> I wonder if I can find a new bulb, and what kind of batteries it takes? (Also: what a crusty tire!

Lamp made by Pifco? My guess is it takes one of the two-cell units with a front contact that touches the bulb and another on top for the switch. Popular for bike lights in the UK in the '60s and early '70s, but I have not seen one since. It does not even appear in Wikipedia's list of cell types, so I can not give a better identification. 2.5 V bulb and rather dim.

It seems stylish enough to revive, so I would put in a holder for 3AAs and a LED replacement bulb. It should be a lot brighter than the originally.

Nice finds - bike and lamp!

Old Raleigh Lamp...
 

I think it is an Elite lamp. Opened it up and found two very leaky D cell batteries, but it looks like I can clean up the contacts....I hope.


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2276eae8d0.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0586c8a6df.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...bbb0787643.jpg

There's a spare bulb inside at the bottom of the case. Try that bulb, Good Luck!

Performance branded Columbus SL fixer. cleaned up pretty good with a set of Mavic ceramic wheels I had lying around. Mix of components. Campy headset and bb, 83 NR derailleur and shifters, Dura-Ace brakes, and some ugly 105.

Haven’t had a true vintage racer in a while. Feels great. Maybe I’ll start a thread for the resto.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d03015e38.jpeg

:thumb: on the build thread.

Just saw the head badge on the Gran Sport. Not an early model. Those were a year or two? anniversary thing late 60’s or early 70’s.

Crank was made by Nicklin(N) on the backside arm. Campy GS derailleurs were a good deal back then. History of them at Disraeli gears.

Beautiful machine!

head badge
 

Hmm... there is what looks like an oiling port on the BB shell, and the head badge does look like the rainbow-heron version. Interesting mystery as to whether this bike is early 60's or late?


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...015ed1c983.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...6763ce9b16.jpg

A friend picked up a pair of freebie mb's, Marin Pine Mountain and a Rockhopper for me. Raleigh Sport came for a $40 donation to a local jazz workshop.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9e9080ec4e.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...996729f716.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...426c1c95b0.jpg

Just saw the plastic oil port cover, later 60’s but a nice touch to bring it above their other brands. Love the blue colour.

^^^^^ I'm working on a Schwinn 3spd rehab. The SA IGH is and AW with a 61 engraved/stamped on the hub shell. It has a plastic oil port cover. Still pliable too. Long lasting.

^^^ Looks like the metal port was replaced when it got buggered. Best thing SA did for their hubs was bring the plastic port in, late 60’s I believe.

This looks fantastic!

What fenders are these?

Not much of a bike but still worth saving low end Mongoose 29er from scrap metal bin. didn't do much on this one pumped up the tires washed it and got it working. This one has to be one of the worst designed mass produced bikes I have ever worked on. It's really basic low end cruiser at hart so basic hard frame with 7 speed thumbie and simple liner pull brakes. common 26 wheels and it would fine, yet they put crappy full suspension on it, silly disc brakes, went with 29 wheels and horrible Sram 8x3 speed triggers. Road it around the block decided it sucks but still a basic working bike so road it to the thrift store took just one pic at the thrift store left it hoping to forget I ever saw this bike soon.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...19c420a5bf.jpg

Nicely done brother. Someone will enjoy the freedom of rolling on some wheels. Cheers!

At our LBS we've seen many of these and their cousins this year. Dug out from who knows where, many in terrible condition. They have to be about the heaviest bikes we deal with. When they come in for service they're hung on hooks in the ceiling. We get them down, do what can be done and hang them back up. Pretty challenging for this old fart to hoist a BSO like that up off or back onto the hook. Seems to be the case for most of us in the shop. The depressed, pitiable groan that always comes out is now named "the Mongoose Moan". Everyone agrees.

I refurbed a pair of 26" MTB BSO's last year, both had "suspension". everything about those bikes screamed "crap!". And at present moment I have a quintet of 26" wheeled BSO's in the back yard which I'm utterly dreading to work on. Not a one of them is likely over fifteen years old, but from the way the hopelessly low quality parts and components on all of them have rusted you'd swear they must have been made in the 1970's and sat outdoors for two decades. Still would be a waste to not refurb and get them into the hands of new owners. Yes they look like crap, but rust and tire replacements aside there's no reason someone couldn't get some enjoyment out of riding them. I have to remind myself they're essentially children's/teenagers bikes and the next owners of them will grow out of them and move onto hopefully better bikes.

The guy at the dump had this waiting for me when I showed up yesterday.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...69bc8f8083.jpg

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That seat terrifies me

Me too. The wife saw that, and said that she'd like to try it, but I discouraged her. There's no real way to put those saddles actually between your legs, so not as much balance-control available. FWIW, my Missus has been experiencing really good luck with SQ Labs saddles.

What? It's only a little melted. :D

Finally got it back out of the garage when it wasn't raining and took some pics. They're up over on the 3 Speed thread. Mine is pretty tragic looking currently, though it'll definitely improve once I bother to put any work into it. So that just makes... 4 bikes that I need to do a bunch of work on, but this one is the worst. And the lowest on the list probably.

Pump up the tires ad just needed stuff likely nothing put a none suspension regular post on and basic seat the bike and you have a decent bike..

Hm... The head tube just looks massive imo.

Finally got around to fixing this up!

(Sorry for low-quality night-time pics.)
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...660239963f.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2ae789cd28.jpg

Took it out for a test ride tonight and it rides like a dream. Now just to trim trim the cables and send it off to its new home. Can't wait for the next one!

Possibly, but I've never suffered from head tube envy. :roflmao2: