PedalTraveler

I recently got this old Raleigh Clubman and am planning a partial restoration for it. If the date in the hub can be trusted it is a 1951 model. I will cleaning up all the metal components, and replacing the brakes, cables, etc. I hope to polish the paint out as good as it will get and apply clear coat it to seal it. The paint is pretty rough as it is, but as a college student a correct repaint isn't in the budget, and in a way I like how it shows it's history.


1951 Raleigh Clubman Bicycle by ptpomber, on Flickr

It seems to have all original compnents, it has G.B. Sport "Hiduminium" brakes, a Brooks B-17 saddle, a Britannialloy pump, and a Sturmey Archer AM 3 speed hub. The pedals may not be original, the clips are Italian marked Avocet.


1951 Raleigh Clubman Components by ptpomber, on Flickr

I haven't ever worked on a British bike of this vintage and was wondering if anyone has any tips or tricks for fixing it up. I also don't know much about club bikes in general or specifically Raleigh Clubmans and would appreciate any info anyone would care to share.

Anyways, thanks for your help!

Velognome 

Wow, welcome to the forum! Gentle cleaning, grease & oil are generally a better route than a repaint, making things look "new". Patina is earned, let you bikes wear it with pride. The only word of advice is to be gentle, no steel wool please. I love your Clubman, should take you around campus and across lifes byways for many happy years. keep us updated with your progress and pictures.

auchencrow

+100
You really don't want to think about repainting bikes like those - Much of their character derives from the original paint.
I wouldn't be bringing that bike around campus though - better to ride some POC that won't be such a huge target for theft. You'll not be replacing a bike like that Clubman - it's a very unusual and desirable find. Enjoy it and preserve it, so you can pass it on to your kids!

rhm

I agree with the above. Your Clubman is beautiful, should clean up nicely. An AM hub is quite a find, as are the Sturmey Archer wingnuts. Treasure it! Ride it, for sure, but I have my doubts about leaving it locked up around campus.

Nor am I sure clearcoat is a good idea. I've thought about it, for my own bikes, and always rejected it in the end. Wax is good. Clearcoat just seems too radical.

BluesDaddy

Love the wing nuts! Beautiful old machine.

cyclotoine

Your photography speaks for itself. You seem to like old buildings and things. I really enjoyed looking at your flickr account and I am sure you will treat this bike with respect, A very cool find. Congrats and enjoy.

PedalTraveler

Thank you for the compliments, welcomes, and input everyone! I definately will not be repainting it, and will just give it a good clean and polish.

cyclotoine, thank you, I love history, biking, and photography so combining them is great fun for me!

I took it for a last ride as it is before the restoration process, it was still pretty good for going decades without service! I've now begun slowly disassembling and cleaning it, as well as making replacement fender stays.


1951 Raleigh Clubman by ptpomber, on Flickr

bikamper

Really nice bike and you'll like that AM hub but take good care of it. Replacement parts are hard to come by. Almost none of the parts are interchangeable with the AW. And what cyclotoine said about your flickstream.

acoffin 

Be gentle with the paint and decals. Use diluted dish soap (dawn) and finish the frame off with oil.

Esteban32696

Once you get it really clean,,, wax & buff, several times. Those old Brit bikes will usually sparkle after some hard work. LOVE IT !

PedalTraveler

Thanks for the encouragement all!

Just an update, cleaned polished and de-rusted here it sits. The chrome turned out nice, the paint, well, it's there. A small preserved example of the bright "Flamboyant Electric Blue" can be seen where a license was. The license had the writing worn off it, so without historical relevance it had to go. A freshly greased headset and 3/4 of the other parts cleaned, it's on its' way! Next, a little more polishing and truing for the wheels.


Clubman, in Progress by ptpomber, on Flickr

Six jours

Good thing you decided against a repaint. A shame you polished it and removed the rust, though. That was original British dirt and corrosion. And I'm quite shocked you decided to replace the original headset grease. The world has lost something irreplaceable.

Aside from that, nice bike. (And I certainly hope this crowd has talked you out of *gasp* actually USING it...)

retyred

Great job! Excellent results. I found this website last night. If you have not seen it, check it out.


https://classiclightweights.co.uk/

Six jours

Now you've done it. Prepare to repel boarders!

jamesj

Beautiful Bike! I need a clubman!!!

clubman 

To each their own. Ever had one of these old Raleighs? The black primer is akin to armour plate. Framesaver on the inside and wax on the outside and you've got a classic good to go for another 60 years.

Velognome 

Nice job on cleaning the frame. Can't wait to see it all cleaned up!

due ruote 

+1 You have some really outstanding images on your Flickr stream. Clearly you have an eye for aged and weathered surfaces - that bike found a proper home.

JPZ66

I think it looks great. Keep it waxed as mentioned above, and it will be fine. Very nice - enjoy !

Joe

Captain Blight

If the grotty green is an overcoat to the blue, you may be able to polish it off. Maybe.

Those fenders are Bluemels 'Airweights,' mah ferverrts, and will straighten out with a pair of persuasive thumbs and a little patience. Planet Bike stays and hardware fit just fine, by the way, and the fenders will take a redonk shine with a little elbow grease.

PedalTraveler

Well, it's riding again! There's still a few things to be done in time, like putting on some quality tires and tape, but for the most part this is it. In the end I did clear coat it, it didn't affect its' original look at all and I feel better about its' ultimate preservation and riding it without fear. It seems Raleigh did a 3 part paint job, that impenetrable black primer, a metallic silver for luster, then finally the top blue wihch it quite worn. It has Reynolds marked handlebars, which I hadn't encountered before. A soak in leather treatment and a top coat of paste wax really saved the Brooks saddle, which I had initially thought might be a goner.

I forgot to mention, a bunch of dead wasps fell out of the frame when I removed the crank! On the bright side there wasn't a sign of rust inside.

The story behind the bike is that it was owned and ridden by a university professor who took it to class everyday for decades, hence the heavy use but its' ultimate survival.

I really appreciate everyones's input and compliments as I've gone along.

If anyone is inerested in Clubmans here is an interesting link. https://www.sheldonbrown.com/retroral...an-kohler.html


1951 Clubman by ptpomber, on Flickr

Decals are okay...


1951 Clubman Details by ptpomber, on Flickr

JPZ66

Looking very sharp. Very nice job of cleanup, yet preserving the character of it all !

Joe

funrover 

Well done!

OrangeHorse

Looks awesome.

Chris_in_Miami

Very well done!! In the shot of the decal and seat tube, there's a lovely matte sheen over everything, how did you get that finish?

-- edit- I must have skipped over the part about the clear coat, that answers my question.