mothclap

Hi,

This is a bike a friend and I pulled of a rubbish heap about a year ago. It's Triumph 'Palm Beach' with Sturmey-Archer 3-speed and a nice old Brooks saddle. The guards are pretty dinged-up and rusty, but most of the decals are still intact, including (most of) a nice embossed metal one on the front. Does anyone have any info? Are these worth anything to collectors?

Photos on my Flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mothclap/2390277875/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mothclap/2391113824/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mothclap/2390279799/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mothclap/2391111332/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mothclap/2390276767/

Thanks

Grand Bois

I don't know if I'd be willing to pay much for it, but I'd for sure bring it home if I saw it in a dumpster.

mothclap

The old girl rides way smoother than the newer ladies step-through I recently bought my girlfriend. Whoever had owned it had wrapped a piece of cloth around the Sturmey hub - when I cut the cloth off the hub was immaculate. The frame says it's made by Raleigh too.

wahoonc

Never heard of that particular model...Triumph was sucked up in 1954 (seems to be the year that a lot of the brands "disappeared")

What is the hub date?

I would clean it up and ride it.

Aaron

Chris_in_Miami

Sounds like you cut off a vintage hub polisher. That was probably worth more than the bike...

mothclap

It was vintage, but I think it was just a rag, like the sleeve of a shirt or something. It had all but fallen apart anyway.

I think I'll just keep riding it ... Thanks guys.

385xza

the Triumph Palm Beach I believe dates somewhere between 65/75 ish and is a Raliegh by another name a good machine but I would doubt it would have much value to a collector. as you say it rides better than a modern bike..... so clean her up and enjoy !

Chris_in_Miami

Yeah, I'm just teasing you

graywolf

Actually, Raleigh bought the rights to use the motorcycle name on bicycles in 1954. To the best of my knowledge there never was a Triumph bicycle before that, unlike most of the other British motorcycle companies that started out as bicycle companies. There may have been Triumph bicycles back in the early 1900's, however my bicycle history book does not mention them if there were.

By the 1950's there were hundreds of brands of mass produced English bicycles, but only three major bicycle companies producing them in Britain: BSA, Phillips, and Raleigh. They had absorbed all the rest. By the end of the '60's Raleigh had absorbed the other two, and just in time for the bike boom was absorbed itself by TI.

mothclap

It's definitely a Raleigh. I think the date on the Sturmey hub is around '63, making it around 45 years old. It's a rusty old thing but a perfect bike to ride to the pub - at least nobody's going to bother stealing it.

The seat is probably the best thing about it - the leather is beautiful and old and full of character. I should probably rub some oil into it and try and bring it back to life!

mickandrita

Hi I have been searching for a gents palm beach tourer for a long while as this was the cycle my late father cycled to work on every day for years his was blue,but as of now this is the first reference to this model I have found in fact i always believed his was made by raleigh but now having read your post I think it was proberly triumph,my father had a about a 10 mile round trip every day and never missed a days work this was before sick pay !,it was nice to see your post as I was started to think I had imagined it as my mother had no recollection of the model
cheers
Mick

MalcB

Hi guys
I realise this post is quite old now, but I've only just come across it.
My Mum & Dad bought me a brand new Triumph Palm Beach in either 1964 or 65.
To my regret I remember feeling a little disappointed, as I'd had my heart set (from the bike brochures) on a Raleigh Lancer.
Whether it was the aggresive name, the fiery red or the unusual double crossbar I'm not sure, but I've just had a look at one now and a right load of rubbish they look compared to my Palm Beach !
Just shows you sometimes Mums and Dads know what's best,even if accidently ! (God Bless 'em).

Mine had a contraption called a 'Dynohub' which as the name suggests was a Dynamo actually built into the hub of the front wheel.
This generated current constantly, but allowed to reach your front and back light by a switch under your front lamp.
This was a lot neater solution than the old dynamo as it didn't wear your rear tyre out !
The saddle was two-tone imitation leather. Blue seat (being the colour of my bike), with a white nose. Springs stretched underneath with two large at the rear.
It turned out a great little bike and served me well for a couple of years until I really got into my teenage passion of motorbikes.
I'm dead chuffed there is at least one still knocking about, atill being ridden and looked after.

Cheers
MalcB

arabrab31

Hi, I also have a Palm Beach tucked away in the garage. I had it from new in 1965 and rode it most days on an 18mile round trip to school. It's in excellent condition for its age, still having all the original transfers,etc. I have often wondered if it is worth anything but have had no luck trying to find out so I guess not. I would appreciate if any other members can clarify.

sailorbenjamin

Those are cool. Post some pics of the decals.
I usually get about $100-125 for any Raleigh 3 speed I sell, maybe $50 more if it's got a leather saddle. Mind you, I clean and grease all of the bearings and cables and adjust anything that needs adjusting.

WingManagement

I have just found one of these in a barn, have taken it to the local bike garage to have it looked at, could be a perfect weekend ride for trips to town. Good info RE the dynamo, I wondered what that was. Any idea's where I might be able to pick up handle grips, seem the only missing thing.

dharrison

The Triumph Palm Beach is a slightly lower spec'd version of the Raleigh Trent tourer, not the Raleigh Lenton that I posted last evening. The Trent had a four speed Sturmey Archer and the Palm Beach had a three speed Sturmey Archer (epicyclic hub) gear. Both good bikes and very easy riding.

dharrison

The mens version sell for around twice the price of the ladies bikes which are at 40 uk pounds on eBay uk. I never remember seeing a ladies Palm Beach bike in use in those days (1950's), perhaps the reason there are so many on eBay now.

Scipunk

Curious to see this as i have 1964 Raleigh Sport which has the same Swept Wing chain guard as these palm beaches.
Mine is also a bit of a weird one as its probably from Canada but made it's way to both Georgia and Massachusetts
Here's a shot the day i got it:
1964 Raleigh Sports 3 speed by David Ashe, on Flickr