Classic & Vintage - Part deux! I've just returned from an old French barn!

Well here is the second bike i bought.

As far as i can tell it is roughly 1950's
The rear coaster brake hub is a torpedo.
The front hub is a " Helios "
It frame sticker with "Type Special" written on it.
Another sticker with just "Fa" written at the start , the rest is not visible.
A bell which looks original with a four leaf clover design on it.
Pump pegs on the rear of down tube.
Lightrace headset.
It is quite large for a porteur bike and is 58cm x 57cm.

Any ideas on which marque this could be?

Cheers

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7032/6667374839_e48f21608f_z.jpg

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I've noticed 56 on the Torpedo hub and so that makes it a 1956 model.

Nice! A real 650B porteur.

Nice! A real 650B porteur.

Thanks!

There is quite a bit of surface rust but everything is solid.
I'm just going to give it a clean , adjust and wax.

This is the bike I've been waiting for Davey, thanks loads for showing it!

Love the chain guard!

Thanks guys.

I was given three porteur racks with it and a rear rack and a NOS pair of canvas randonneur bags.
I'll add some more photos when i have cleaned it a bit!

Nice! once again jealous you found a bike in a decent size

I forget what the little curved brace on the off-side is for?

Nice! once again jealous you found a bike in a decent size

Yes a bonus! It's quite common here for smaller sizes isn't it!

I forget what the little curved brace on the off-side is for?

I think it strengthens the frame in that area for the coaster brake.
I suspect you get extra stress in that area when using the brake.

My porteur hits the road again after 20 or 30 years in a barn!

The only work i've done is fit the porteur rack , fit the original brake and a 1950's aluminium brake lever and a little tune up and grease.
The white tyres are a replacement that i fitted before the photo. The original ones were completely rotted.

I have to say it is a wonderful ride and these old porteurs are so comfortable to ride around a city.

I took a little video today of it as i absolutely love the original dynamo lighting system , especially the front lamp!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLNrVClJPiY

That front lamp looks to be a Luxor. Nice find!

That front lamp looks to be a Luxor. Nice find!

Thanks , i wasn't sure if it is a radios or not. The dynamo is a radios one.

Hey Davey, make a video riding on the streets in Paris, and not just the top of your fender!
Some of us are stuck in Texas...

C'est fabuleux, vous avez la bonne vie!

Very nice. I really enjoy looking at these bikes. Someone was excited to get it when brand new and all these years later people are excited to see it again.

Thanks , i wasn't sure if it is a radios or not. The dynamo is a radios one.Oh? Then the light is probably a Radios then as well. I just glanced at it and made a guess. Nothing wrong with a Radios.

A photo from the ride today.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6704398793_064cf74bdc_z.jpg

Hey Davey, make a video riding on the streets in Paris, and not just the top of your fender!
Some of us are stuck in Texas...

+1 :thumb:

Even the brief glimpse we saw of riding there is pretty darn cool!

A photo from the ride today.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6704398793_064cf74bdc_z.jpg

I had envisioned you as being older. Who was pedaling?

nice find. You need some weight on that front rack.

I had envisioned you as being older. Who was pedaling?

That's just my comfy seat for when i'm resting :)

Hey Davey, make a video riding on the streets in Paris, and not just the top of your fender!
Some of us are stuck in Texas...

Ok will do!