Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

For the love of English 3 speeds...

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

For the love of English 3 speeds...

Old 10-28-16, 10:29 AM
  #11851  
Senior Member
 
Stadjer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Groningen
Posts: 1,305

Bikes: Gazelle rod brakes, Batavus compact, Peugeot hybrid

Mentioned: 83 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5649 Post(s)
Liked 926 Times in 707 Posts
Originally Posted by browngw
While enjoying a brew at our local pub last Thursday,an older friend came in, sat down and asked me if I owned a three speed. Seemed like an odd question seeing he had seen me riding my DL1 the week before. He reached in his pocket and pulled out a shiny new shifter and cable end and offered it to me. He recalled picking it up in the late eighties early nineties in Arizona at a bike shop and never ended up putting it on a bike. It says "made in england" but I dont recall that faceplate design. Any ideas on year?
Pretty sure that's late 70's, but I've really no idea when it went out of production. It wouldn't surprise me if this design lasted well into the 90's, because I can only remember one more modern design, and that's from the 00's.
Stadjer is offline  
Old 10-28-16, 03:24 PM
  #11852  
Senior Member
 
agmetal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 1,541

Bikes: Bianchi Volpe, ANT 3-speed roadster, New Albion Privateer singlespeed, Raleigh One Way singlespeed, Raleigh Professional "retro roadie" rebuild, 198? Fuji(?) franken-5-speed, 1937 Raleigh Tourist, 1952 Raleigh Sports, 1966 Raleigh Sports step-through

Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 248 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times in 17 Posts
Originally Posted by BigChief
It would be a worthy project and custom, hand made parts are badass! You can buy small amounts of the brass stock you would need at industrial suppliers like McMaster-Carr. If you build it, post some pics. I'd love to see the project come along.
Yeah, I think I'm gonna give it a shot. The shifter(s) on eBay got bid up beyond what I'm prepared to pay at the moment. I've also found a NOS lever for a quadrant shifter, so I should only need to make the housing for it
agmetal is offline  
Old 10-28-16, 04:11 PM
  #11853  
Bikes are okay, I guess.
 
thumpism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 9,114

Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2643 Post(s)
Liked 2,423 Times in 1,543 Posts
Here's a cutie:

small 1970 - Raleigh Space Rider girls 3 speed w/ 24" wheels

small 1970 - Raleigh Space Rider girls 3 speed w/ 24" wheels - $150 (Alexandria)


condition: excellent
make / manufacturer: Raleigh
model name / number: Space Rider
size / dimensions: 24"wheel for 4'6'' rider

rare 1970 made in Nottingham England girls 24 inch Raleigh Space Rider - small 40cm lugged step through frame - Sturmey Archer 3 speed with coaster brake 24 inch wheels - like new tires - new chain - front hand brake - Brooks mattress saddle - paint is a little rough but chrome is nice - ready to ride vintage British Three speed for riders around 4'6''
thumpism is offline  
Old 10-28-16, 06:40 PM
  #11854  
Senior Member
 
BigChief's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,240
Mentioned: 103 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 98 Times in 82 Posts
Originally Posted by agmetal
Yeah, I think I'm gonna give it a shot. The shifter(s) on eBay got bid up beyond what I'm prepared to pay at the moment. I've also found a NOS lever for a quadrant shifter, so I should only need to make the housing for it
The lever is, by far, the most time consuming piece to build. Does the NOS lever have the spring already attached? If it does, you're 80% there. I think this shifter will look really nice with a new brass case.
edit: Just thinking...the case doesn't have to be a quadrant. You could make it from anything. The image of a round shifter made from an old silver half dollar popped into my mind. Nobody else in town would have a TT shifter with a profile of Ben Franklin...nobody!
__________________
Inflate Hard

Last edited by BigChief; 10-28-16 at 06:47 PM.
BigChief is offline  
Old 10-28-16, 07:42 PM
  #11855  
Senior Member
 
agmetal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 1,541

Bikes: Bianchi Volpe, ANT 3-speed roadster, New Albion Privateer singlespeed, Raleigh One Way singlespeed, Raleigh Professional "retro roadie" rebuild, 198? Fuji(?) franken-5-speed, 1937 Raleigh Tourist, 1952 Raleigh Sports, 1966 Raleigh Sports step-through

Mentioned: 21 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 248 Post(s)
Liked 25 Times in 17 Posts
Originally Posted by BigChief
The lever is, by far, the most time consuming piece to build. Does the NOS lever have the spring already attached? If it does, you're 80% there. I think this shifter will look really nice with a new brass case.
edit: Just thinking...the case doesn't have to be a quadrant. You could make it from anything. The image of a round shifter made from an old silver half dollar popped into my mind. Nobody else in town would have a TT shifter with a profile of Ben Franklin...nobody!
I agree, it would look awesome! Dunno about the coin, though. I don't think the lever has the spring, or the cable hook - just the lever itself. I'll check with the guy who has it, though. I'm thinking of making it compatible with a standard derailleur cable, as well.
agmetal is offline  
Old 10-29-16, 05:54 AM
  #11856  
Senior Member
 
markk900's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 2,608
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 454 Post(s)
Liked 577 Times in 306 Posts
Originally Posted by Stadjer
Pretty sure that's late 70's, but I've really no idea when it went out of production. It wouldn't surprise me if this design lasted well into the 90's, because I can only remember one more modern design, and that's from the 00's.
If you take the black cover off (or it breaks off) the shifter looks identical to the ones with the clear plastic cover. Just the black plastic on the lever to give things away!
markk900 is offline  
Old 10-29-16, 11:16 AM
  #11857  
Senior Member
 
BigChief's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,240
Mentioned: 103 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 98 Times in 82 Posts
Took a chance and caught in the rain on my fenderless roadster today. First time I could have used fenders. Might get to that someday. Got totally soaked. What's a little extra mud.
__________________
Inflate Hard
BigChief is offline  
Old 10-29-16, 11:22 AM
  #11858  
Senior Member
 
BigChief's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,240
Mentioned: 103 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 98 Times in 82 Posts
Originally Posted by Salubrious
The MKS Sylvan Touring is a copy of the Lyotard 460 which is available in British thread and looks more the part. The Lyotard has better bearings and weighs a little less, unless you opt for the chrome version instead of the alloy version. The Lyotard 460 was designed before the war and was in production into the late 70s or early 80s. Its my favorite pedal.
I didn't know that. I have preferred steel to rubber block pedals for a long time, even on 3 speeds. I tried these MKS pedals a few years ago and found them to be perfect for me. Figures that they're copies of a classic design.
__________________
Inflate Hard
BigChief is offline  
Old 10-29-16, 05:45 PM
  #11859  
Bikes are okay, I guess.
 
thumpism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 9,114

Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2643 Post(s)
Liked 2,423 Times in 1,543 Posts
Originally Posted by Salubrious
The MKS Sylvan Touring is a copy of the Lyotard 460...
I'd be more inclined to say the MKS is the successor to the Lyotard 460 rather than a copy of it. Check the photos below and see if you can distinguish significant differences. Having used both, I'll take the MKS.

Lyotard.


MKS
thumpism is offline  
Old 10-30-16, 06:17 PM
  #11860  
Senior Member
 
gster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,562

Bikes: 1971 Hercules, 1978 Raleigh Superbe, 1978 Raleigh Tourist, 1964 Glider 3 Speed, 1967 Raleigh Sprite 5 Speed, 1968 Hercules AMF 3 Speed, 1972 Raleigh Superbe, 1976 Raleigh Superbe, 1957 Flying Pigeon, 1967 Dunelt 3 Speed

Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1026 Post(s)
Liked 407 Times in 279 Posts
Irish 3 Speed Site

The 'Auld' Bike
Movie props and sales.
gster is offline  
Old 10-31-16, 01:17 PM
  #11861  
Senior Member
 
Salubrious's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1,576

Bikes: Too many 3-speeds, Jones Plus LWB

Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 345 Post(s)
Liked 230 Times in 102 Posts
Originally Posted by thumpism
I'd be more inclined to say the MKS is the successor to the Lyotard 460 rather than a copy of it. Check the photos below and see if you can distinguish significant differences. Having used both, I'll take the MKS.
I've got both- I use the MKS when I can't find a set of Lyotards for a project. But a lot depends on what that project is- if there is intention to be period, then the Lyotard of course, but I find that in direct comparison the Lyotard is lighter and the bearings are far freer so I often install them on newer builds. The MKS has seals and like most vintage pedals the Lyotards don't, but OTOH I've had the same Lyotards on one of my bikes going back to the mid 1970s and the bearings are still really good. So I've tended to discount that as an advantage although there are probably circumstances where it is.
Salubrious is offline  
Old 10-31-16, 02:19 PM
  #11862  
Senior Member
 
browngw's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Port Dover Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,517

Bikes: 1965 Dilecta Le Blanc, 1956 Royal Nord, 1972 Raleigh Sports, 1972 CCM Turismo,1976 SuperCycle Excalibur, 2014 Salsa Vaya, 2017 Felt DD70, 2019 Giant Lafree and others

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 340 Post(s)
Liked 462 Times in 201 Posts
"Sir Wayes A. Tonne" the 1979 Raleigh Roadster will spend the upcoming Canadian winter in the garage with our 1980 TR7. One is the "Shape of Things to Come" the other is the shape of things past!
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
DSC_0191[1].jpg (95.3 KB, 171 views)
__________________
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
browngw is offline  
Old 10-31-16, 02:39 PM
  #11863  
Old Boy
 
DQRider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,390

Bikes: Mostly 1st-generation, top-of-the-line, non-unicrown MTBs/ATBs: All 1984 models: Dawes Ranger, Peugeot Canyon Express, Ross Mt. Whitney (chrome), Schwinn High Sierra, and a 1983 Trek 850.

Mentioned: 134 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 984 Post(s)
Liked 1,712 Times in 610 Posts
Originally Posted by browngw
"Sir Wayes A. Tonne" the 1979 Raleigh Roadster will spend the upcoming Canadian winter in the garage with our 1980 TR7. One is the "Shape of Things to Come" the other is the shape of things past!
And they're both British Roadsters! Excellent...
DQRider is offline  
Old 11-01-16, 09:10 AM
  #11864  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 250

Bikes: Hybrid and Folding

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by gster
More Junk
This one has become my main everyday bike. The saddle bags are very handy for visits to the grocery or beer store. The mattress saddle was badly split so it's been replaced with an old Wright's composite saddle. The paint is rough on this one so it's a good working bike.

I'm not sure what bike these bars and stem came from originally. I bought them from George at Parts Unknown, but I quite like them.
Nice bike rack on that Raleigh Sport.
Dsprok is offline  
Old 11-01-16, 02:10 PM
  #11865  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 250

Bikes: Hybrid and Folding

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by Marty1
Hwith a pic of my recently restored Raleigh 3 speed Sturmey Archer FROM 1974,
That's nice. I had a similar one in the late 60's. the hole on the back of the saddle had a large red reflector.
Dsprok is offline  
Old 11-01-16, 03:12 PM
  #11866  
Senior Member
 
dweenk's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,975

Bikes: Lots of English 3-speeds, a couple of old road bikes, 3 mountain bikes, 1 hybrid, and a couple of mash-ups

Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 886 Post(s)
Liked 328 Times in 223 Posts
I got this Raleigh Sports camelback a while ago. I have cleaned it up some, treated the fenders and chain guard with OA and clear coated them. The bottom bracket and headset bearings were cleaned and lubricated, the rear wheel cleaned up fairly well, but the front wheel may be beyond hope.

It is too small for me and doesn't appeal my wife or son, so I think it will become a rafter hanger (think "top shelf" for Andy's broken toys in "Toy Story"). Sometimes the rafter hangers do get a second chance - I'll have to see.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMG_0073.jpg (102.1 KB, 143 views)
__________________
I hope...that all mankind will at length…have reason and sense enough to settle their differences without cutting throats. Ben Franklin
dweenk is offline  
Old 11-01-16, 05:25 PM
  #11867  
boattail71
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 193

Bikes: Too many to list. Raleigh carbon racer (17 lbs.) and fast to a '37 Columbia (17 lbs. wheels alone) Even an Aerocycle (not ridable yet), love the middleweights too.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by markk900
If you take the black cover off (or it breaks off) the shifter looks identical to the ones with the clear plastic cover. Just the black plastic on the lever to give things away!
Confused. The black shifter is modern and without its black cover, I don't see how it would look like the one with the clear plastic cover. Or, is there another clear plastic covered shifter that I'm not aware of?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
SturmeyBlkClear.jpg (99.5 KB, 137 views)
boattail71 is offline  
Old 11-01-16, 06:07 PM
  #11868  
Senior Member
 
markk900's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Ontario
Posts: 2,608
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 454 Post(s)
Liked 577 Times in 306 Posts
Originally Posted by boattail71
Confused. The black shifter is modern and without its black cover, I don't see how it would look like the one with the clear plastic cover. Or, is there another clear plastic covered shifter that I'm not aware of?
If you take the black cover off the one on the left, and the clear cover off on the right, the shifters are identical (the black one has a cover on the trigger too, which can be removed).

That black cover is held by the Phillips screw - underneath is the same shifter body.
markk900 is offline  
Old 11-01-16, 07:27 PM
  #11869  
boattail71
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Colorado
Posts: 193

Bikes: Too many to list. Raleigh carbon racer (17 lbs.) and fast to a '37 Columbia (17 lbs. wheels alone) Even an Aerocycle (not ridable yet), love the middleweights too.

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by markk900
If you take the black cover off the one on the left, and the clear cover off on the right, the shifters are identical (the black one has a cover on the trigger too, which can be removed).

That black cover is held by the Phillips screw - underneath is the same shifter body.
I guess I misunderstood. They won't "look" identical obviously. That's what got me confused by your original statement as you meant "mechanically" they are the same. Unless you're saying that the graphics under the black decal are the same as the older model on the right (clear cover). That would be amazing if it were true.
boattail71 is offline  
Old 11-01-16, 08:15 PM
  #11870  
Bikes are okay, I guess.
 
thumpism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 9,114

Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2643 Post(s)
Liked 2,423 Times in 1,543 Posts
I went by the co-op this evening to look for some parts to convert my Cimarron to drops and decided to ask about a frame I'd seen there before, a men's 23" brown Raleigh Sports. I already have a complete bike just like it, although this one is less beat than mine, but I was curious. Frameset with stem and BB and chainguard. It did have a rear fender but that seems to be gone now. $25, the guy told me. I'm not seriously tempted but one of you folks might be.

Sports frame.JPG
thumpism is offline  
Old 11-02-16, 04:34 AM
  #11871  
Senior Member
 
gster's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Toronto
Posts: 2,562

Bikes: 1971 Hercules, 1978 Raleigh Superbe, 1978 Raleigh Tourist, 1964 Glider 3 Speed, 1967 Raleigh Sprite 5 Speed, 1968 Hercules AMF 3 Speed, 1972 Raleigh Superbe, 1976 Raleigh Superbe, 1957 Flying Pigeon, 1967 Dunelt 3 Speed

Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1026 Post(s)
Liked 407 Times in 279 Posts
Originally Posted by Dsprok
Nice bike rack on that Raleigh Sport.
This one's a Hercules (1970).
gster is offline  
Old 11-02-16, 05:37 PM
  #11872  
Senior Member
 
3speedslow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 9,323

Bikes: A few

Mentioned: 117 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1933 Post(s)
Liked 1,011 Times in 617 Posts
Originally Posted by thumpism
I went by the co-op this evening to look for some parts to convert my Cimarron to drops and decided to ask about a frame I'd seen there before, a men's 23" brown Raleigh Sports. I already have a complete bike just like it, although this one is less beat than mine, but I was curious. Frameset with stem and BB and chainguard. It did have a rear fender but that seems to be gone now. $25, the guy told me. I'm not seriously tempted but one of you folks might be.

Attachment 541906
Wow, that is so tempting ! Wonder what shipping would be to NC ?

I could easily switch the parts from my 21" Sport to this. Did you get an idea of the yr ?
3speedslow is offline  
Old 11-02-16, 05:50 PM
  #11873  
Senior Member
 
BigChief's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 3,240
Mentioned: 103 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1299 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 98 Times in 82 Posts
That down tube Sports transfer dates it 1969-1972.
__________________
Inflate Hard

Last edited by BigChief; 11-02-16 at 06:17 PM.
BigChief is offline  
Old 11-02-16, 06:11 PM
  #11874  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 250

Bikes: Hybrid and Folding

Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 42 Post(s)
Liked 3 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by 9volt
Evans is from Michigan but it's an English made bike, presumably rebranded by Evans. It has 'Made in England' all over it. Haven't been able to figure out who built it though.
Re. the Evans, I see SA stamped into the pulley clamp & Brampton on the BB lockring.
Nice pictures.
Dsprok is offline  
Old 11-02-16, 06:14 PM
  #11875  
Bikes are okay, I guess.
 
thumpism's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Posts: 9,114

Bikes: Waterford Paramount Touring, Giant CFM-2, Raleigh Sports 3-speeds in M23 & L23, Schwinn Cimarron oddball build, Marin Palisades Trail dropbar conversion, Nishiki Cresta GT

Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2643 Post(s)
Liked 2,423 Times in 1,543 Posts
Originally Posted by 3speedslow
Wow, that is so tempting ! Wonder what shipping would be to NC ?

I could easily switch the parts from my 21" Sport to this. Did you get an idea of the yr ?
Looks like my '74, but not certain. Shipping might be cheapish for a frameset.
thumpism is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -

Copyright © 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.