I started working on this bike a bit. I am sure it's going to take a while so I will do posts along the way. I figured the biggest issue would be the wheels, so I started on them first.
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barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
I loaded the rear with a bit of weight and I could see the spokes were REALLY loose and flexy. I sanded one spoke down a bit and could see considerable rust damage. I used brass brush and removed enough crust to see the spoke nipples were brass and they had two wrench flats, close to the wooden rim. It was a standard size (blue)
I rotated the spoke nipple about 1/4 turn and the spoke broke. I already had doubts that the spokes would work. I had read the wood wheel bikes had unusual spokes and nipples.
The fragile spoke looked quite familiar.
Going back about a year ago I happened upon a small Raleigh dealer in my travels. The gentleman that ran the store told me they had been a dealer for seventy five years. I mentioned my old Raleighs and the topic eventually came to what parts might be found in the back rooms of that old building. I wasn't allowed to look around but the owner, whithin a few moments produced a mild crate of NOS goodness.
The contents of the box included the grips found on my 1965 Rudge deluxe, the ruby Benotto plastic bar tape on my Carlton Corsair, some SA shift cables and a couple boxes of spokes.
IMG_4065 by
barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
14 007 by
barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
The spokes are very old. Torrington Excelsior and in very thin gauges. Also included are several jars of nipples. I actually listed the spokes for sale here. Fortunately they drew little interest.
14 005 by
barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
I went back the box and produced a sample to compare to the broken 112 year old spoke. Bingo.
It was a perfect match. Even the threads matched.
15 007 by
barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
It took me a while to get the cog off. I made a chain whip from a piece of industrial chain I had ( I seems that size is still quite popular, now 1/2" pitch) I noticed a set of spanner holes and using both tools, I pushed it around a bit but got scared when the wheel started flexing. I got some good advice from a fellow enthusiast and tried the lock ring as a left-hand thread. It worked after machining a set of blocks to properly grab the hub shell to remove the load from the rim.
14 003 by
barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
The bearing seal said "Nelson manufacturing pat. 1900". Some research revealed then produced a hub called the "special" starting about that time. I has a threaded bearing cover on the non-drive side as well as a neat oil-hole cover for hug lubing.
15 004 by
barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
Notice second set of slightly smaller threads
15 005 by
barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
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barnstormerbikes, on Flickr
Ill keep you posted!