cheapest cruiser seat the local bike shop had on the shelf when the original owners didn't like the Brooks leather saddles. |
Originally Posted by cszipper
(Post 22227877)
Look for a 1/8" chain with bushed pins. It will last a lot longer than the bushingless stuff that seems to be all that the bike shops near me stock. You can still get bushed chain from any industrial supplier, or buy/find a chain from a garage door opener. It is long enough to do 4 or 5 bikes, and even one taken from a discarded unit will have little to no wear.
-Carl He gave me a roll of that chain that was too big to lift. I've been picking off it for 40 years. The roll was originally about the size of a 6 gallon bucket or so. A huge wooden spool, made from real wood, not plywood. The chain is branded Diamond. |
Originally Posted by oldspokes
(Post 22243637)
Years ago, in the 70's a buddies dad retired from a company that did overhead doors.
He gave me a roll of that chain that was too big to lift. I've been picking off it for 40 years. The roll was originally about the size of a 6 gallon bucket or so. A huge wooden spool, made from real wood, not plywood. The chain is branded Diamond. Edit: Oops, I looked it up. Still cranking out chains, but planning to move nextdoor to Illinois in the next 2 or 3 years. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...075127576c.jpg The bldg on the left is Diamond Chain. The red brick bldg on the right is a very old power house that now supplies steam and chilled water to the whole city. |
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