Hello I would like to tell you all about a bike I rescued from the top of a scrap metal pile at my local recycling centre. I know there is a forum or sub forum for saved bikes but this is an old one. The bike is a Sunbeam make I think from 1923. There is stamped into the top of the head tube the following number 606 then letter W and then 23. The Sunbeam identity is as a result of a search on the web.
Brakes The bike is fitted with hub brakes which are operated with levers and rods. They are Sturmey Archer make. The front brake has been adapted in that there has been fitted a Philips make stirrup brake which works on the wheel rim. The rear hub brake works.
Wheels are Dunlop 26x13/8 WO,Sorry do not know at this time what the WO means. They are in poor condition.
Gears The gears are Sturmey Archer three speed hub operated. The gear lever is mounted on the down tube with the wire going down to the bottom bracket where it goes round a wheel back up the seat tube to another wheel then down to the hub. The wire from the first wheel to the hub is plastic coated.
The totally enclosed chain is to allow you to put in about ½ pints of oil so that your chain is continually soaked in oil thereby eliminating wear. I have removed a circular plate to show the chain and it really does seem in good order. The rather white foamy appearance on the chain is because I had just hosed the bike down and the water has mixed with the little oil in the casing.
There was also fitted a rear bag attached to the rear of the Lycett England seat. There are a couple of rips in the canvas but all the leather belts and buckles are in good condition. The bag was made by H W Carradice Leeds road works Nelson Lancashire.
Photographs have been taken and hopefully attached.

Help Question / Has anyone any knowledge of these bikes and in particular the way the front brake rods operated at the hub as I would really like to restore this bike if possible.

I did inflate the tyres and it is a really nice bike to ride.