branko_76 

Looks like a Made in Japan Raleigh.

Seat tube will reveal a lot. Run your finger inside and check for a vertical seam, then try inserting a 26.4mm seat post

juvela

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Nippon produced Raleigh cycles did not receive Vagner DP+ fork crowns, BOCAMA lugs or Alatet headsets


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thumpism 

I need one of those shifters for my sister-in-law's bike. She has an old Panasonic on which someone replaced the Positron and the current thumbshifter is giving her hand fits.

I love these bikes, both the 5- and the 10-speed versions. Gave one to my sister. Liked building them, liked selling them. Best steel wheels ever.

albrt 

The Sprite is cleaning up nicely. The paint still has a fair amount of luminosity to it - Raleigh should have painted everything, their paint was so much better than their chrome. Although I was surprised how well the Nervar cranks shined up, considering how thick the rust was on them. I'll try to take some pictures tomorrow.

52telecaster

Man are you thorough! Sounds like a nice frameset!

Murray Missile 

It's my size and I really don't need it but would they ship? OR if it doesn't find a home and it is headed to recycle would it be possible to just buy the fork and headset and have them shipped? Those I do need for my '66 Raleigh Carlton.

Robvolz 

This co-op does not and will not ship.

Everyone rides their bike to and from there.

There is no phone number there.

The place opens after UPS (bike flights) stops picking up.

Not my rule. Please find a way to beautiful Portland and buy in person. Tax free,

Murray Missile 

Bummer. Breaks my heart to see that get melted down though. Especially that fork. Hopefully someone will save it.

cudak888 

I'd recommend going straight to a 7-speed Shimano conversion, just so you can install a 7-speed SunRace (or SunRace rebadge) trigger shifter on it. Much lighter to operate.

Plus, unlike a thumbie, you're not constantly cranking your wrist into some ridiculous position to change gears. I can't stand them, personally; don't know the fascination behind them other than nostalgia. They're never in the right place and matched SunTour ratchets and RDs are usually fairly stiff to move, making it even less comfortable to operate.

-Kurt

Trakhak

I've had thumb shifters and trigger shifters on various bikes that gave me problems, particularly in cold weather (arthritis). Having since bought a 1995 Cannondale hybrid with GripShift, I strongly recommend that solution for your sister in law.

GripShift is generally condemned on Bike Forums, and the cheapest versions can be pretty bad, but the better versions are still cheap compared to trigger shifters, and they work flawlessly and almost effortlessly. Just make sure that you buy the Shimano-compatible version. If your sister in law doesn't read Bike Forums, she'll probably be very happy with GripShift.

thumpism 

I use GripShift on a couple of bikes and like it but her hand problems compromise her grip so that's out. She has tried them on her husband's bike and says the won't work for her. I figure a long stem shifter, such as that SunTour Power stem shifter, will give her the leverage to shift using the heel of her hand rather than having to grasp.

Murray Missile 

They can be hard to find now but Shimano made 7 speed indexed stem shifters. I used a set on my first attempt at a gravel bike conversion to an old Schwinn World Sport and it worked reall nicely, especially since I ride the top of my drop bars most of the time. Very easy to shift and much of the time I just used the heel of my hand below my thumb lightly resting on top of the lever with my fingers still in contact with the bar. I know stem shifters are frowned upon but these worked so smoothly! When I dismantled the bike I saved them and will use them again.

cudak888 

I was about to say - GripShifts are not easy on the hands at all, for the most part. There are a few exceptions, including some (not all) of the SRAM 1:1-pull examples being surprisingly light (especially the long-grip versions used for the Dual Drive systems), but as a rule, GripShifts are a nice way to a raw feeling palm.

A light derailer spring coupled with a light feeling trigger might be the best thing here.

-Kurt

jasoninohio

Do you have a coaster-brake wheel back there somewhere? This is antithesis to what you described about keeping it original but if you just strip off all the accoutrement and do single-speed/coaster-brake and a maybe a lighter saddle it would be a very lively coffee/path bike and usable if you're in a flat area

JulesCW 

Or perhaps you could consider facilitating the purchase and shipping of the fork and headset for Murray Missile -- would generate a few $$ for your co-op and generate some good karma for you by keeping at least part of this nice old frame from being junked and for helping out a fellow BFer -- and a fork and headset are not too difficult to pack and ship....

repechage

I would be heartless.
remove the headset and bag it.
remove the headbadge
maybe sell the fork on eBay. ( maybe with headset if it is a 26 tpi type)

tall guys are cheap.

Murray Missile 

Short people jack the prices up when they see you're tall enough to ride them.

RCMoeur 

Still need one of these?

thumpism 

One of these. In your photo the one on the left looks like one of its two levers was removed. I might have to settle for that solution but not yet. I'm not sure she even rides the bike these days but I'm aiming for the fix anyway.

RCMoeur 

Let me know. I don't have a single-side mount, or a complete left shifter assembly. But I am willing to part with it for a reasonable price.

Robvolz 

Took the frame from out of the bin again.

took a few pics….

Hummer

Looks like a Super Course frame from 1978.

albrt 

Here's a quick "after" picture of the Sprite.


The crank had to be replaced because the drive side pedal threads were stripped out, and everything else in the drive train had to be replaced because the old bits could not work with the new bits. Fortunately I was able to find a crank that would take the original cotters with the R nuts.

Honestly, I would have to say this was not worth the time to get it into usable but not spectacular condition. Next time I have to rehab a bike of this quality I will probably harvest the R nuts and other saleable parts and then see if it makes sense to build the frame back up with whatever we have on hand.

HelpSingularity 

Very nice job on bringing the Sprite back from the dead. You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din.
In addition, you are building character, always a good thing, in retrospect, I guess.

Hondo6

Looks to be quill. If so, there are a couple of new Suntour quill-mount singles on eBay now with prices in the $30 range, shipped. Links:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/291672397271

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185170434257

I've done business with the first vendor; my experiences were positive. No history with second vendor.

Unfortunately, both have a left shifter mount (with factory cover for the shifter boss) to allow for potential future addition of left shift lever. Neither of them seems to be a "Power Shifter".

Edited to add: there are also some others, including this Suntour "8.8.8" model. Still in unopened factory bag, so it's hard to tell whether it has a left-side mounting boss or not. It's considerably more than the others, though (est $40-45 with shipping and sales tax). I've done business with this vendor too; they seem good also.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/314304771393

Shipping quoted for all the above items was to my location, so it may vary to yours.

Might be a Power Shifter single quill-mount out there somewhere too. Just did a quick look and didn't see one with right-only shifter boss, but I might have missed it.