If you are trying to determine the genealogy of your bicycle by it's features, go to our Vintage Bicycle Price Guide
which details bicycle features, wheel sizes, brake types, etc., as well as showing a price estimate for your old bicycle.
If you are trying to determine the make and model of your bicycle, go to our Vintage Bicycle Picture Database
which details bicycle features, wheel sizes, etc., as well as showing a price estimate for your vintage bicycle.
| I just came across a Sturmey Archer rear hub stamped 1 55 (NOS). The strange thing is it is a single speed drum brake hub with fixed gear threads. It has 2 sizes of threads for fixed gear cog and lockring. There is no letter stamping for type of hub like BR or other type. It is stamped Sturmey Archer. Another weird thing is the axle threads are not typical Sturmey threads but standard British threads so regular wing nuts can be treaded to it. Does anyone have any Sturmey Archer books showing this hub and what type it is. by: 216.95.55.122 |
| Sounds like a BRC by: 69.150.212.189 |
| Thanks Sam I have owned a BRC before but it had a treading for freewheel only not with the extra lockring threads. I plan on using this one on a fixed gear bike with 700c alloy rims if I can find a 40 hole rim. by: 216.95.55.193 |
| I have just purchased a Rudge ladies bicycle from the son of the original owner. It is totally as it came new, the decals, the front badge, the rear reflector, and perhaps the tires, which are narrow whitewalls. The down tube has a decal saying in small letters made in england, but bigger letters saying MUSTANG, and a picture of a horse and rider.It has a Sturmy Archer 3-speed hub. I also think the blue and white seat is original as the bike is blue with a white part on the rear fender. Can anyone tell me anything about this bicycle? Thanks, Bill by: 64.12.116.202 |
| Sounds like a most interesting find. Perhaps the "Mustang" is akin' to the Raleigh "Colt"? What was the year of manufacture (you should be able to find a date-code stamped on the shell of the rear hub)? Good luck with it! Regards, Larry "Boneman" Bone by: 69.39.169.89 |
| Larry, I cleaned the hub off enough to read the date, it looks like 63, i doubt if its 53 but it is hard to read. Bill by: 205.188.113.162 |
| All of the English 3-speeds will have the white "tail" on the fender. The blue and white saddle certainly suggests 60s, not earlier. by: 66.30.200.82 |
| The date on the hub is 1963 then, any idea of the value of this bike? by: 152.163.100.198 |
| Look at ebay prices for a while. Women's frames generally bring less money than men's frames. You'll be surprised how LITTLE money a high-quality English bike in excellent condition will actually bring. You won't get rich from English 3-speeds! by: 66.30.200.82 |
| I'm surprised English 3-speeds sell for as low as they do. Where can you get such a perfect commuter bike for under $300? Right now I'd say the average price for a tuned up 3-speed is around $100 -$150 here in the US. As gasoline prices go up, people will start using bikes for short trips and demand for these ultimate commuter bikes will go up too. Whaddya think? by: 63.102.203.28 |
| Hmmmm... I think that the SUV crowd (no offence to SUV owners), if motivated to procure a velocipede for commuting, will go for some techno-marvel somethingorother that will cost a small fortune. Leaving those of us with a true love for British Bicycles... unmolested in our quest to rescue and restore... I mean really... there's a feller here that I work with... spent more on a set of PEDALS than I paid for my DL-1!!! Regards, Larry "Boneman" Bone by: 65.204.27.12 |
| Does anyone know of a product that will halt the fading of transfers? Perhaps some sort of clear coat? Any input would be most welcomed. by: 152.163.100.202 |
| I think clear coat(copal varnish)will only protect the decal from damage--not fading. Color fading had something to do with UV rays(light)and decals printed from an inkjet printer I'm told fade fast.Best to keep the decals out of direct sunlight as much as possible.---sam by: 69.150.212.189 |
| Try a spray auto clearcoat acrylic with UV inhibitors. by: 63.175.166.241 |
| I recently came into a Dunelt 10 speed that I feel well predates the Raleigh Dunelts. I know this is not a roadster, it is a lightweight, but you guys know more about Dunelts than the light weight correspondents do - The headset indicates that it was made in Birmingham, it came fairly complete with Resilion three piece hubs and single shift lever, it has a T.D. Cross and Sons five speed freewheel, dunlop steel rims, an Alatet sealed headset, Benelux 60 front shifter, and Brampton cottered cranks. The frame is 531, straight gage, main tubes only, and the sticker says '531' with single quotes, horizontally. The bike appears to have a sand cast bottom bracket, with both right and left cable guides in place (that may be a later addition?)...I haven't torn appart the handlebars and stem yet, so I can't say if there are any identifying marks there. The bike, by the way, is a Fleur De Lis model, and in reasonably good shape. What I'd like to know is y'all's opinion of the age of this fine scooter. Anyone know the code for the serial numbers? Is there a website for these bikes? And, if anyone has managed to repair that brown transparent over gold base coat paint (similar to early Raleighs), how'd you do it? I would like to keep the finish and decals original if at all possible, but the top coat on the frame is pretty rough... Thanks in advance - luker by: 67.41.253.172 |
| I'm guessing it's a 50s with fancy lugs.Maybe someone can tell the year the benelux60 first came out.The B.C.C. bought Raleigh in 1960 , and placed all of their brands under Raleigh management--but for a year or so regular production stayed in B'ham.Many of the parts you list were original to the B.C.C.,so it does sound like a pre-raleigh bike.---sam by: 69.151.98.53 |
| Thanks sam. I think that the Benelux 60 came out in 1951. But, this bike is certainly newer than that. I'd like to find a suitable rear, as this bike came with a steel suntour spirit fitted (well, sort of fitted). by: 67.41.253.172 |
| http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6519411422&ssPageName=MERC_BC_ReBay_Pr4_PcY_BID also check out the other great books he has 4-sale.No relation--but did buy one book and bidding on another!---sam by: 69.151.98.53 |