Humber 1949 Town Bike
11-12-22, 10:08 AM
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Humber 1949 Town Bike
Humber 1949 Town Bike I think might describe the bike won off ebay, collected today.
As a short introduction, I usually do a project with 2 wheels every winter, Lambretta/Honds/Terrot/Peugeot BIMA etc, but fancied sometihng very simple (by comparison) and hassle free (!).
The pictures are from today while I drowned things in WD40 ready for some stripping tomorrow.
The bike is totally original (I think) and has a 4 speed hub (only 2 gears select), dynamo system and lights, Brookes saddle I hope I can rescue, and is rusty everywhere.
Plan is a total strip, paint, plate or paint the 'chrome parts' and fresh tyres etc and ride it next spring.
This will be a lazy restoration, but I am sure I will have a few questions along the way.r
I have a very long background in all mechanical things like many and was a professional engineer until recent Retirment.
My main interest is hillclimbing my race car, so this needs to be finished before end of March 2023.
Self-set budget is £200....
I would much appreciate any info on these bikes, I like to know the background to these projects.
I can't post my pictures until 10 posts have been made, so please respond!
Graham.
As a short introduction, I usually do a project with 2 wheels every winter, Lambretta/Honds/Terrot/Peugeot BIMA etc, but fancied sometihng very simple (by comparison) and hassle free (!).
The pictures are from today while I drowned things in WD40 ready for some stripping tomorrow.
The bike is totally original (I think) and has a 4 speed hub (only 2 gears select), dynamo system and lights, Brookes saddle I hope I can rescue, and is rusty everywhere.
Plan is a total strip, paint, plate or paint the 'chrome parts' and fresh tyres etc and ride it next spring.
This will be a lazy restoration, but I am sure I will have a few questions along the way.r
I have a very long background in all mechanical things like many and was a professional engineer until recent Retirment.
My main interest is hillclimbing my race car, so this needs to be finished before end of March 2023.
Self-set budget is £200....
I would much appreciate any info on these bikes, I like to know the background to these projects.
I can't post my pictures until 10 posts have been made, so please respond!
Graham.
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11-12-22, 10:40 AM
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Looking forward to seeing pictures of your project. Keep posting, you'll reach 10 in no-time.
Welcome to the forum.
Welcome to the forum.
11-12-22, 10:47 AM
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Follow up with your progress on 'For the Love of English 3 Speeds'. We adore Humbers!
11-12-22, 11:15 AM
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Now, that is a good read.
Just glimped through it for nw, but will read it carefully.
My Humber has a simple Humber chain guard over the top run of the chain, and the handle bars are as the picture he has on the right, the shape and position of the gear selector is as mine.
My rims are crusty, so I think new ones are required, lacing is a challenge....
Getting closer to my '10'
Just glimped through it for nw, but will read it carefully.
My Humber has a simple Humber chain guard over the top run of the chain, and the handle bars are as the picture he has on the right, the shape and position of the gear selector is as mine.
My rims are crusty, so I think new ones are required, lacing is a challenge....
Getting closer to my '10'
11-12-22, 01:23 PM
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Not having seen your bike, i shouldn't protest that the paint is too good too repaint or that the rust is no big deal... but i strongly suspect that once you start posting photos, you'll start hearing those protests. A lot of us started out thinking about complete restorations and soon decide it's more fun to leave the original paint, just get rid of the rust and throughly wax the paint. Sometimes bikes look great that way. Ironically, it also preserves their value.
I have repainted too many bikes, though. They look good for a while, but the finish is never as tough as the factory paint.
Whatever.... Welcome, and I look forward to the photos!
I have repainted too many bikes, though. They look good for a while, but the finish is never as tough as the factory paint.
Whatever.... Welcome, and I look forward to the photos!
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11-12-22, 02:21 PM
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Yes, I understand what the future may hold!
I feel thisproject is to keep me busy this winter, I usually work on my other cars, but they are now all sorted for 2023, hence this bikeproject.
The bikecannot be worth a lot in perfect original condition or restored?
The cost differences are a controlling factor in the end.
There is quite a lot of rust everywhere.
I f I have the handle bars replaced, the rest will look awful, so you have to totally do the bike or tolerate what it is and preserve the rust
Hope to show the pics soon, andall can advise me then!
I feel thisproject is to keep me busy this winter, I usually work on my other cars, but they are now all sorted for 2023, hence this bikeproject.
The bikecannot be worth a lot in perfect original condition or restored?
The cost differences are a controlling factor in the end.
There is quite a lot of rust everywhere.
I f I have the handle bars replaced, the rest will look awful, so you have to totally do the bike or tolerate what it is and preserve the rust
Hope to show the pics soon, andall can advise me then!
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11-12-22, 02:43 PM
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Do you have a plan for the Brooks saddle, yet?
From 1950:
From 1950:
11-12-22, 03:06 PM
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It must be saved"
it is a bit cracked in places, but a good shape.
the springs are rusty but not broken.
Im hoping some king of potion will make it supple.
still has its Brooke's brass name plate on the back.
it is a bit cracked in places, but a good shape.
the springs are rusty but not broken.
Im hoping some king of potion will make it supple.
still has its Brooke's brass name plate on the back.
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11-12-22, 03:14 PM
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Yes, I understand what the future may hold!
I feel thisproject is to keep me busy this winter, I usually work on my other cars, but they are now all sorted for 2023, hence this bikeproject.
The bikecannot be worth a lot in perfect original condition or restored?
The cost differences are a controlling factor in the end.
There is quite a lot of rust everywhere.
I f I have the handle bars replaced, the rest will look awful, so you have to totally do the bike or tolerate what it is and preserve the rust
Hope to show the pics soon, andall can advise me then!
I feel thisproject is to keep me busy this winter, I usually work on my other cars, but they are now all sorted for 2023, hence this bikeproject.
The bikecannot be worth a lot in perfect original condition or restored?
The cost differences are a controlling factor in the end.
There is quite a lot of rust everywhere.
I f I have the handle bars replaced, the rest will look awful, so you have to totally do the bike or tolerate what it is and preserve the rust
Hope to show the pics soon, andall can advise me then!
There's nothing wrong with wiping the slate clean unless you're a purist. Which you likely aren't and after all, it's your bike.
11-12-22, 08:44 PM
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I have a 1940s(?) Rudge singlespeed that was in a sorry state. I chose to do a sympathetic restoration and my bike is functional and the original paint and shiny bits are as good they can be and I am content with that. I’ll see if I can get some pics.
11-13-22, 07:39 AM
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Quite right. You won't be destroying anything of historical value should you 'renew' the Humber. I have a '52 that is so rusted the the frame is almost the only salvageable part.
There's nothing wrong with wiping the slate clean unless you're a purist. Which you likely aren't and after all, it's your bike.
There's nothing wrong with wiping the slate clean unless you're a purist. Which you likely aren't and after all, it's your bike.
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11-13-22, 10:15 AM
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SOLD!
That is just the picture I needed to see.
My Humber is clearly a Sports too, it has the same features, but mine has the front dynamo, the battery tube and the lights and rod brakes. (maybe it is not a Sport?)
My Chinese stand off ebay arrived this morning and I'm very impressed just how stable it is esp for about £29.
A lot has been stripped off the bike now, all screws etc are easy to get off, just the front chain guard mounting is solid, hope a night soaked in WD40 will help.
Handlebar head stock is very tight (rust) but the seat came out with one hand, the chrome on the tube that goes into the frame is perfect, what quality!
Cotter pins are feeling as if welded in place of course so a bigger hammer needed (I was bought up in Birmingham).
The lower 3" of the mud guards are rusted and almost see-through, so might be difficult to repair, but will try..
Chain is very good, now in a bath of WD40.
So far so good, I am really pleased with this little bike, through the hard work is looming.
That is just the picture I needed to see.
My Humber is clearly a Sports too, it has the same features, but mine has the front dynamo, the battery tube and the lights and rod brakes. (maybe it is not a Sport?)
My Chinese stand off ebay arrived this morning and I'm very impressed just how stable it is esp for about £29.
A lot has been stripped off the bike now, all screws etc are easy to get off, just the front chain guard mounting is solid, hope a night soaked in WD40 will help.
Handlebar head stock is very tight (rust) but the seat came out with one hand, the chrome on the tube that goes into the frame is perfect, what quality!
Cotter pins are feeling as if welded in place of course so a bigger hammer needed (I was bought up in Birmingham).
The lower 3" of the mud guards are rusted and almost see-through, so might be difficult to repair, but will try..
Chain is very good, now in a bath of WD40.
So far so good, I am really pleased with this little bike, through the hard work is looming.
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11-13-22, 01:07 PM
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Can't wait for pictures: I suspect yours is an Olympia: rod brakes and front dynamo seem to be the clues. The other rod brake bikes without a full chaincase had the dynohub at the back. (From 1950 catalog - don't have a 49 version)
Last edited by markk900; 11-13-22 at 01:10 PM.
11-13-22, 04:12 PM
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Shamelessly posting again to go towards my '10 Posts' before pics are allowed.
Looks like mine was the expensive option with the 4 speed hub and the light set.
Looks like mine was the expensive option with the 4 speed hub and the light set.
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11-13-22, 04:14 PM
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Look forward to pics...not a Sports though. Definitely a roadster, not that it's a lesser bike at all.
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11-14-22, 12:17 PM
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Looks good. I'm glad you are taking your time with this to get it "ship-shape".
11-14-22, 12:27 PM
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Nice to see the complete bike. Here are some detail shots of mine the day I brought it home - I hope these give you inspiration that lots of elbow grease will work wonders.....(No idea why I didn't take a full bike shot......)
11-14-22, 12:47 PM
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Interesting!
I will post some close-up shots of the crusty bits tomorrow.
Lots of surface rust and the mudguards are the trick bit, but I've welded lots of tricky bits in my years.
will try to rescue them before simply buy sone new ones (from India?)
Getting a chrome finish is going to be the hardest, but i don't want to pay for the parts to get plated which will cost in time and money.
Some paints claim a chrome finish, so will experiment, but will also get a local quote to strip and chrome the original parts and see what is what..
I will post some close-up shots of the crusty bits tomorrow.
Lots of surface rust and the mudguards are the trick bit, but I've welded lots of tricky bits in my years.
will try to rescue them before simply buy sone new ones (from India?)
Getting a chrome finish is going to be the hardest, but i don't want to pay for the parts to get plated which will cost in time and money.
Some paints claim a chrome finish, so will experiment, but will also get a local quote to strip and chrome the original parts and see what is what..
11-14-22, 01:40 PM
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You may be surprised how well that 73 year old British chrome turns out. Not sure if you are aware of buffing the chrome with aluminum foil, but it works wonders. None of the chrome on my bike is new -all of it is simply polished out with brass wool and foil.
11-14-22, 02:06 PM
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Looks like stainless spokes to boot.
