Humber Clipper?
 

Anybody know anything about the Humber Clipper? I spotted one locked in bike rack with flat tires (ie, neglected) and I'm wondering if it's worth trying to find the owner and buy it. At one point someone thought enough of it to put on some nice fenders and a Pletscher... but it has a cottered crank and (I think) steel wheels. Couldn't make out a tubing decal in the few moments I had to look at it.

Probably Raleigh clone, but if it is not rusted up it would be worth trying. If the chainring has the cutout of a hand, it may be older.
For a price estimate, take a picture and post it on the value forum.

David is thinking of the Rudge. It is true that it became on of the Raleigh family. (One wonders why they bothered to keep all these brands that were essentially identical.)

The Humber has five guys dancing around in a ring and sharing one big head in the chainring ... or a plainer, nondescript ring from either earlier or later.

BFer gbalke has a collection of Humbers and even more photos of exemplars owned by others. nlerner and cudak888 (is that right?) may also be able to help you ID it. Pics are best, of course.

If it looks like this, I would certainly explore avenues for acquiring it:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3388/...2acd2585_o.jpg

BluesDaddy,

If you can, post plenty of pictures, even if you don't buy it, so I can attempt to help you in IDing the bike. There's not alot of info available on line; I've been researching Humber bikes for the past month or so and now have a better understanding of the different models.

I've started putting together an album, on Flicker, of various vintage sports bikes built by Humber, including the Humber Sports, the Beeston Clubman and the Clipper. Each model has specific features such as fork design, chain wheel design and wheel size. Check it out and see if any of the bikes resemble the bike you found: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stl914/...7624718679306/

There was another posting last month on a Humber Clipper, take a look at this: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...Humber-Clipper

In my opinion, if you are able to track down the owner, you should buy the bike before someone else does.

Oh yes, the interchangeable-in-my-mind RudgeHumber bicycle Co.

This bike probably dates to the period when almost every bike came with steel wheels and cottered cranks, so you mustn't say (or even think) "but it has cottered cranks." Cottered cranks are no stigma on a pre-1970 bike. Similarly, Dunlop Special Lightweight rims (if that's what it has) are really very nice. The fenders, too, may be original. Could be a very nice bike.

Unfortunately I did not have the opportunity to take a photo as I was rushing and just had a few moments to look at it. I will never commit the sin of posting a bike on here again without photos! :) It looks most like the red bike with white tape in gbalke's link. I definitely remember the lamp mount on the side of the fork. It is white with some foil-like decals that wrap around the tube. It has a Brooks saddle that's pretty dry. Is this in the "old-enough-to-be-worth-something" category?

The red Clipper with white tape is a 1957 model, so if the one you saw is similar, then in my opinion, it difinitely fits the "old-enough-to-be-worth-something" category. I'd add it to my stable, hint, hint.

No, no, David. Now you're thinking of the HumberRudge, a brand of the RobinHoodHumberRudgePhillips Group, a division of Raleigh.;)

Watch out! Gary is really talking about his own stable, not yours! :lol:

I thought I was pretty obvious on that! I had my resume submitted for a contract job in Keene, NH so I might be with in striking distance.

I almost sold one of my bikes yesterday, my '77 Moto Super Mirage Mixte, so I thought I would have an open spot for another Humber. Sale fell through, but I could fit another nice bike in the garage or even my basement office.

Yeah, Raleigh was the General Motors of the bicycle industry.

BluesDaddy,

Did you ever go back and look into that Humber to see if it was a Clipper? Take any pictures? Curious minds want to know.