No, it's not a PX-10 or a UO-8 dressed up as a PX-10. Instead, thanks to miamijim, my winter project is a late 40s/early 50s Peugeot 650B city bike. These pics are what it looks like presently. The saddle and seatpost are add ons from my parts bin, but the rest is as received from Jim:







One of the really interesting features is this Simplex Juy BTE touring derailler:




As Jim promised, it's fully functional and seems to have the range for a four-speed cluster. Anyone have one of those?

Mafac canti brakes, front and rear:


I have a good number of parts for this build, mostly taken from my entry in last year's Velo Cheapo contest: hammered fenders, chain guard, bars w/ guidonnet levers. I have a set of 650B wheels w/ Normandy hubs (the rims are Sun CR-18, but I'll take the label off). I'm still on the hunt for an appropriate cottered crankset. Winter fun!

Neal

I can't wait to see it emerge from your workshop - I know that is going to be cool!

We will need a ride report on that old Simplex DR - (can't imagine what the long connecting spring does for it)

aw man. I know this is going to turn out beautiful. Please keep the pics comin as you work on it!

Beautiful bike. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Cool! I remember when this was posted. I love the blue/cream color scheme and that is my favorite Peugeot font. Great pinstriping too. Is the fork lock functional? Had that been anywhere near my size I'd have been all over it. I'm really itching for a 650B project.

I guess the seat stay braze-on is for a bottle dynamo. How about the one on the seat tube? Front derailleur?

Those Mafacs will polish up really nice.

The tubes are helium filled, right? So it floats along?

I saw the frame in person last week ..stunning.

Scott

I forgot to show one of the funkiest features:



It seems to be port into which you'd insert a key to lock the fork. Anyone have one of those?!

That rear derailleur was in use from 1938-1958 from what I can gather, but I haven't been able to identify the exact model of this bike from the online catalogs. If anyone has any ideas, I'd appreciate hearing them.

Neal

I've been told that a good locksmith can make a key for a Raleigh Superbe fork. I suspect a well-established locksmith would welcome the challenge and odd request.

Super duper awesome!

I think that one is for the chainguard. There are also little braze-on tabs from that rear bracket to under the top tube for the generator wire. I had never seen those before:

As long as I don't suck out all of that helium just to make my voice sound funny.

Neal

I see those now. That's just too cool. Are you going to paint the chainguard or will it be polished to match the fenders?

Here's my cheapo build with that chainguard and fenders. Both are kind of a brushed aluminum:





I believe that's St. Christopher!

Neal

This is very nice... looks like a fun project. I have an old French cottered crank with the TA inner bolt pattern. Not sure it's what you're looking for, but it is yours if you need it. I'd be happy to contribute something to this build.

Brian

Wo-ow. That's beautiful.

Great graphics on that bike. I love that unusual color scheme, looks like someone forded a river of bleach!

Yup, that's St. Christophe on the chainguard, for sure.

I'm not using the 14-16-18-20 Cyclo freewheel that came on my Lenton Grand Prix, if you want that back!

Not right now, but thanks anyway. I'll need bigger gears than that!

BTW, I pulled the fork in the process of overhauling the headset, and that port leads only to an empty slot in the fork steerer. Hmm. Perhaps there was some locking mechanism in there previously or was the idea just to jab a stick in there? I'll try and get a good read on what the text says (and consult the French-English babel fish).

Neal

Very cool, I'm looking forward to seeing how this comes out. I love how different it is, and what wild head lug cutouts!

Great looking bike, I'd love to find something like that!!

I had no idea Peugeot used those lugs for such a long time, I can't wait to see how yours turns out.

Update on that port: The flip cap reads "Antivol Neiman," which translates to some sort of anti-theft locking device. Guess it was removed from the steerer at some point, perhaps after the key was lost!

Neal

I love the graphics and two-tone paint!

They must have used the Aztec lugs for decades!

Wow! That is a beauty. Keep the forum updated on progress with plenty of pics.

So, would the thief have had to lift the bike in order to make turns?

Wow, we have a slightly newer version of that bike at our co-op. Includes the anti-theft cap. I'll post some photos to compare

Neiman is a lock maker - plenty of Neiman locks on European motorcycles.....probably had a lock cylinder that fit in there, and when you turn the key a tab extends into the slot in the steering tube. Usually they are removable *if* you have the key!

Mark

From 'Cycles retro peugeots' looks close, but no color combo's like yours. {1953** Wonderful bike!