look566 rider

Good day Fellow Vintage Followers,

On my ride today I saw a garage was being cleaned out. I spied a vintage bike laying down in the yard and slowed to look. Asked if they were having a yard sale the older gentleman said no, so I started to ride off.

The gentleman shouted if I knew anything about old bike prices. I gave him my advice, which was practically nothing, but I did point him in the correct direction to help himself. Our Forum here.

So now to my question, 3 speed Rudge Sport, looked to be straight just the normal decades of grime. Had a sheepskin cover on the seat, so I did not see if this had the original saddle (probably Brooks?). Bike did seem to be complete including light system from same era of bike manufacturer. Tires are a mess, but so what.

Now the gentleman (mid 70's in age for certain) I spoke with said his father bought the bike new. So I would place this bike to be at minimum 60 years old. Lugged frame. Chrome could be easily cleaned. Any advice as to where and how to read serial number for age? Of course, I will be reviewing Sheldon Brown.

Would going back and offering $100 be fair? He claimed everything worked. I would verify this of course. Would be very cool to ad a British gentleman's bike to my stable.

Thanks for reading my wordy post. Good advice is always appreciated!

Take care,

Mike

Velognome 

If you really want a 3-speed or have a desire to own a Rudge, nothing wrong with a $100, probably $75 more than what he was expecting out of it.

Gasbag

I'd make him a fair offer and snag that rascal. My Rudge, 50 years old, came out of 30+ years storage and cleaned up beautifully. The paint and chrome on the older British bikes is very good quality and durable. The lighting system, if it is a Sturmey Dynohub, adds some value to that bike. Once restored / preserved, they are a very pleasant riding bike.

look566 rider

The bike is mine! Agreed upon price was $50.00 Pictures soon.

Anyone know how to decipher the serial number for age purposes? Serial number 272404167 Raleigh Dynohub power system. Brooks saddle crazed & cracked . Sturmey Archer 3 speed still works. Tires will need cut of the rims, rock hard had melted/dry rotted beyond belief. Decades of dust and grime, but very minor surface rust on the chrome bits.

wahoonc

Check the hubs for date codes, serial numbers are a crap shoot on most British Bikes. Both the Dyno and the rear hub should have dates on them.

Aaron

look566 rider

What should I be looking for on the hubs? The hubs are pretty clean as they both have the remnants of the old style reflector straps still attached.

photogravity

Stamped on the hub are usually a year and month code, usually like what is in the pictures below.


1953 Sturmey Archer FW Alloy Hub - 2 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr




Claud Butler Build Parts - Hubs - 1 by Sallad Rialb, on Flickr

noglider 

You got an excellent deal. If you sold it, you could get $200 or $300 for it, if you just shine it up.

M A V

Pretty sure it sounds old enough to have the "hand" chainring, which would date it older than the Raleigh buyout, which if I remember right was in the 40s or 50s

surreal

Raleigh bought out Rudge in '43; the Hand sprocket continued well into the 50s. I owned a '53 with that sprocket.

look566 rider

Hub code on rear wheel is 51 3, so she is 62 years old!

Gasbag

We need pictures of the old gent! You got lucky in finding this bike the way it happened and at a very good price.

photogravity

+1 I'd love to see some pictures of the bike too.

73emgee

Excellent buy for that vintage, is the Dynohub a 1951 also?

fixed1313

Pics or it didn't happen ..................

look566 rider

Some of you have asked for pictures/proof this bike exists!

Bicycle as bought. 20+? years of grime from storage. Most of the grime is a greasy dust. Which was probably beneficial to keeping the rust down to a minimum. The tires are hard as a rock and have large melted flat spots. The cat in the handlebar pic is Matilda, one of my wife and mines cats.

Have already given a bath to knock the really heavy grime off. Have the saddle off already to be soaked in Mink Oil paste.

dyander

Wow! an excellent find, It will be a stunner with new rubber and a little elbow grease. I rode around on one of similar vintage as a kid in the 70's, one of the bikes that got me hooked. When we graduated out of our 20" bikes, the girls got to ride the Phillips and the boys got the Rudge. You got a keeper!

campngolf

Luckyyyy! I love that chain ring.

SirMike1983 

Good find- Rudge was a high rank brand and not a second rater. You got a nice buy on it. Clean it up, refurbish or replace the perishables, and ride it.

djkashuba 

That is the perfect Winter project bike.

-D

fixed1313

very nice .............. should clean up nicely. Keep us posted on your progress.

look566 rider

Thank you for the nice comments.

Have removed saddle and commenced treating with Mink oil. Second application yesterday. Of too LBS today for tubes & tires. Once I have her rolling freely again, I will start with deep clean and repair-replace process. My goal is to replace as little as possible for originality.

noglider 

That's one of the nicest three-speeds ever.

I call that greasy dust "garage schmootz".

clubman 

Easy on the mink oil pardner...a soft Brooks is really not what you want.

look566 rider

The current saddle condition is very dry and crazed. I am afraid the saddle will start loosing material if it is not moisturized. I am using Kiwi Camp Dry paste. Have never dealt with leather in this poor of condition.

Researched Proffide, very expensive for the amount you receive. May try Griot's Garage Leather Rejuvenator, I have had great success with their other products.

Suggestions are welcome.