Hi.
We have just inherited my wife's Great Grandfather's bicycle and would like to date it correctly.
It has Humber duplex forks and a Humber lamp holder, but Raleigh chainwheel.
It has a SA hub with the code K5 on the hub which I think dates it as 1935.
The gear change is an ECO model.
The frame number is causing me a bit of a headache though ... N38778
Any ideas??
TIA
Ian

Can you post pictures of the bicycle? That would help immensely.

Will give it a try.
I have a few close ups now and can provide more tomorrow.

Her Great Grandfather was a friend of William Morris (Lord Nuffield) and in his twenties they used to go off cycling together. The bicycle we have is the one he died on aged 83 !!!

Assuming it's the original rear wheel, a K5 hub is indeed from 1935. Certainly the rest of it looks to be from the era. Nice project!

Beauty bike...but is that a heron chainset? That shouldn't be the original.

Arthur paercival brown, the owner of this bike appears in the 1901 census as an "assistant in a cycle business".
In the 1911 census he is "proprietor" of his own bicycle business.
I have just this evening found an entry in the "London gazette" for 1904 as in the picture attached.

Now as he was no fool when it came to bicycles I assume he just cherry picked what was available and built himself a bike for his own use... or maybe not.

I wish to get the bike roadworthy but retain the patina, so it'll remain an "oily rag". Can anyone point me in the right direction to source some new rims here in the UK?

Also, the bike has no seat, what would have been the correct one?

Finally, can anyone help me identify the model?


Thanks
Ian

That looks to be an incredible machine! WOW! <insert dropped jaw emoticon here> Of course, clubman is correct that the heron chainset is incorrect on the bicycle as it would have had the chainring as below.


Classic Humber chainring by JamieBikes, on Flickr

Beautiful bike and I dig the census research! Why do you want to replace the rims?

I haven't really had time to check the condition of the bike and am just researching possible sources of suitable replacement parts ... if needed.
Otherwise I would keep everything original.

That's one beautiful bike. And further proof for my thesis that quadrant shifters are the sexiest bike parts known to man.

Slightly off topic ... this is my other bike ... I am sorry, but is has an engine !!!
1927 Norton 16H, one previous owner and never restored or otherwise messed around and ridden regularly.
The ONLY non original parts are the tyres and the 1938 spark plug.
Ian

Amazing machine as well. never mind the engine! I had the pleasure last year of being able to spend a nice 15 minutes going over the details of a Norton from the 30's, so nice to see and touch all this old technology.

WOW. That is really something!


The bike (pedal bike) looks like a model 39X "Sports Light Roadster" with optional hub upgrade. Nice machine.

The Humber is a beauty, and the Norton is just amazing!

Thank you for this very much..........I am a great admirer of the work William Morris accomplished in
the world of books and printing. Were I to imagine a bicycle to associate with him, this would be it.

Whoops !
It's the other William Morris, who after a short career in bicycles went on to motorcycles and then Morris Cars.
In the 1930s, 40s, 50s & 60s Morris/Austin/Rover/... were the UK's largest car manufacturer.
All quite sort after nowadays.
TTFN
Ian

I also have this one in the shed too :-)

Also gorgeous! I've always been crazy about Panthers, do you have one of those as well?

the gear changer is tooooooooo sexy for words, as is the chainring! 5 atlases?
same company as made motorcars?

Panther's, now you are talking.
That sloping engine is just ..........
Alas, no Panthers ito be seen in my shed, but I do have one of these (the last of my trio).

Ian

Sure............wrong time period. wasn't thinking. thanks anyway

Are they sought after by masochistic automotive electrical repair guys ?

Yep, got in in one !!!!

I made an exhaust system for a Brough Superior a couple of years ago as well as some pieces for a Black Shadow. Amazing craftsmanship.


IMG_2555 by frankthewelder, on Flickr


IMG_2561 by frankthewelder, on Flickr

Have you seen the prices that Broughs go for now ?

That one was estimated at $350K. That is crazy.