BigChief 

Now that's a frugal New Englander! I just bought a package of 10 HSA 125 indicators from some guy on eBay.

gster

I guess it depends where you live....
My LBS has lots of these NOS

PeterLYoung 

I have now ridden this Sunbeam Wayfarer a few times and it has proved to be a very nice ride. I have also added a 1950's NOS Lucas Challis Bell and a NOS 'Ever Ready' Rear Lamp which I have converted to 9Volt LED running from a 9Volt 6LP3146 Battery (type fitted to Smoke Alarms). Also a Vintage Front Lamp of unknown make which I have also converted to 9Volt LED utilising the same battery as the rear lamp. See photos below:-

You can see other instalments regarding this rebuild at: Sunbeam W3 Wayfarer No S48571 1949/50 & Sunbeam W3 Wayfarer No S48571 1949/50 Part 2



NOS Lucas Challis Bell fitted.

Front Lamp, switched on, illumination is quite bright.

Close up of front lamp.

Top of Front Lamp showing dual voltage switch ie. 4Volts or 8Volts.

Ever Ready Rear Lamp. Had this in it's original box priced at 4/6d in the 40's/50's.

Lamp again is pretty bright

Bike in it's current state.

gster

Very nice.
4/6 in 1945 is worth about 8 pounds today....
Your BSA trigger looks NOS as well.

PeterLYoung 

Thanks your comments. Yes you are correct it is NOS and I think probably middish 1950's (there is no date on it) as also is the 3 speed cable which came in a sealed Britax (famous for seat belts) greaseproof bag.
I think the Challis Bell is probably much later than the bike and there is no date on it.

BigChief 

Great job on the bike. A classy ride. That front lamp reminds me of those old ww2 military lanterns. I think it might be one. Dual use because of the handle. And that looks like a spring loaded suspension. Designed for a heavy battery perhaps? Very cool.

PeterLYoung 

Thanks your comments. Got the lamp in mixed box of vintage battery lamps at an auction. It has a dual voltage (4 & 8 Volts) switch and probably had two batteries but no idea what the batteries were. It is on spring suspension which clamps to the bike lamp bracket but I doubt it will operate much as my battery does not add sufficient weight. Overall it is in excellent condition so probably been in a cupboard somewhere and kept dry. Like you I think probably 1940's but yet to find it in a catalogue anywhere. Never seen another. Gives a good light though with the 9Volt LED lamp.

Salubrious

I got a weird one. I recently picked up a 1949 Royal Enfield rod brake machine ('Lightweight Sports'). It seems to have really unusual wheels- 650b instead of the regular 28" rims usually seen on rod brake machines. The rims appear original and no rust only on account of being worn by the brake action. The original finish appears to have been black paint. Anyone heard of something like this?

clubman 

CCM also made models with these. They were 26 X 1 1/2" Canadian designation. I think I've rims and Dunlop white walls in the cave although the rubber may be too far gone.

nlerner

Yeah, 597mm/EA1/26 x 1 1/4” rims were popular in that era, but 584mm/650B?

clubman 

This Dunlop chart shows the British size was 26 x 1 1/2 or F9. It shows a bead circumference of 72.25, just under the EA3 value of 73.0. I think that works out to the difference between the 590 and 584 beads, especially when you compare the numbers between the EA1 and EA3.

gster

Here's a good looking Canadian Superbe for sale in Hamilton, Ontario


Very complete with 2 keys.
Pre 1961 with reasonable paint and decals.
Seller is asking $185.00

bluesteak 

Very interesting bike. I never saw paint like that on a Raleigh. Reminds me of my Hercules tourist.

bluesteak 

My 39 elswick has 26 x 1 3/8 westrick rims, chrome with painted centers.

I also have a couple 20 inch kids rod brake bikes.

jackbombay

I picked up a 1974 NOS S3C coaster brake Sturmey, the plan is to build up a drop bar "brakeless" bike with it, it'll obviously have the coaster brake, but it will look like it has no brakes. I'll buy some cheap ergo drop bar brake levers to use for more hand positions and I'll figure some way to install the shifter into the right brake lever so I won't have to move my hand from the hood to change gears. So, I am on the lookout for an older horizontal dropout bike around 56-58cm in size if anyone knows of one, I'm 5' 11"...

I will build this up with a 32 hole rim as I did with the other 40 hole S5 hub I recently built into a wheel.

jackbombay

40 hole sturmey archer hub laced to a 32 hole rim.

Let me know if you have any questions on this :-)

nlerner

I have a Jeunet w/ horizontal dropouts and no derailleur hanger that might fit the bill. I need to measure when I’m back home, which won’t be until next weekend, but iirc it’s a 58cm frame (I’m 5’10”, and it fits me well).

Here’s a pic of it built with 650b x 38mm wheels and an AW hub.

jackbombay

Glad it can help you out!

That bike is a beauty!


I actually took a look in the "Pass it around frame doesn't fit" thread and found a Schwinn Premis (columbus tubing) that Mad Honk was looking for a new home for so that will be on its way to me when he gets it boxed up, he even has the 32 hole wheels it came with so I can use the front as is and take apart the rear wheel to use the rim with my sturmey hub. I'm really looking forward to the build, its going to be laughably simple with only one cable to run!

gster

Someone, wiser than myself, pointed out that it's a good idea to install a front brake on a coaster bike.
Very important if you plan to ride in the city.
I've got two coaster projects (Perry and a Duomatic) and they both have a caliper up front.

Raleigh/Glider w/ Duomatic hub.
The drop bars have been swapped out for uprights since this picture was taken.

clubman 

+10 I don't think SA coasters work well enough to trust one's life with. Duomatics are very good but still...

gster

Yes, the Duomatic brake works quite well.
You can lock it up if you want to "lay a patch".
Something like 70% of your stopping power is
from the front.

jackbombay

I know just a coaster brake is not the safest way to set up a bike, the front brake is absolutely the boss when it comes to dumping speed NOW!

I will ride the bike accordingly, I can always add a front brake easily at a later date.

julius rensch

Years ago (in the 1950's) a 14 yr old friend was riding down a steep hill on his Schwinn Phantom equiped with only a Bendix coaster brake. ...while coasting at high speed, upon hitting a bump, the chain jumped off...resulting in no brakes, into a busy intesection...he died there after being hit by a car.
I loved my English Indian Scout with front and rear handbrakes even more after that, so did my Mom & Dad.
Jules in Ohio

clubman 

Yah, I just like to hear myself saying the same things repeatedly.

jackbombay

My bikes are always maintained quite well, there is always a chance of failure of any system, but the bike won't have fenders so I will have the secondary option of a foot on the rear tire behind the seat stays, or, a foot on the tire behind the fork crown, not a conventional means of stopping the bike, but as an old BMX rat its not totally foreign to me. Sorry for the loss of your friend :-(

I realize that this is an unconventional build, but it will be mostly ridden on quiet country roads/paved trails/small town...