h1pp1

Hi, Im new here. I bought a bike from the flea market and cant find anything about it. I hoped someone on here might be able to help?
Its a ladies bike with Sturmey Archer 3 speed gear and lights. I assume its 1960s. I had a 1955 Elswick Hopper that it reminds me of in colouring.
It is racing green and has handpainted gold detailing and a white arrow style emblem, along with a crest on the front and back that says "Prince of the road made in Birmingham". It has an unusual frame as it has 2 bars from the handle bars post, to the seat post. There is a rather large rack for the bag, it came with a white bag. I cant find any serial numbers on it except at the bottom of the seat post there is a OS 4/5 . There is a chrome "tip" to the front mudguard.
Its a lovely little bike, I would like to restore it for my own use. It is missing a pedal unfortunately and the tyres need replacing. I would like to know the make and year. Forgive me I know barely nothing about bike terminoligy, but I do love them!
If you can tell me anything about it, or if any specific photos would help I would be very grateful.
The wheels are about 26" and the handle bars and seat are raised really high, making it out of proportion in the pic, but they are jammed.

Russcoles11

OMG that it truely a thing of beauty!
The Geometry is reminiscent of a Royal Enfield Revelation but its not one of those https://www.hadland.me.uk/revelation/revelation.htm
Despite spending the last 2 hours searching the web, I still have no idea what it is. Is that a Sturmey Archer hub? If it is it may have a date on it.
Also what are the numbers on the tyre? Might give a clue to wheel size which I'm guessing will be either 500A or 20"x???

Russcoles11

It may help to post in Classic and Vintage, the UK part of this forum doesn't get many visits.
The Veteran Cycle club may be able to help https://www.v-cc.org.uk/ and their web site has links that you may find useful during the restoration.
Also consider looking at raleightwenty.webs.com if you want to find other people interested in vintage small wheelers.

Sixty Fiver

Hey Russ... thank for the link to the thread.

i am as baffled as anyone but what a sweet bike that is... the hub shell should have a date code with a month / year.

h1pp1

Thanks for the replies, it is a lovely bike.
It is a Sturmey archer, Ill investigate it and the tyres. I hope theres something on it, Ive also spent days on the web and cant even find any leads! But thanks for taking the time to look. it does look like the revelation, its very similar except the split frame.

Russcoles11

Looks like there may have been a smaller version too:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vintage-bi...d=272960579708

Russcoles11

Ok so Thanks to the guys at raleightwenty.webs.com we have identified the smaller one as being a Viking Scamp
https://www.hadland.me.uk/viking/viking.htm
It would seem therefore that your bike is a 20" wheeled version. This tallies with it being made in Birmingham.

h1pp1

Wow thank you! Thats really interesting. Its nice to know theres not many about, as I am rather eccentric anyway!
Mine must be pre motorised, as it doesnt have the throttle handgrips, as it was saying those after were made with the same parts. Its lovely to know some history on it, I dont know how you found it, but I really appreciate your time and effort
I shall ride it with pride now! Thank you so much!