Classic & Vintage - Dating my Bates

I've just heard back from Martin Coopland, who now manufacturs HR Bates bikes. He says mine is a BAR (Best All Rounder), and the code on the BB indicates that it was made some time in 1940! Wow! He didn't manage to give me any info on how it would have been outfitted, but it's exciting to know that it's 15 years older than I'd even imagined....

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/DSC00183.jpg

My friend has a BAR, beautiful bikes

I'd love to see more pics, Sammy, especially of that front fork and the bars/stem. Are those EA1 sized wheels?

Neal

Rear hub - I think they're 27"ers. This is coming off, and it's gonna be fixed.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/DSC00188.jpg

Headbadge

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/DSC00184.jpg

Stem - rustalicious. Rechrome is in order

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/DSC00187.jpg

Best I have of the diadrant forks.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Samuelw72/DSC00185.jpg

As you can see, the forks and stem will need rechroming, the frame needs repainting and potentially rechroming too, I need to get a set of Titan track bars, a pair of age appropriate alloy wheels, and some suitable centrepulls. It's going to be gooorgeous.

Terrific! That headbadge is particularly cool. The true bat machine!

Neal

Truth to tell, that's the part of the resto I'm most nervous about. Ideally, I'd have the whole bike rechromed, and either ride it like that, or use that as a primer and paint most of it (which is probably how it originally was). Trouble is, that would be REALLY expensive. I can see affording to rechrome forks and stem, but what am I gonna do about the headtube? Could I get just that chromed? If not, what to do?

Take a look at this. 3 years older than mine, it should give me a clue about the equipment. I'm seeing single speed (probably fixed), they look like sidepull brakes. What else do you see here?

http://www.classicrendezvous.com/images/British/Bates_Horace/BateP37L.jpg

Pity you can't get someone to de-braze the head tube so that you could get the badge colors enameled in again before the re-chroming. That badge is splendid.

That's a wonderful bike, Sammy.

That's a nice bike, but frankly, I still prefer dating women. ;)

I can re-enamel the badge, I guess. It doesn't look like it's just riveted on, does it? I'm still not certain that I'll go with any chrome at all on the main frame (the forks and stem will have to be done). All the other BARs I've seen now have contrast painted headtubes. We'll see.

I can re-enamel the badge, I guess. It doesn't look like it's just riveted on, does it?

I think I see rivets at top and bottom...am I not looking at them the right way?

There are rivets, but is it JUST rivets. I dunno though, I've never taken a headbadge off before.....

There are rivets, but is it JUST rivets. I dunno though, I've never taken a headbadge off before.....
I suppose I'm assuming it's only rivets, since why use rivets AND something else. I'd use a few wraps of wire to hold it in place if I were going to braze it. Perhaps your contact at the current maker could tell you what the story is?