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4 Speed 1940 Raleigh?

Old 08-31-10, 10:53 AM
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4 Speed 1940 Raleigh?

Hi there, I am thinking of buying a Raleigh bike and I was just wondering if anyone had any views on how much I should be paying for it, and how much I shouldn't be.

The bike is from the 1940s, and has, what I would call probably incorrectly, clamp brakes, with the cables. It has 26" wheels and a 21" frame. It has both mudguards but no chain guard. The bike is painted black and is fitted with a 4 speed Sturmey Archer Dyno Hub. I have been told that the 4 speed Sturmey Archer dynohub is quite rare and valuable but it is not hooked up completely, missing the indicator.

The bike could cost me a bit to get hold of so I was just wondering if it would be worth it

Thanks very much for any help !
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Old 08-31-10, 11:42 AM
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Hey Joe,

I didn't mean to suggest the Dyno-Four is particularly valuable; a few months ago I got one on ebay for 41 pounds sterling. That is, just a hub, dated 1950, complete with the correct indicator.

Can you tell us what model this Raleigh is? Are the mudguards steel, or plastic? Are the wheels 26 x 1 3/8 or 26 x 1 1/4?

Rudi
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Old 08-31-10, 11:48 AM
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Ah ok sorry RHM, I get what you mean now ! I don't know the Raleigh model I'm afraid nor whether the wheels are 26 x 1 3/8 or 26 x 1 1/4, but the mudguards are definatley steel. Its on ebay though. I'll give you a link maybe the photo can give away some details I am unaware of ! (btw it is currently quite cheap but getting a train to London can be quite pricey from where I am, hence the caution in buying it, should it start to get more expensive.)

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...#ht_500wt_1154
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Old 08-31-10, 06:47 PM
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The advert lists "alloy wheels". That would be pretty unusual, I am pretty sure it wasn't till many years later that aluminum wheels were available on Raleigh bikes. '40's Raleigh bikes are pretty rare and perhaps some aluminum rims were made as an alternate directly after the war. I am only guessing however.
Raleigh was selling bikes with cable brakes much earlier that '40 and they are likely original. In fact, the brake cables may be the most difficult part to replace as they had a slug on both ends and can't easily be dismantled at that point in time.

There are many people here who know a lot more about these old Raleigh bikes on this forum than I do. The guy who runs the first site link I posted would be one of them.

Make some effort for better pics. Get numbers off the rear hub and frame (may be two locations on frame) Check websites https://www.jaysmarine.com/TH_ourcollection.html

and https://www.sheldonbrown.com/raleigh.html


In my local area I should find this bike at between $30.00 and $100.00 US. and would buy it if I was reasonably sure that the parts shown are original. In a city it might bring a bit more. The saddle being missing and that is a sad and would be nice to find in serviceable condition.

I am looking forward to some better informed responses than mine.
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Old 09-01-10, 12:56 AM
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Hi ftwelder, thanks very much for your reply. I hadn't noticed that comment on the alloy wheels on the website, although now you mention it it does seem a bit strange doesn't it. I agree that it is very unlikely that Raleigh was using alloys for its wheels at this point due to its claims of being "the all steel bicycle". The bike also reads as being part restored, so perhaps these are new parts. On the other hand maybe the seller sees shiny metal wheels as being alloy, without knowing they are steel. Then again if they were steel they would likely be partially rusted by now, surely. Seems odd I agree!
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Old 09-01-10, 01:00 AM
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I have just found a source.......wikipedia, which claims that alloys although being introduced on higher models from around the 1930s only began to be used consistently as a material in bicycle rims from the 1980s. This bike would be 40 years ahead of its time!
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Old 09-01-10, 04:16 AM
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perhaps alloy could mean stainless. I have a '47 with stainless rims. Those in the pic look painted.
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Old 09-01-10, 08:13 AM
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Yeah, "alloy" rims were not original to that bike. They certainly did exist in the the 40's, but were pretty exotic. Whether it has them now, we can only speculate. Based on the handlebar shape and steel mudguards, I assume it's a Sports model. And seeing no hint of any decals, I suspect it's been repainted. If the frame and mudguards have been repainted, it wouldn't surprise me if someone painted the rims as well -- rattlecan chrome looks like aluminum.

Joe, it looks like a nice bike but it's not very special. There certainly are Raleighs of this period that I would pay a hundred pounds for, but this doesn't appear to be one of them. I wouldn't bid more than the value of the hub, which would be... oh, somewhere around what I paid for mine, but taking into account that this one may be missing the indicator.
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Old 09-01-10, 03:38 PM
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Thanks very much for your post RHM, that's really interesting about it being a Sports model, and yeah I thought it looked pretty well painted for it to be original. You're right then this isn't too special a bike but I am rather fond of its long and low design! I will however stick to that rough price guide especially bearing in mind the missing indicator!
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Old 09-02-10, 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Joey H
Thanks very much for your post RHM, that's really interesting about it being a Sports model, and yeah I thought it looked pretty well painted for it to be original. You're right then this isn't too special a bike but I am rather fond of its long and low design! I will however stick to that rough price guide especially bearing in mind the missing indicator!
Okay, I like your attitude. Let us know how the story ends!
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Old 09-03-10, 03:55 AM
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Well the auction ended victoriously ! I got the bike for a fairly reasonable £31 ! Now all that's left is to get hold of it and work out what needs doing! Should be getting it on Tuesday, hopefully everything's as described!
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