Italuminium

Don't forget the quadrant shifter! IMHO one of the best looking parts ever made.

Wildwood 

The history setting & write-up are outstanding. If you and Auchen were to collaborate on a write-up and build, it would be worthy of a coffee table edition. Well maybe a couple of builds (N+1 applies here?).....with good pictures of course. Seriously. I'd buy 2.

Italuminium

Don't forget to add poguemahone for the comics

poprad

OP, that is one of the finest threads written this year. We ought to have a "Best C&V Thread" annual award, and give a crankset or something. If we did, yours would win it for 2012! Thanks for taking the time to provide such an interesting and well-written piece. I doff my Colnago cap to you sir.

Wildwood 

Can I doff my Banesto jersey to FTW as well?

Italuminium

I have a special tweed cap for doffing when presented with splendid Imperial pomp and/or circumstance. Sadly it's still in the old world whereas I'm in the Colonies.

ftwelder

Thanks for the kind words. I like to keep the bikes in original condition. Bikes of this era were quite well made and far more durable than one might guess. Many of us have heard tales of "war grade" tires that didn't wear or weather check, well I think the stories are true and they were nylon. I have Dunlop and John Bull tires in good usable condition that are around eighty years old. 'same for the inner tubes.

For the cables, my plan is to repair/preserve the cables I have. I got a set from a fellow collector (and BF'r) in NY and have ones from the Golden Arrow and these ones. I think I can make new wires for them but I still haven't found a solution for a really good repair of the housings. I have a few sets of early 60's double-ended sets for "ride days". I remember seeing similar cloth jacketing on electrical wires. I know someone who owns an old wire factory... this gets me thinking.

I have seen a few RRA frames available. On the older bikes, I try to stick to cheap or free complete bikes regardless of the condition. I had a Hercules Kestral frame, every bit the equal of the Record Ace but passed in on to another enthusiast. That could be the weirdest find story ever but I personally botched it right from the get-go.

The last owner of the bike is a high-end wood worker/builder. He buys old homes and lives in them during restoration. He makes all the wooden parts needed and sources the other bits from other craftsmen he has met over the years. The LBS called me when the bike turned up for a set of tires. I took a few photos and called him. He came to my shop and we discussed a projects he would need my help with in the future and he said he would return later. He hadn't mentioned a time frame so I just waited.

I only know it was found when his parents purchased the house many years ago and there it sat until he brought it to the LBS.

I will take some measurements soon. I may have measured the Kestral when it was here also.

The hub is a KS series close ratio. These hubs were robust except you could catch them between ratios causing complete failure. At this point they are quite rare.

Neither Nitto or I have been able to produce a satisfactory rendition of this historical handlebar profile and mine was much better than theirs. That was handed off to another BF'r. Ill try again when I can find 7/8X.049 wall DOM 1020 steel tubing and need another "metal health day" with the tube bender. They offered up the story that the original handlebar was lost in a fire and they couldn't produce an accurate version. It's due to the fact that the handlebar has two bend radi on each side and is built in one continuous sweep with invisible transitions and a bulge to 15/16 right in the middle. It just can be done in a modern tube bender and they aren't suitable for modern riders or bikes. These didn't get wrapped with tape and only have one hand position, on the drops.

pastorbobnlnh 

Frank,

Another amazing story! Well written and very interesting. Can't wait to see it in person.

Want to preach for me some Sunday?

Time to do a group photo shoot for the online Blog/Newsletter that Brooks sends out. All of your pre '50s Raleighs in downtown or at the train station in Bellows Falls or Brattleboro. You'd have every tweed riding city hipster from Boston to DC making a pilgrimage on Amtrak. You could probably get the Chamber of Commerce to sponsor this.

Flog00

The swept back lines of the frame are beautiful!

It looks fast sitting still.

Love to see some photos of it in action.

qcpmsame 

A wonderful piece of bicycling history you have gotten, Frank. Your write up is first rate, as always, and thanks for the good pictures, as well. I learned a bit about the Raleigh Bicycles and the Reynolds Metals manufacturing history today thanks to your post.

The talent here, in C&V, in writing, with you and Auchencrow, the history details of Bianchi Girl and some of the other component and bicycle maker academics, and the drawing/artistic talents of Poguemahone and the crew of illustrators here is very nice to have available. I could search for hours to get the information and the art we have here for our enjoyment and not get the quality you guys have given us. Very well done, sir. Thank you!

Respectfully,
Bill

ftwelder

There is some cool things going on at our local train station. I think they plan on teaching bike mechanics to kids and somehow the railroad is involved. The have a cool new building called the "waypoint center" near the train station that looks like a giant locomotive.

Hey, I know that intersection! There is a spin bike studio in that white building at the right side. It's also been painted.

ericbaker

Really cool Frank, thats near dream condition for a strip, polish and rebuild.

Id never even heard of the model

bibliobob

Super cool! Thanks for sharing.

tcs

The KS hub debuted in 1932 and featured -11.1%/1/+12.5% ratios. This was the hub used by Charlie Holland (1st GB rider in ToF) to win the Isle of Man road race in 1936, competing against riders on derailleur bikes*. The KS6 designation indicates the hub was built in 1936, it's last year of production, being replaced by the new AM hub in 1937.


*The strict equipment rules in continental Europe bicycle racing prevented the use of hub gears. There were no such restrictions in the UK. Interestingly enough, riders in the UK using Sturmey-Archer KS, AM, AR and AF hubs pretty much kicked derriere and took names in the late 1930s racing against riders using the derailleurs of the day.

gmt13

Looking forward to seeing more pics as you bring it back to life.

-G

noglider 

tcs, you are another wealth of information.

PedalTraveler

Wonderful bicycle. A great thing to save, I look forward to seeing more of it.

Coreyk

That bike really makes me smile. What a great find.

CK

Henry III

What else was used in 1938 to build bicycles hence the need to say "The All Steel Bicycle"? lol.

Very cool bike Frank! What's your plans for it?

ftwelder

Clean it up and ride. The paint is still is great shape. Lots of polishing needed....

Italuminium

I guess early alloy stuff for brakes and rims, and the like. Off course, these things were met with the same distrust we view crabon fibre right now

strock 

Oh, yes, I'd spring for a couple of those books, too. Great bike and great story. Thanks!

DavidW56

This is the reason I keep coming back to BF. It is a pleasure to view a bike I'd never otherwise know existed, let alone see, and a bit of history to go with it. Thank you, Frank, and thanks to the rest of the members who posted additional information.

I believe I missed the part where you related the story of how you found this bike.

ThermionicScott 

I puzzled at this as well when I started learning about older English bikes. Here's Sheldon Brown's take:

noglider 

ThermionicScott, thank you. I had wondered, too, and pig iron is a likelier explanation than newfangled al-you-min-ee-yum.