robby429

I picked up this track bike a while back and posted some pics in the track bike section. I have taken some better pictures to post. I was wondering if anybody had a clue as to what this bike might be worth and if I should get it restored and re-chromed or leave it as is. It has Brampton stamped on the bottom of the bike and other than that there are no serial numbers. I might take the fork off to see if that says anything but have not gotten around to it yet. The seat is a persons leather saddle, and the crank arms say made in england. I cannot find any other markings on this bike.

Any info on value, year and brand would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

robby429

robby429

randyjawa 

I am pretty good at estimating value of vintage bicycles until they fall into the category that the OP's does. That old bicycle might be worth anything, to a collector, from $500 to $5000 (pretty big window, I know, but that estimation is as close as I can come).

I am interested to see what others have to say about this.

FastJake

It's really cool but it's soooooo rough. As a buyer I would be very leery how many of those parts are salvageable, or even if the frame is sound. I have no idea what it's worth, but I would not try selling it in the condition pictured.

KonAaron Snake 

This is so rough that, as cool as it could be, I'd say no real value as it sits. Maybe $25 if Mike Wolf comes around.

triathloner

Wow, don't know how much it's worth, but that would make a great restore project. I'd be interested if you came up with a price.

Scooper

What I find interesting is the lack of seat stay caps reminiscent of early Emil Wastyn frames, and the fillet brazed top tube and down tube to head tube joins combined with seat lug and lugged BB shell. The oil port on the BB shell, cottered cranks, skiptooth chainring, short stem extension, etc., lead me to believe it's 20s or 30s vintage.

I'd be interested in knowing the BB threading, whether the tubing is metric or imperial, and the seatpost diameter. I don't see any head badge mounting holes; are they present?

It's a neat project.

robby429

There are no headtube holes present for a badge. I can try and get some measurments of the seat tube and take a look at the bottom bracket too.

wayonbird

yeah, good idea,I can try and get some measurments of the seat tube and take a look at the bottom bracket too.

SteveSGP

You want to find out what it's worth? Put it up on E-bay and let it fly.

rhm

I don't know what it is, or what it's worth, but I don't think there's anyone on this forum who wouldn't give you all the money in his wallet for it if you gave them a chance. I tend to agree with Randy on the orders of magnitude. It's definitely worth somewhere in the three to four figure range. How's that for precise!

A few other remarks....

Do I count 40 spokes front and rear? That is very unusual (I've never seen it before) and suggests (to me) a pretty early bike (earlier than the ones I've looked at).

Any chance the crank says WILLIAMS on it, near the spindle? If so, Williams cranks usually have a date code on the back, which you can look up. Even if the crank arms are not Williams, the chain ring may be. So take a look; the code looks like a dagger with E B W through the top and another letter or two lower down. A=1912/3, B=1914, and so on. More information here and here.

Starting I don't know when, Persons saddles have a number stamped under the cantle plate, the C-shaped stamped steel thing at the back. These numbers look like dates (1940, for example) and I assume that's what they are. Take a peek!

Other than that, I'd suggest you start a thread in the main C&V forum, don't ask what it's worth, but ask for opinions and whatever. The bike looks to me to be in pretty good condition, but it's the kind of thing that you should not restore. Don't rechrome anything. Don't even clean it. If you want to sell it, let the buyer restore it. The guy who buys it, whoever he is, wants to restore it himself. If you do anything to it, he will wish you hadn't. This bike is "barn fresh" so keep it that way. On the other hand, if you want it for yourself, then have at it. Looks like a fun project to me!

Speaking of chrome, chrome didn't become common until... well, I don't know when, but relatively late. 1930's I guess. The peeling chrome on your handlebars may tell you something about the date. Something may be stamped on the handlebar at one end (usually the left end). Torrington? Made in England? Anything?

robby429

Thanks for the info. I will take a look and see if i can find any more marks anywhere. I haven't decided what I want to do yet. I think it would be really great restored, but wouldn't know where to begin, or if I leave it as is how I should clean it up. I do like the old patina and it looks pretty nice hanging up at it is. I did post in the track bike section and didn't get a great response, maybe I will try and post some better pictures. It would be really neat to figure out its origin and year its from.

Thanks again!

FastJake

Just noticed you are from WI. If you come up with a price feel free to PM me. If nothing else, it would be cool just to see the thing in person if you're not too far away.

TugaDude

There is a man in Kansas City who is expert with vintage Track bikes. He has dozens of them. He might be able to help. I could contact him if you wish. Let me know.

robby429

Yeah that would be great. The more info I can find out the better!
Thanks!

robby429

ericbaker

I would personally offer about $300, I figure its worth 500-600.

Looks like a Raleigh maybe? Almost certainly 20s or 30s

robby429

I appreciate the offer, but Im going to pass. I'm thinking I might hold on to it a while, clean it up, and hang it on the wall. I personally don't see frames like this come alone everyday! Maybe I'm just falling in love...

ericbaker

Of course! Keep it and love it. that was more of an appraisal than an offer, I wouldnt bother to have that shipped. Just what I would shell out if someone put it in front of me.

ftwelder

Why do I want all these old bikes? What is wrong with me?

Here is one of mine.


29 760 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr

Scooper

Frank, you have an appreciation of history, and there's not a darn thing wrong with it.

One thing I'd like to see more of is having folks that come into possession of these rare gems spend some time measuring the frame geometry and tubing diameters, noting the components, and documenting it all for posterity. I did this for my 1940 Paramount.