1966 Raleigh Professional
03-23-15, 09:28 PM
#1
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1966 Raleigh Professional
.
...interesting in that I've never actually seen a first production year Raleigh Pro. It came in with some other stuff to the bike co-op as a donation, looked to be my size, so I bought it about three years ago. It was obviously stolen at one time, had all the elements of a tweaker ride, from the mattress saddle to the upturned bars. The original paint, whatever it was, was buried under some kind of flat black rattle can finish, the wheels were either gone or toasted (I forget which). It did have the original crank (too difficult to remove, I guess), and I think maybe one of the derailleurs.
Anyway, it seemed worthy of at least a low budget restoration (as a rider, not a show bike). I finally finished it up last week. Interesting mostly as history, it rides about like you'd think, relatively comfortable in terms of bumps (long wheelbase), climbs ok out of the saddle, feels pretty high in terms of BB height and center of gravity. As set up here, it moves out pretty good for something from 1966.
...interesting in that I've never actually seen a first production year Raleigh Pro. It came in with some other stuff to the bike co-op as a donation, looked to be my size, so I bought it about three years ago. It was obviously stolen at one time, had all the elements of a tweaker ride, from the mattress saddle to the upturned bars. The original paint, whatever it was, was buried under some kind of flat black rattle can finish, the wheels were either gone or toasted (I forget which). It did have the original crank (too difficult to remove, I guess), and I think maybe one of the derailleurs.
Anyway, it seemed worthy of at least a low budget restoration (as a rider, not a show bike). I finally finished it up last week. Interesting mostly as history, it rides about like you'd think, relatively comfortable in terms of bumps (long wheelbase), climbs ok out of the saddle, feels pretty high in terms of BB height and center of gravity. As set up here, it moves out pretty good for something from 1966.
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03-23-15, 09:47 PM
#2
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Very cool! Enjoy riding it, you can always do a period correct resto later if you choose.
03-24-15, 05:02 AM
#3
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Beauty. Were Record brakes available in 1966?
03-24-15, 05:39 AM
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What a great find! I love having production bikes that have some sort of "historical significance"...and you have one! Very cool...and...you made the "best of a bad situation" with the paint job...I would have hoped for original paint...but...you never know what others would do!
And as @Kactus said, you can always do a more historical resto in the future...if you want...very cool though...congrats!
And as @Kactus said, you can always do a more historical resto in the future...if you want...very cool though...congrats!
03-24-15, 06:20 AM
#5
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Why do you think it's a '66? The earliest one I've seen was a '69, and that had semi-wrapped seat stays, and a bridge for center pull brakes.
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03-24-15, 06:32 AM
#6
~>~
The shot in stays and clearance for NR brakes looks to me like a MK IV, wish I'd never sold mine.....
Check out Sheldon Brown's Retro Raleighs for pics:
Retro Raleighs: Professionals
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03-24-15, 06:50 AM
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03-24-15, 07:25 AM
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If the cranks are original and it is a '66, they would be 151 BCD. Do they have a date stamp? If so then they would be at least '73.
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03-24-15, 08:18 AM
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Those are 144 cranks...
03-24-15, 09:20 AM
#10
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Yet another number system was introduced in 1966. This new system applied to the high-end (i.e. Reynolds 531) frames, and involved the placing of a character at the beginning of the serial number. The character began at the start of the alphabet, and indicated year of manufacture. Detail about the numerals that follow the alphabet are sketchy, and are presumably sequential serial numbers of some kind.
[TABLE="class: grid, width: 512"][TR]
[TD="align: left"]1966: A, followed by four numerals
1967: B, followed by four numerals
1968: C, followed by four numerals
1969: D, followed by four numerals[/TD]
[TD="align: left"]1970: E, followed by four numerals
1971: F, followed by four numerals
1972: G, followed by four numerals
1973: H, followed by four numerals[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
Note: While this numbering scheme is generally true, there may have been some crossover use of letters at the beginning/end of each year (e.g. a "G" serial number may have been built into a bike in 1973, but the frame may have been built in 1972).
I'm just reading the frame number, which is clearly marked. My understanding after some research is that there was quite a bit of variation in production of these, even within the same year.
But it is certainly true that the numbering system has some variations as well. I'm not ready to take any component on this as more definitive than the frame number. Like I said, it had been in a very mysterious and abusive environment prior to its arrival at the co-op.
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03-24-15, 09:23 AM
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03-24-15, 09:36 AM
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They bring princely sums at auction, sometimes reaching $1k or beyond with the early levers.
The components and metalwork of the bike indicate later than the frame number. 1967 was also a significant Campagnolo introduction year, the Nuovo Record bottom bracket with the R*fled cups, 144 bolt hole circle for the cranks, the earliest version of the Nuovo Record rear mechanism.
03-24-15, 09:43 AM
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... the registration codes here.
Well, as you say, these things vary a lot; but even those variants that don't conform to the catalog were made in large numbers. The real question, I think, would be: when was the Professional introduced? , Sheldon Brown's page on the Professional mentions a couple 1973 models with A... serial numbers as well.
But it doesn't matter. It's a great catch.
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03-24-15, 09:46 AM
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Campagnolo brakes were introduced in 1968, but were very low in production numbers, the early brakes from this period are most quickly identifiable as they have no stampings on the caliper arms.
They bring princely sums at auction, sometimes reaching $1k or beyond with the early levers.
The components and metalwork of the bike indicate later than the frame number. 1967 was also a significant Campagnolo introduction year, the Nuovo Record bottom bracket with the R*fled cups, 144 bolt hole circle for the cranks, the earliest version of the Nuovo Record rear mechanism.
They bring princely sums at auction, sometimes reaching $1k or beyond with the early levers.
The components and metalwork of the bike indicate later than the frame number. 1967 was also a significant Campagnolo introduction year, the Nuovo Record bottom bracket with the R*fled cups, 144 bolt hole circle for the cranks, the earliest version of the Nuovo Record rear mechanism.
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Last edited by 3alarmer; 03-24-15 at 09:50 AM.
03-24-15, 09:47 AM
#15
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03-24-15, 11:16 AM
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I've had at least one 1973 Worksop Raleigh (based on decals and other features) that had an A serial #, so those variations are certainly out there. Actually, now that I think about it, I've never seen a confirmed 1966 with an A serial #!
03-24-15, 11:20 AM
#17
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What the chart you are referring to does not indicate is that in 1973, "A" reappeared.
Peter Kohler's Raleigh Pro page is probably the most complete info on Raleigh Pros. I own an A serialed Pro dated 1974 because it is silver and that is when the silver Raleigh Pros were introduced.
Your frame was built in 1973. It is a Mk IV
Peter Kohler's Raleigh Pro page is probably the most complete info on Raleigh Pros. I own an A serialed Pro dated 1974 because it is silver and that is when the silver Raleigh Pros were introduced.
Your frame was built in 1973. It is a Mk IV
03-24-15, 11:22 AM
#18
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Sheldon also posted a 1973 RRA that had an A serial number. Whatever, nice catch!
03-24-15, 11:45 AM
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Here is an article re: Raleigh Professionals. It indicates 1968 was the first year. It says the 'A' prefix in the serial # indicates a 1973.
ipernity: Raleigh Professionals Marks I-V, 1968-1981 by Peter Kohler
We seem to have somewhat of a mystery here!
ipernity: Raleigh Professionals Marks I-V, 1968-1981 by Peter Kohler
We seem to have somewhat of a mystery here!
Last edited by Kactus; 03-24-15 at 11:49 AM.
03-24-15, 12:00 PM
#20
incazzare.
+1. Actually I think I may have had 2 73's with "A" serials.
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03-24-15, 12:44 PM
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What a beautiful machine! I love the black. I'd be heavily inclined to spend another $100 or so for some tan-walls, classic drops, polished stem and cotton bar wrap for that period look & feel. Great bike. Or did I already say that?
03-24-15, 01:58 PM
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...maybe I was unclear. Every component you see on that bike came from my parts collection. The frame details might be indicative of something, and certainly it could be from some other year. The seatpost bolt was interesting to figure out, because it turned out to be SAE. Not unusual for a Raleigh, I guess.
Try that seat binder bolt from the back side to verify the fit, SAE might work, but my hunch is that it is a class "B" fit, and/or it was tapped to accept.
03-24-15, 02:21 PM
#23
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When you wrote "with original crank" when you purchased the bike, I assumed that was the same crank in your build up.
Try that seat binder bolt from the back side to verify the fit, SAE might work, but my hunch is that it is a class "B" fit, and/or it was tapped to accept.
Try that seat binder bolt from the back side to verify the fit, SAE might work, but my hunch is that it is a class "B" fit, and/or it was tapped to accept.
Think of it as just a bicycle. If I could change the title, I'd add a question mark....which I think you can say about a lot of these bikes
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03-24-15, 02:23 PM
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What the chart you are referring to does not indicate is that in 1973, "A" reappeared.
Peter Kohler's Raleigh Pro page is probably the most complete info on Raleigh Pros. I own an A serialed Pro dated 1974 because it is silver and that is when the silver Raleigh Pros were introduced.
Your frame was built in 1973. It is a Mk IV
Peter Kohler's Raleigh Pro page is probably the most complete info on Raleigh Pros. I own an A serialed Pro dated 1974 because it is silver and that is when the silver Raleigh Pros were introduced.
Your frame was built in 1973. It is a Mk IV
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03-24-15, 02:28 PM
#25
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What the chart you are referring to does not indicate is that in 1973, "A" reappeared.
Peter Kohler's Raleigh Pro page is probably the most complete info on Raleigh Pros. I own an A serialed Pro dated 1974 because it is silver and that is when the silver Raleigh Pros were introduced.
Your frame was built in 1973. It is a Mk IV
Peter Kohler's Raleigh Pro page is probably the most complete info on Raleigh Pros. I own an A serialed Pro dated 1974 because it is silver and that is when the silver Raleigh Pros were introduced.
Your frame was built in 1973. It is a Mk IV
G" higher serial nos (4000s up) and "A" serial nos. (1973) models have dimpled chainstays and show considerably greater front fork rake. "G"s still have mudguard eyelets, "A"s do not. Very high "A"s (9000s) have "CC" cut-out on the bb undershell. 170 mm cranks. Campagnolo Superleggero pedals marked "1037 on pedal body. New slanted white block letter "RALEIGH" logo on down tube, "Professional" script on top tube now in white instead of gold, "Carlton" on seat tube and Reynolds 531 triangle decals on fork blades. REG white/"chrome" plastic frame pump with Carlton block logo decal.
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