A little help with a BSA?
 

I was down at my uni boatshed today and I dug out and old ladies BSA (not a BSA for old ladies!)
to my shame I was mucking about on it with the tyres completely flat (I may even have done a bunny hop)
Then I realised that its was actually running pretty well and got to thinking that I could maybe restore it.

Anyway while my camera frantically charges up where should I look for dating/working out what it actually is?

what I can tell you is this.

*It is a single speed
*It has a lycett saddle which is huge with hundreds of springs and was covered in what looks like upholstery felt then and imitation leather (vinyl?) the padding and outer casing have since seperated from the carcass. It's incedibly comfy!
*It was dark red but has been sprayed and the crown of the fork is chrome with a sort of grill cut out of it at the sides plus an extra little chrome detail riveted underneith it.
*The mudgaurds(fenders) were chrome and look pretty fancy with a sort of fin thing going on at the front.
*There is no accomodation for pannier racks.
*there is a tiny little sprung cover for bottom bracket lube just behind the chain ring.

I don't think I own anything else completely made in england as every component gleefully informs me!


when I get some pictures I'll post them if anyone is interested.

let's see the pics!

:D

you'll have to wait for tomorrow its late!

Okay I got them here she is a bit tired and has definately seen better days!
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/CIMG5887.jpg

This is the detail on the fork crown
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/CIMG5890.jpg

the saddle
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/CIMG5895.jpg
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/CIMG5896.jpg

coolest chain wheel in the world?
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/CIMG5897.jpg

And the front mudguard
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/j...s/CIMG5888.jpg

another quick update.

I noticed a vague impression on the bottom bracket shell and after scraping through the caked up paint I think it reads GB on the crank side and 238 on the non crank side but its not very clear. (I think its cast)

EDIT I just found a hand stamped number on the dropout L25546 and I also noticed that there is a half link in the chain which I thought was a bit weird on horizontal drop outs.

anyone?

It's not majorly important I'll make it rideable but I was just curious.

looks like a cool old lady.

she will be! if I can find a replacement rim for the front :(

The fork crown should be chrome under the paint and BSAs have a chevron, along with the BSA chain-wheel.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...enChevrons.jpg

Similar to this one.
Yours may be worth 'saving':)

Also the decoration below the chevrons indicates an older machine than mine pictured.
You have a mattress saddle, very comfortable and easily available on ebay for a modest price.

excellent thanks!

but how old is yours?

the badge on mine is all chrome as far as i can make out.

I stripped it all down tonight which was incredibly easy once I twigged that it was a stem with what I'd describe as a spreader bolt and it was seized in!

what brake pads should I go for steel wheels and does anybody have any suggestions on what to do about heavily rusted chrome handlbars and slightly less serious yet still pretty rusty chrome everywhere else (except fork crown)

cheers

josh

The one pictured above is 1967, I think, and has the head-badge from the same period.
The previous BSA badge was made from alloy, as here on a 1935 sports/tourer.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...picsBSA008.jpg
Different fork crowns on this, your type came later, and is probably post war, but not long after.
Your BSA pedals, for example, were early 50s I think.
Also check the profile of your front mudguard against yours.
They look very similar.

Just the pedals and the chain-wheel would probably fetch £55/60 here in UK.
So you got something interesting there.

Bars on yours are not original I think, so if they are heavily rusted find a pair on ebay.
The Raleighs of the time used the same bars so they are plentiful.
Looks like yours has the original mudguards/fenders painted silver.
Brakes also.
You will easily find a front wheel and then all you need to do is give it a repaint, protect the badge, and you will have a cool period bike.
That's what I'd do anyway:)

well mine is definately a chrome badge weird thing is I think it must be bonded to the frame as there is no rivets or screws holding it in! Oh and the seat stays are bullet shaped at the top I can't make out if either of yours are like that.

what sort of bars would be original?

a fifties bike eh? that'll be twice my age then! :lol:

Definitely weird about the bonded on badge and chrome come to that.
I've never seen a BSA chromed badge, but that that don't mean they don't exist.

The bars on a 1957 one are like these on another BSA.
These are plentiful and cheap, but may be later than your machine.
Me, I'd fit a pair them and then, if you find out the particular model you have, you can then fit the correct type.
The correct type will probably be like these Raleighs of the period:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroral...and/index.html
The Sports Roadster types.

It's cool to have a bicycle twice your age.
Twice my age is Penny farthing territory:)

Oops, I forgot to add the link to the bars...
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g5...g/BSALadys.jpg

Its pretty cool having something made entirely in britain by a british company and a bit sad it has to be twice my age to be such. :)

I'll try and find some handlbars and naturally i'll have to try and find a pump to fit the braise ons I'm sure I have a pump off a raleigh my dad had and got stolen!