Originally Posted by
southpawboston
the green gazelle in the original post is very obviously a dutch-built "razelle" (note the red-tipped wheel and seat lugs-- instead of an "R" they display the gazelle icon). the frame is also almost identical to a raleigh sports frame, although it could be altogether different.
It does have the red-tipped Gazelle nuts you speak of, but they are
not rebadged Raleigh nuts. The dome end on Raleigh's "R" nuts were not as exaggerated as these on the Gazelle. I would assume the inclusion of these nuts was more of a recreated nod towards Raleigh by Gazelle in later years of production, for they are of their own unique casting.
That frame isn't even close to a Raleigh Sports (or DL-1, for that matter). Lugs differ from both the pre and post TI-era design, and are unusually thicker. Geometry is closer to 65 degrees of the DL-1 designs - rather then the 70 degree of the Sports - and the rear seat stays are bolt-on, as on the DL-1.
There is nothing on this machine to indicate its being built during the Raleigh era from Raleigh tooling.
Originally Posted by
southpawboston
either way, this bike was produced by a company owned by raleigh, and the raleigh influence is nonetheless quite strong.
A company
once owned by Raleigh. The build of this machine shares no commonalities with those built by Raleigh - the Sturmey hub and shifter being the only (obvious) exception.
Raleigh influence means little, if anything, in regards to design. Schwinn had been producing 3-speed upright-bar roadsters here in the States since the 1920s. Other smaller competitors in England and Europe were producing similar bikes during the same era.
The only reason the 3-speed city bike is sometimes - quite incorrectly - referred to as "the Raleigh look" is because of Raleigh's claim to fame as the world's largest bicycle manufacturer during their heyday. Folks blind their eyes to the fact that there was an era when Raleigh and everybody else in Europe were producing virtually the same design.
-Kurt