I never fail to be amazed when I read about the abuse the British built bicycles have endured over the decades.
Left out in the rain, no maintenance and just neglected and beat to hell.
A few drops of oil and off we go.
It really says a lot for the old English 3 speeds.
The chrome, Sturmey Archer mechanicals and frames were just superior in every way.
I guess the difference being bicycles in the U.S. were considered toys and the British built bikes were transportation for the population.