Here are a few shots of a recent project - a 1951 New Hudson Silver Arrow. This bike came in last year having been gone over and ridden by another collector recently. Much of the dirty work had already been done. This was from the era where New Hudson was a BSA brand.
This bike came as a drop bar single speed with a flip-flop freewheel and fixed gear hub. I built up a second set of wheels for it: a three speed wheel set using Dunlop club style rims (26 x 1-1/4 597mm). I swapped the drop bars to north road bars and replaced the road saddle with a Brooks 66. The brake levers are from a 1950s era Phillips.
The original celluloid fenders were broken in shipping, so I replaced with a comparable set of Bluemels white plastic fenders. I added a New Hudson decal from H.Lloyd decals in England.
The result is a sporty light roadster: laid back frame angles, Reynolds 531 main tubes, and an upright ride. This is the third of three bikes following that concept. I now have a 1953 Raleigh Lenton, 1949 Raleigh Clubman, and 1951 New Hudson Silver Arrow, all set up with upright bars and outfitted similar to utility bikes.
I still have a few loose ends to tie up: clean up the paint a bit, final truing of the wheels, and fine tuning of the brakes and headset. I also am considering a newer Brooks 67 saddle with an aged brown finish, but that remains an open question.
I like how the laid back frame angles combine with the lightened frame and sporty components.
New Hudson Silver Arrow (tourist configuration specs):
- 23 inch, laid back frame, Reynolds 531 main tubes
- 26 x 1-1/4 Dunlop rims, 40 holes front and 32 rear
- Sturmey Archer AW alloy shell rear hub, Raleigh branded steel front hub
- Sapim stainless steel spokes
- Steel quill stem and north road bars
- 1950s Phillips pattern brake levers
- Brooks 66 saddle (at least for now)
- Bluemels fenders with H.Lloyd New Hudson decal
- New Hudson brakes with new pads (they use John Bull pattern pads in unusual pad holders)
- Kiley front LED retro headlight
- Generic LED small tail light (uses two flat watch type batteries)
- MKS Sylvan pedals (9/16 axle)
- Banjo Brothers barrel canvas saddle bag
- Kenda 597mm tires
I really like what you've done with the New Hudson, especially as i also prefer upright bars. I have a 1950 Clubman which i did similar things to, fortunately it had the frame, forks and correct small herons chain ring to start.--Now it's a mix of period-ish correct and some newer. I have and love GB Sport brakes and stem from the 50s. I have not (yet) found GB straight bar levers.
ReplyDeletePS, some of your other posts have been super useful, i just scored a quadrant shifter--I have a late 30s loop frame BSA frame and cranks, since that's all i will use a 1930s Dutch front only rod brakes handlebar and so will do a roadster w/ front rod and rear coaster as you have done with another of your bikes. Regards from Salt Lake.
Thanks very much for the kind words. I went over a 1949 Clubman and put upright bars on that as well last summer. They make great, sporty roadster type bikes - very comfortable. It sounds like you have a great start on a couple nice projects. I love the really old bikes from before 1960 - lots of character on them. Good luck with your bikes.
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