Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Bob Jackson $700, Should I Jump On It?

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/bik/2574462838.html

Considering giving this guy a call. Seems like a fair price. Before I do, wondering if anyone can comment.

I know the pictures have zero detail, but I am sure the biking aficionados on this site can help me out.

Thanks.

I'd wager it's already gone. Jump now if you want it.

Yes.

Number "was not in service." Emailed him, he wrote back one word "call." I am starting to get that hmmm feeling. Damn.

The advert really gives nothing away about the bike or its condition. Why would he bother to advertise and then be difficult to contact? hmmm?

Weird. Could be a scam, but maybe just a typo on the phone number. Reply and let him know the number doesn't work, give him your phone number also.

I guess it is easy to overanalyze these things. On the one hand I would think someone who owns a sort of niche bike like a Bob Jackson would be more thorough in describing in detail the bikes components, age, measurements, etc and have larger pictures. On the other hand, maybe the individual simply thinks the bike speaks for itself. Who knows. The bike seems to be priced to sell, but it isn't such a steal that reg flags are going up all around me. I wrote him back with my contact information. Like you said, maybe it was a typo. We'll just have to see where this goes.

I bought a similar Jackson here in NorCal for
600 bucks last year. Mine has 1st generation
Phil Wood hubs and was in overall pretty good
condition with a few rust issues at the top tube
cable run braze ons.

So not an impossibly good deal. NorCal is sort
of famous as a pricey marketplace. Be polite
and aware and pursue it as aggressively as you
can without becoming impolite.

There are always more bicycles.:thumb:

some cell phones and services give that "out of service" when the phones are in a non-reception area or are turned off, or when the owner is late on their bill or over their minutes.

Turns out it was a typo. The gentleman on the phone seems really nice. I am going to check out the bike in a couple of hours. If it is what it appears to be, I will snatch it up. If I buy it, after a nice little polish I will post some pictures for anyone who is interested. Thanks for the comments.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/bik/2574462838.html

Considering giving this guy a call. Seems like a fair price. Before I do, wondering if anyone can comment.

I know the pictures have zero detail, but I am sure the biking aficionados on this site can help me out.

Thanks.

Looks more like a 1980s one, with that fork rake. Naperville is full of semi-rich suburbanites, so that's a good sign....

Bob Jackson were famous for their variable build quality back in the 70's. Some were exceptional whereas others were let's say "morning after pub night" bikes. Check it out, might be a fair deal.

I thought the build quality issues were more with the mid-to late 80's and early 90's bikes, after Bob sold the business. But I don't know much about it, frankly.

Well, the ad is gone now. I bet someone scooped it up. Hopefully it was you.

For those still following the thread…I did grab it. I talked with the seller for about 30 minutes. He told me he bought the bike from the original owner back in the early 70s when he was racing/doing a lot of centuries. At some point he stopped riding it and it sat in his garage for years. He is recently divorced and needed some extra money and said why not sell the Bob Jackson. I guess he was not the one who put up the ad, but his friend as he was not good with computers…hence the phone number typo. I just got it home, so I haven't had time to clean it up--but, I thought I would throw up a few photos. If this bike is almost 40 years old and has seen many thousands of miles on the road, it is in fantastic shape. Just a few rust spots that should come right out, it needs new hoods, and just a general tune up. I took it out for a quick five mile ride and it feels amazing (it makes me wonder why I ever thought it wise to ride my track bike around the city all summer). Let me know what you think and if anyone can help me put an age on it I really appreciate the assistance. My father is a Brit and a biker so I know a little about Bob Jackson's, but not that much.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/57289388@N03/6101577437/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57289388@N03/6102126044/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57289388@N03/6102126476/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57289388@N03/6101578223/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57289388@N03/6101578527/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57289388@N03/6102127338/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57289388@N03/6102127618/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57289388@N03/6102127906/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57289388@N03/6102125580/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/57289388@N03/6101576979/

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6101577437_586af1a4f2_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6204/6102126044_dfec4d5aed_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6209/6102126248_5988a174fd_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6101578223_69cebb9bb9_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6193/6101578527_ef9a635c5b_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6102127338_6de34fc20b_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6102127618_1125dee88e_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6186/6102127906_fa29b57f39_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6101579519_36076087e2_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6089/6102125580_266afaf848_b.jpg

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6207/6101576979_1c9e13c8d9_b.jpg

Some of the images are a little blurry, sorry, cell phone camera.

very sweet catch - congrats

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6101577437_586af1a4f2_b.jpg

I hope you like yours!

I purchased mine with the intention of "trying the ride" and reselling.

I have grown increasingly fond of the ride characteristics and am in no big hurry to sell atm.

It has a "brazing" issue that CDM alluded to, but that could be remedied by a local builder I've been assured.

Enjoy your new bike though, as it looks like a keeper.

So this should make someone laugh. I was interested in finding out more about the age of the bike as the paint is just in really fantastic condition--made me skeptical of it being 35 years old. Found the serial number, read it as 69801. Did a little research and found that Bob Jackson and his team were putting out at the most 800-1000 bikes a year. In 1974-75, the serial numbers were in the mid 10,000-11,000 range. Doing the math, it simply did not add up. So I go back and check, sure enough, still 69801. Finally it dawns on me, I am reading the number upside down. Ha. It is really 10869. So the gentleman was telling the truth. It was made sometime pre 1975, probably 1974. I sent an email to the Bob Jackson factory to see if they have an information card that could give me the exact manufacturing date and perhaps the original owner…I am curious to know if it was a custom build or an "off the peg." I won't hold my breath for a speedy response, but who knows.

So this should make someone laugh. I was interested in finding out more about the age of the bike as the paint is just in really fantastic condition--made me skeptical of it being 35 years old. Found the serial number, read it as 69801. Did a little research and found that Bob Jackson and his team were putting out at the most 800-1000 bikes a year. In 1974-75, the serial numbers were in the mid 10,000-11,000 range. Doing the math, it simply did not add up. So I go back and check, sure enough, still 69801. Finally it dawns on me, I am reading the number upside down. Ha. It is really 10869. So the gentleman was telling the truth. It was made sometime pre 1975, probably 1974. I sent an email to the Bob Jackson factory to see if they have an information card that could give me the exact manufacturing date and perhaps the original owner…I am curious to know if it was a custom build or an "off the peg." I won't hold my breath for a speedy response, but who knows.

It made me laugh!

Beautiful bike. Look for the year on the top of the rear derailleur.

Beautiful bike. Look for the year on the top of the rear derailleur.

When I was wiping it down earlier I noticed the rear derailleur was a '72 as well as a few other components.

Very nice Julian, glad you got it!

Julian, I sent the factory an email about mine and they got back to me shortly afterward with the date. Let us know what their response is! I only just joined the Bob Jackson club myself, and have yet to build mine up, so perhaps I am not qualified--but welcome anyway. ;)

That is good to know Architect. I read somewhere they stopped sending out that information, but perhaps they just stopped sending information cards for 25 pounds. It's funny, my Jackson is in great riding condition so I really do not have anything to do it aside from rewrap the handlebars and get some new brake hoods--feels kind of strange, I have always had project bikes. Thanks for the welcome though. I cannot wait to get it out for a longer ride. Hopefully the rain/heat will not interfere with a weekend ride along the lakefront.

Congrats! Glad to know one of our mob got it. Beautiful — galactically yummy!

Nice looking bike! Too big for me or I'd be quite jealous as it's local to me too!

Isn't that the truth. The bike either fits you and is not a good deal, or doesn't fit and the price is right.

So, I heard back from a Donald of Jackson cycles. He said, "All I can tell you at this time was the frame was built as part of a batch for Roberts Cycles (don't know who they are!!!) in 1975." This means, I bought a Bob Jackson, from a Bob, which was originally made for a Roberts Cycles. Haha. I wonder if the Robert's Cycles referred to is the custom bike builder in South London? Would that make sense, one custom frame builder buying frames from another? Probably just a coincidence.

That's a fantastic catch. I love the "upside down" number story.

I believe I can provide an answer to the 'where did it come from' question. Up on N Clark St in Chicago, in the Rogers Park neighborhood, is a longtime cycle shop called Roberts Cycle. I have only been by there, never inside, and my impression is that it's a general cycle store today, nothing special or high end. However according to the history page on their website, at one point they were actually an importer and distributor of British and European makes:

>>In 1955, Bernard and Estelle Garber purchased the shop which at the time dealt in both bicycles and hobbies although there were only half a dozen bicycles in the shop. They gradually built up the shop and renamed it Robert’s Cycle after one of their sons. One half of the shop was used for hobbies and bicycles while the other was a combination hat and dress shop. In the mid sixties, Mr. Garber took over the hat shop and expanded the business to include chemicals and chemistry equipment. He was one of the first people in the city to sell 10-speed bicycles. Some of the brands he carried were Fiorelli, Frejus, Coppi, Legnano and Masi. http://www.robertscycle.com/BC2B.jpg
In the late sixties, Richard Bonomo was working for Arky’s cycle on Glenwood. In 1970, he started working for Mr. Garber who was expanding his selection of bicycles to include Raleigh, Peugeot, Gitane and eight to ten other brands. He also built up his selection of frames to include Jack Taylor, Bob Jackson, Fiorelli, Masi, Cinelli and several others.<<

Given the decal and the bike being found in Chicago, it sure seems likely that your bike came from there. You might call them and see if they kept records of bikes they imported. Though they would probably rather sell you a new Raleigh or Diamondback today!

http://www.robertscycle.com/

And now I really should contact Jackson and find out if they can tell us when my wife's bike was made and for whom. Pretty sure it's 1974-75.

It is funny you mention that store. It was the only other Robert's Cycles that game up on a quick google search, but I wrote them off since it seemed like they sold pretty low end stuff these days. However, the information you dug up makes me think (from the limited details I have of the bike's history) it more than likely came from that shop. Today would have been a perfect day to bike over and see what they had to say, unfortunately I was stuck indoors studying until a couple of hours ago--maybe sometime this week.