First Project of 2023 - Raleigh Reg Harris Lenton

 The first half of winter 2022-23 has been devoted mostly to cleaning and refurbishing a number of old parts I have on hand and building wheel sets.

But a few weeks ago, I acquired a 1953 Raleigh "Reg Harris" Lenton model from another collector. This bike was originally located in Columbia, Maryland, not far from where I used to live just outside of Washington, DC. I like the 23 inch frame on 26 inch wheels size.

 

The bike was not in bad shape overall. It needed a cleaning and refurbishing. As is so often the case, the celluloid fenders were broken. But the bike is basically all there and a really nice example of a premium bike. I really like the green color.

I have taken the bike apart, cleaned it, and am in the process of getting everything straight and ready for reassembly. I located a set of early 1950s aluminum fenders from a seller in Britain. They need some work, but are in much better shape than the broken original celluloid fenders.

I have no pictures of the work so far because it's all stuff I have covered in the past: cleaning and re-packing bottom brackets, cleaning and preparing brakes, cleaning the frame (carefully, given the fragile green paint), cleaning and lubing hubs, resurfacing cones when needed, etc. 

I will try to show the work I will be doing that is different from subjects covered many times before (refurbishing aluminum fenders, custom lights, etc.). 

I look forward to getting this bike on the road. The frame has Reynolds 531 main tubes (it's a very light and well-balanced frame) and ornate lugs. The wheels seem to be in pretty good shape, and are the premium Dunlop 26 x 1-1/4 type with Raleigh and Sturmey hubs.

An Interesting Advertisement: 1940s Schwinn Continental

I came across the ad below this morning, which is one I had not see before - an ad for a 1940s Schwinn Continental geared toward adult riders in the United States. I've seen quite a few of these catalogs and ads from the period between the late 1930s and early 1950s, mostly those from Schwinn and Westfield/Columbia, advertising adult-oriented utility bicycles in the U.S. 

But this was an ad I have not seen before, and I especially like how it advertises the Continental three speed Schwinn as a practical cycle for exercise, vacation, and utility transportation. 

I've written before about the interesting attempt by some of the American bike builders to revive adult-oriented utility and leisure cycling in the period from about 1938 through the early 1950s. (see my 2017 article and my 2015 article). It is too bad bicycles like this did not take off more in that time period... over 20 years before the second "bike boom" (the first was in the 1890s) in the U.S. I also like how the ad references "foreign" bicycles, likely the English Raleigh and Hercules three speeds coming into the U.S. just after WWII.

Pre-WWII Lobdell Rims Built into Wheels

 A couple of days ago, I took a few pictures of a decent set of pre-WWII Lobdell rims. Here is the constructed wheelset: Sturmey Archer AW 3-speed rear hub, Schwinn hourglass front hub, Torrington double-butted spokes, DT Swiss 14mm spoke nipples.

That's two wheelsets built over the past three weeks. I still have more wheels to build. I have a set of 1950s S-6 Schwinn rims to build into a three speed wheelset, and I have to re-build a set of 1940s Schwinn Stainless S6 rims into a wheelset (spokes rusted on that second set). 

After that, I have to turn my attention to some Raleigh wheels to build. I've got a set of matte-center 1950s Westrick rims to build with, as well as a 1940s set of Dunlop Special Lightweight rims to build into wheels.

Lots to be done still...