Winter Project Finished
 

Actually one of three Winter Projects. The next will be done in two weeks and the last will probably be a Spring finish.

1950 MacLean

I bought this nearly two years ago and it had been thrown together from a frame for display and eventual sale. It had no correct parts on it at all.
This will be in a 20 mile per day rotation come Spring so it needs to be comfortably ridable for me and period correct as possible. All my pre 60s bikes are mostly period correct sans consumables.
It ain't easy, or cheap.
- Full 531DB 24.5" Frame & Fork
- Constrictor Asp 597 rims, BH Racelite Hubs
- Cyclo Mk7 4 speed Drive line
- GB Courier Calipers & Levers
- Lamps are battery LED converted

As it sits it only weighs 28lbs. Without any accessories it's a svelt 24lbs. Sweet and nearly rides itself.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ec934c454b.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...693306a454.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6ee15a48c6.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...225e37caaf.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ae00f6595c.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...043fb8fbb1.jpg

Wow is that beautiful.

Soooo nice!

Great job! I really like the choices you made.

Very nice. Why no Brooks saddle? I have a 50s era Claud Butler I need to build up one of these days. It will be a sympathetic restoration rather than a completely period correct one.

Can I take it out for a ride?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...192dfb7be5.jpg

NO! Its Mine!

Great work... Bike is fantastic...

I tried a few different Brooks on there but I'm old now and can't ride in the drops. I've got to ride upright and sitting 80% of the time. I may get a new reissue B72 and try but I haven't run into a vintage 72 in good enough condition so far.
The saddle on it now is very nice and like sitting on a bench. It's a Selle Royale Scientia R3. Fairly light and very comfortable.

Well if I ever get that Claud Butler done, we'll have to do a bike ride in Des Moines on British bikes from the 50s. . . .

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lovely machine and so beautifully done

is the clip style headset a CL product to go with the chainset?
from what can be seen in photos it appears to bear no marking which makes me suspect Brampton

did it come with the frame or did you need to seek it?

believe the Gerald Burgess arrestor set may be one of the Coureur models rather than Courier

VB give two variation of Coureur sidepull said to have launched nineteen fifty

https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...117&AbsPos=246

https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...117&AbsPos=247

https://velobase.com/CompImages/Brak...ECC1FCB91.jpeg
https://velobase.com/CompImages/Brak...EF193D5A4.jpeg

[images courtesy of VB]

surprised not to see the clear cable casing with white fabric liner employed by Mr. Burgess

is it the case that no replica has been produced?

is dual binder stem a Reynolds?

what drive chain did you select; was thinking that a Renold with beveled plates may have been OEM

thanks again for sharing this terrific project


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I've got quite a few parts scattered around AND I am a pro volunteer at the DSM bicycle collective, working there a few days a week. A lot of bikes come in there that have great parts on them.
A Witcomb and a Dawes came in just last week, as well as an Italian.... G...something, and a couple Miyatas. Always interesting even if 1/2 are junkers.
Let me know if you need stuff, I've got he "in" for fairly cheap vintage parts.

Well first off.... nobody calls him Gerald but his Mum.
Second, yeah, those are them, spelled British sideways.
The clip is unmarked and came with the Bike. Like many, it was cracked at the base so Ive modified the action and retain it for looks. I actually have a GB HIDUMINIUM Girder clip stem I may try to use later on. Right now the Reynolds twin bolt is happy in the breeze.
The chain is a SRAM 1/8". The entire driveline is 1/8" and clunks in and out of gear smartly.
:thumb:

Chater Lea?
 

Is the whole crankset CL or just the rings?

No, the Chain ring is the only thing on the bike CL. 42t.
The crank is a Williams 1200 with Bikesmith modified cotters. BB is a TDC "lightweight."
One of the trickest parts on the bike are the pedals. They are amazingly light. Actually rival lightweight pedals of today at 130g each. They have hollow spindles.

Great job!