It's a Hopper
02-18-24, 12:00 AM
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It's a Hopper
Once again the Bike Exchange got a unique donation, An English 3 speed Hopper.
I'll have to do some research on the make, If anyone has heard of them or has one let us know.
I just brought it home and took a look at it and from what I can see it is in great original condition.
The chrome rims are not bad and the paint, though dirty, looks like it will clean up nicely.
It has a nice Brooks saddle which isn't cracked or torn and should bennefit from some proof ride and a good buffing.
As I am waiting on the weather to paint a couple frames I am working on I will probably get right into this bike.
Unless I uncover some problems I should have it back in service in no time.
By the way, that bell is LOUD!
I love it.
Stay tuned.
I'll have to do some research on the make, If anyone has heard of them or has one let us know.
I just brought it home and took a look at it and from what I can see it is in great original condition.
The chrome rims are not bad and the paint, though dirty, looks like it will clean up nicely.
It has a nice Brooks saddle which isn't cracked or torn and should bennefit from some proof ride and a good buffing.
As I am waiting on the weather to paint a couple frames I am working on I will probably get right into this bike.
Unless I uncover some problems I should have it back in service in no time.
By the way, that bell is LOUD!
I love it.
Stay tuned.
Last edited by capnjonny; 02-18-24 at 12:07 AM.
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02-18-24, 12:07 AM
#2
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Here's a bit of info about Elswick-Hopper.
https://www.classiclightweights.co.u...lswick-hopper/
And here's some writing about them by the late Sheldon Brown.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/org/elswick.html
https://www.classiclightweights.co.u...lswick-hopper/
And here's some writing about them by the late Sheldon Brown.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/org/elswick.html
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02-18-24, 09:00 AM
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That's a nice bike and a marque you don't see every day in the U.S. As you've probably read, at one point, they joined together with another Lincolnshire maker, Elswick. Here is a '55 Elswick that seems very similar to yours, including the pedal rubber with the name of the brand. I'm fitting new whitewalls on it and it needs some new hand grips.
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Last edited by 1989Pre; 02-18-24 at 09:15 AM.
02-28-24, 08:59 PM
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Well, the Hopper is finished and back at the Bike Exchange getting ready to be featured in a future "Bike of the Month" article in our newsletter (bikex.org).
You can tell a lot about what kind of care a bike had when you dismantle it. You also get a glimpse into the mind of the designer / builder as you inspect the Geometry, materials used, types of fasteners. paint, chrome etc.
This bike has had loving care since the previous owner bought it new as a child.
Built as a commemorative edition celebrating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953, it is in excellent condition. Except for new tires, cables, and grips, it only needed a modest amount of TLC to get It ready for its photo shoot.
The bike is painted in a black enamel. It’s pretty tough and all I had to do was clean it well, rub it out with white polishing compound, and wax it. Mostly, it shined up but there were spots that wouldn’t buff well. Over all the pint looked good. It should hold up well in the future. The bright work was pretty rusty and this was dealt with in varying ways.
A cup type wire brush attached to my bench mount drill press is great for a quick clean up. Lots of bolt ends, chain rings and cranks, basically anything that will fit between the drill bit and the base table is fair game and frequently a good burnishing is all that is required.
Small chrome and aluminum parts are dunked in a large container of white vinegar, usually overnight, then cleaned and burnished / polished as required.
Large items, like steel rims, handlebars, fenders etc. are cleaned and often lightly rubbed with 0000 steel wool to clean off scale and loose rust then painted with Naval jelly.
Handle bars and rims are often rubbed with crushed aluminum foil and the old stand-by Brasso metal polish.
When warranted ( or I just feel like it) I have a buffing wheel to give aluminum parts a mellow shine.
So here it is in all its glory, a 1953 Elswick Hopper.
You can tell a lot about what kind of care a bike had when you dismantle it. You also get a glimpse into the mind of the designer / builder as you inspect the Geometry, materials used, types of fasteners. paint, chrome etc.
This bike has had loving care since the previous owner bought it new as a child.
Built as a commemorative edition celebrating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953, it is in excellent condition. Except for new tires, cables, and grips, it only needed a modest amount of TLC to get It ready for its photo shoot.
The bike is painted in a black enamel. It’s pretty tough and all I had to do was clean it well, rub it out with white polishing compound, and wax it. Mostly, it shined up but there were spots that wouldn’t buff well. Over all the pint looked good. It should hold up well in the future. The bright work was pretty rusty and this was dealt with in varying ways.
A cup type wire brush attached to my bench mount drill press is great for a quick clean up. Lots of bolt ends, chain rings and cranks, basically anything that will fit between the drill bit and the base table is fair game and frequently a good burnishing is all that is required.
Small chrome and aluminum parts are dunked in a large container of white vinegar, usually overnight, then cleaned and burnished / polished as required.
Large items, like steel rims, handlebars, fenders etc. are cleaned and often lightly rubbed with 0000 steel wool to clean off scale and loose rust then painted with Naval jelly.
Handle bars and rims are often rubbed with crushed aluminum foil and the old stand-by Brasso metal polish.
When warranted ( or I just feel like it) I have a buffing wheel to give aluminum parts a mellow shine.
So here it is in all its glory, a 1953 Elswick Hopper.
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02-28-24, 09:56 PM
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Nice work! Not my cup of tea as far as a bike I would choose to ride but what is not to like about this refurb on such an iconic part of cycling history . These English 3 speed bikes provided transportation and recreation to a whole generation and some are still used regularly.
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03-04-24, 11:53 AM
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Handsome steed in remarkable shape. As a piece of history am guessing few Brits could afford a car then and this might have been the main source of transportation for someone or an entire family.
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03-04-24, 12:02 PM
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That's beautiful, were it my size it would get ridden in my fleet!
03-05-24, 07:46 PM
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Thanks for all the compliments. To be honest the grips are not original. I pulled them off the wall of our sales area. They do look good on this bike though. I wanted to swap out the rear cogs for a 24 tooth but I used my last one on the 58 Schwinn. This one had a 17 on it, probably the most common gear back then but way to high for pedalng up hill.
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