Late 20's/30's E.F. Russ Build.

S0, I acquired a rather rare E.F. Russ frame off ebay rather unexpectedly. Yes, Russ of the famed 'Russ-type Forks) A high quality frame made of Reynolds High Manganese, the pre-curser to 531, including some rather nice details such as a chain hanger, and bottom bracket and head clip oil ports.

Decided to build it up as a fixed gear , as this was the norm on club and racing bikes of the period.

So far, this is where I have got too:

Frame, head clip and stem, bailey type bars and bSA double fluted crankset with will aims chainring (1937 date code)

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Reynolds High Manganese Tubing Decal.

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The famous Russ Pattern Forks

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Head badge decal and unusually sized 31/32 inch head clip with built in races etc.

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Bailey pattern bars. Planning to wrap these in black cotton cloth bar tape

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Lovely cottered BSA double fluted cranks, painted with cream enamel to match frame decals.

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Those cranks and Williams chainring again, showing double fluting.

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Period Chater Lea Sprint pedal with wire toeclip.

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The other pedal, unusual Brooks B10 Saddle and Cotton Bar tape.

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Springs on the B!). This saddle is in pretty rough nick, and I have had to rivet a split together on one side. But as I'm planning on trying to keep and appropriate patina and look to the bike rather than over re-storing it I think it will be fine.

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The wheels on it in the photo are 26 1 1/4 inch Dunlop Special Lightweights on Atom hubs, I had off an old Raleigh Lenton. Was planning to cut the hubs out and have them built up on an old small flange British Hub Co. Airlite front hub, and something on the back, possibly a nice Baylis Wiley double fixed all steel hub I have, although I think this may be a bit to late for this bike. I would dearly love a fixed Sturmey TF wheelset that I saw on Ebay recently but it was just too much for my shallow pockets, alas...

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Also planning to add a handlebar mounted bottle cage to hold this rather battered aluminium water bottle I have, and waiting on a conloy domed seat post, and need to source some period brakes-callipers and levers, which is proving by far the hardest part....

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Nice! Subscribed!

Nice pre war bike!
I wonder if something a bit more unusual would look good for a set of brakes ...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Bicycle-1930s-Bsa-Brakes-Parabike-/261758226438?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cf2019006
You fitting front and back brakes? Or just a single?

Was going to fit front and back brakes, yes. Have just received some nice period bsa levers, but unsure about what brakes. Brakes seem to be about the hardest things to find, it seems, so maybe I will look into thosa Parabke brakes, yes

btw, I've got a pair of GB Sport long reach brakes, but they're too long for my Holdsworth:
Got them for 30 quids, so happy to sell them for the same price + sh if you're interested?

They are more from the 50s though :/

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nice build so far, looking forward to seeing the finished bike.

Also subscribed
Have you looked at the 1939 Brown Brothers Catalogue for brakes?
a few pages there.

Resilion brakes?

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Oh no, hadn't seen tha catalogue. That's good, gives me a few more options to look out for.

I leave those brakes for now I think anidel, as need all the funds I can get at the moment,but may take them off your hands if you still have them in a few months, when I hope to start work on the Raleigh Record Ace I just picked up.

Thanks though.

No worries. I am still not sure myself what to do.
Got this wheelset but it's 27" and the frame was built for 26" 1 1/4 so they are bigger and finding short reach calipers from the 30s-50s is not easy.
But changing wheelset is also not really an option given the cost. :/

Since Resilion brakes clamp onto the fork blades/seat stays there is never a problem with the rim size - you just clamp the brake in the correct position.

Naturally there are plenty of other problems, the major one being the complex cable system. However this can be overcome by using a 'Mafac ' style straddle cable. This mod. does sacrifice originality, but it works. It would be quite complicated to describe in detail, but if anyone wants to know how to do it - send me a p.m.

i want to see this resilion mod...... pictures?

I did think of Resilion yes, but what is putting me off is the difficulty of finding all the parts, cables etc for the. And the difficulty of setting them up as well, to be honest.

Anidel. What are the 27" wheels you have for the Holdsworth?

all part of the fun..... and they look flipin' rad.