DakotaInTheSky

Hello All,

Found my latest project at the bike shop last week. It's a rare Raleigh Clubman.

The price was too good to pass up, especially since I've never even seen one before and might never again.

Here's what I know so far:

1950 Raleigh Clubman
3 speed Sturmey Archer hub
former owner added an aftermarket 9 speed conversion (super cool!)
front Dyno hub
during it's lifetime, the spokes were replaced.
Has possibly incorrect 26" Schwinn wheels. Catalog says it should be 27x1 1/4" wheels. Could have used 26" for the USA market. Or post war shortages could have made Raleigh use these. The bike shop owner who was a Raleigh and Schwinn dealer said that that Raleigh worked with Schwinn on a few models.

fgjd by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

cvhkjdft by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

bm by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

bghil by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

4 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

DakotaInTheSky

Original details:
22" frame
Reynolds 531 tubing
Second in price to the Record Ace
chrome rear triangle and fork tips
fancy cut away lugs
fancy stem
aluminum seat post
Hiduminium GB Sports brakes
Frame version was in production for 2 years, 1950 and 1951

Plans include:
This week the bike shop will replace the brakes, shifter and brake cables, and grease the bearings.
Next week, after the 27" 40/36 hole rims come in, the shop will relace the rear hub and add new tubes and tires. I'll find a spare seat to add. I just want to get it road worthy as soon as I can.

For the time being, this will be a steampunk build, so I will keep the rust. No frame mods allowed since it's a rare bird. I'll add a bolt on custom made side car with a wicker chair (or wicker baby bassinet) and possible cycle bully electric wheel. Rusty fenders from an old Sports, wingnuts, and a lot of brass accents. In a few years, I'll completely restore it to it's former glory.

Thank you for looking - Rob

2 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

glkg by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

gxhfg by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

hiojp by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

ihnjok by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

DakotaInTheSky

ilyuh by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

image by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

image4 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

iug by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

oiuh by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

rhdh by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

yuilgg by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Michael Angelo 

Very Rare bike

BigChief 

Wow, spectacular bike. That seatpost looks pretty scary. Wicker chair? Hmmmm...not buyin that one. Would love to see pics of the restoration as it comes along.

nlerner

Wow, that's a survivor! And some funky mods. Both the front and rear hubs should have date codes so that you can find out how close they are to 1950/51. I've owned Clubman from both of those years, and wheels were 27" Dunlop Special Lightweight rims, 40/32 drilling.

DakotaInTheSky

Thanks! The rear said 1950. I didn't think to look at the front hub. I'll take a look the next time I stop by the shop.

Thank you Gents. How so about the seat post? Because it's aluminum? Here are some examples of wicker side cars:

Triumph_model_h_motorcycle_of_around_1914_arp by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

1 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

DakotaInTheSky

Here's the frame of the side car. Seems fairly simple and I can take it off and add it to my DL1 to make it more period correct when ever I want
01-copya by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Folded up
raleigh_sidecar_01 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

DakotaInTheSky

After the Great Depression, these were used as utility vehicles for work. Then on the weekends, the trunk was replaced for the kids. The ultimate Sport Utility vehicle
sidecar_11-copy by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Gamages_sidecar_1 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Or a trailer is another option. Better handling with than the side car, but a motor wheel would be more difficult
1910s_Rover_50 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Thanks for looking - Rob

3speedslow

That Clubman, smashing, bangers and spiffy.

I would take take that thing all the way down, clean de rust, grease and scout out period correct parts then build it back up.

That is a history bike.

DakotaInTheSky

Here's one with a motorwheel and wicker side car.
Briggs_Stratton_Motor_Wheel,_Musée_de_la_Moto_et_du_Vélo,_Amneville,_France,_pic-002 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

DakotaInTheSky

Thank you! I couldn't believe I actually found one. It will stay in the family. Pretty much everything there is correct and present. Only thing missing and to look for are the Dunlop 27x1 1/4 40/32 rims and Continental hubs. I think the hubs can be found on 60s Raleigh higher end road bikes. The 9 speed conversion can go on another rusty Raleigh roadster if I come across one

multivac

those decals look so awesome on the rusty background! though i have to admit as soon as i saw it, i thought sandblasting that frame would be the most satisfying thing in the world. awesome looking bike! cleaned up components on the rusty frame would look nice too. have fun with it

dweenk

Did you clean the stem already as a test of how it may finish - it looks pristine? Very good find.

Post #11 looks like a leaky bathtub or a coffin for someone of small stature.

nlerner

Fwiw, that's not the original stem, which would not have a fixing bolt, but would be clamped by a headset clip:

DakotaInTheSky

Thought it could have been a replacement. It's not aluminum, so it could not look that good if original. Odd how only that part was replaced and other handle bar parts not replaced or at least cleaned up.

Thank you for the catch NLerner. I doubt I would have seen that.

DakotaInTheSky

How does yours ride?

nlerner

I sold it off a few years ago, and then last year sold off a 1951 Clubman, which was pretty much identical (though much more roughly finished). Both rode pretty well; I didn't put a lot of miles on them (which is why I sold them off), but they definitely had cool appeal. I still have a 1949 Raleigh Clubman and have ridden that quite a bit. It's not exactly a lightweight, but a very comfortable ride and can handle all sorts of terrain.

1950:


1951:


1949:

rhm

What are the existing rims? By my count, the rear wheel has 40 spokes and the front has 32. Those are not wheels for the American market. All wheels made for the American market had 36 spokes. Though as you have noticed, the Raleigh brochures specify 27" wheels for later model Clubman bikes, the earlier ones had EA1 rims, that is 26 x 1 1/4, an obsolete size that coincidentally fits Schwinn tires.

So I would read the fine print on the rims. If they are Dunlop Special Lightweight, they are probably the original rims. If they are Dunlop garden variety, which are a little wider and a little heavier, then perhaps these are replacement wheels from another bike such as a Lenton Sports.

Also, what model rear hub do you have?

USAZorro

Very excellent and cool find. I think that most of that will clean up nicely. I have no hope for the saddle. Probably will end up replacing handlebars and light. Crank will depend on whether you want chrome or not.

Eager to see the journey this one takes.

fwiw - I have some era-appropriate, country-appropriate, never used grips in my parts box that you're welcome to have if they would help advance the project.

Coop500

That is a cool bike, but you definitely have your work cut out for you on that one .

DakotaInTheSky

I don't know how to identify the hub, but it's a 1950 Sturmy Archer. When I clean the rust off, I'll photograph it.

I'll polish the front rim to see if it's a Dunlop Lightweight. The wheels fit Schwinn sized 26" tires and are 32/40.

Like you said, they could be from a Lenton, or were carry overs from a 1949.

rhm

The hub options are:

AW (three speed, wide range)
AG (three speed, wide range, with a generator)
AM (three speed, medium range)
AC (three speed, close range)
FW (four speed, wide range)
FG (four speed, wide range, with a generator)
FM (four speed, medium range)
FC (it's obvious by now, right?)


You'll doubtless see one of those markings when you clean it up.

DakotaInTheSky

Rear hub is an AW 1950. You are correct, they are 32/40s

The wheels are in fact Dunlop EA1 26 x 1 1/4 rims. I think they were from the factory and used due to post war shortages. Factory stock although not catalog correct
olmo 029 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr
The front hub says 508 which I'm assuming it was made in August of 1950
olmo 031 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

DakotaInTheSky

The brake cables needed stoppers on both ends. The bike shop didn't know if they could find it, so I had to add these stoppers after cutting them down on a lathe
1 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

image1 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Until I find the correct fenders, the rusty Sports units will do. Had to make new bracket adapters from aluminum strip
olmo 040 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

olmo 041 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Front
olmo 043 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Rear
olmo 034 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Fenders attached
olmo 035 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

Added an old Brooks seat from a Raleigh Sports. Front leather broke after a few days of riding, errr!
olmo 048 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr

All ridable now but I have to repair the leather seat. New tires, tubes, and brake pads. Bike shop did the cables. Lots of fun to ride and so much character. I'm thinking about keeping it rieable and not even doing a restoration
olmo 044 by dakota_in_the_sky, on Flickr