1947 Hobbs of Barbican Clubweight Build and many other old builds

@falconvitesse There's a '49 Criterium model on the bay at the moment.

I saw this its nice but im after a Continental Superbe. How is your Hobbs? Its the Hobbs ride this weekend.

I have just become the proud owner of a 1946 Hobbs of Barbican with most of its original components.

the bike as collected:
serial number is a 1946 production

components identified so far
headset: Lytaloy
stem: Reynolds two bolt
handlebars: Reynolds Hiduminium possibly with the Bailey bend
levers: later Shimano [to be discarded] but the GB Hiduminium Standard cable adjusters intact, so it points to these as the original brake levers
brake calipers: GB Hiduminium front [stamped],rear GB stamped but missing the Hiduminium stamping, indicating it is the first generation
hubs: Chater Lea low flange, front 32H with axle grease nipple, rear 40H fixed/free
rims: Conloy Asp 26" 32 hole front, 40 hole rear
chainset: Williams with the chain ring having the AI markings of the 1946 production
pedals: Chater Lea
rear derailleur: later Huret [to be discarded]
saddle: Brooks B17 narrow
seat post: Reynolds Hiduminium domed
Photos of the components are in the Photobucket album
I was well aware of Hobbs from this thread and I very much enjoyed watching the build develop.

the intention is to dismantle, clean and polish and rebuild. The GB Hiduminium Standard brake levers are on the shopping list.
Always happy to learn about Hobbs and to read suggestions.

Adelaide, Australia is a long way from where it originated.

lovely.

Philip,
That's amazing. If you ever sell it, I'll have first dibs.
Those Lytaloy headsets are a thing of beauty.
Any idea what flavour of Hobbs it is? Track dropouts and no braze-ons but conversion to roadbike?

When I get back home I will contact the V-CC Marque Enthusiast (I have joined) to see if he can identify the model.

There is another recent 1946 build in Missouri
I like to think of them as rear facing dropouts. Derailleurs were still to stake their dominance that we know today. Hopefully I will get the details from the original owner.

That's in wonderful original condition Philip, very envious!

I took my '46 on a wild camping micro tour of Normandy last year. It performed like a champ, even though it was weighed down with kit.

Normandy Fields by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

Normandy Cycle Tour by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

Funny i was looking at these pictures this morning while looking for a model name for "Big Blocks" new bike, any idea which model yours is as the lugs look very similar from where i am sitting.
Very inspiring photos by the way. I wanna go on a "Normandy Cycle Tour" right now...!

are you willing to disclose your 1946 serial number? (OK to substitute the last 2 numbers with NN)
I have a theory on working out the elusive 1946 serial numbers.
I am suggesting the third and fourth digit represent the month, and the remainder represent the sequential build number for the year.
The numbering was changed in 1947 to have the month as a letter followed by the year. So it makes sense.
The bike is stripped down, ready for its back seat ride to Adelaide (1386kms away) later this week.
The seller described my frame as a Raceweight. Yet to be confirmed.
Philip

@Quiet_Mike, I love your bike.
You doing Eroica Britannia this year?
Anyone got a Hobbs frame with original patina sub £120.00 that they want to sell me? I've been amassing inch pitch bits.

1 Attachment

Oh, and looking for a Lytaloy headset if anyone has one.

I'd love to do Eroica again, and my nipper Aitch is super keen too! I'm just struggling with the £165 for both of us this year ... Not that it's overpriced compared to last year. If I'd got in early 2014 would have been way underpriced, cheap as chips! I think I'm just going to have to stump up and find the money from somewhere :-/

Frame number for the Hobbs. Philip, we're in the middle of a garage demolition here, so forgive the photo but all the crap that a 60+ year garage tends to accumulate is all shoehorned into the bikeshed at the moment. I just managed to squeeze an arm and torch in to get this shot!
46 09 13 14
I wasn't bothered about sharing the whole number, but you got me worried when you said about hiding the last two digits. I've no idea 'whats the worst that can happen' from sharing a bike frame number. But anyway ...
*edit - updated after Philip posted his frame number ;-)

I've been told my bike could be a Raceweight ... Here's a slightly better view of the lug work. This is a shot I took when I first got my greasy mitts on it in 2003.

1946 Hobbs of Barbican GB brake lever detail by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

1946 Hobbs of Barbican front brake by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

Hobbs of Barbican, 1946 by zombikombi1959, on Flickr

some people get concerned that their frame number may end up on another frame and be passed off a the real deal. Unlikely these frames could be easily replicated.
Mine:

So by my speculation, mine was built in 1946, 09 means September, and the 1293rd frame for the year.
Yours, according to my speculation, was also built in September just after mine. This supports my theory. I will email Peter the V-CC Marque Enthusiast.

I've updated my previous post Philip, in light of your reply ;-)
Genuinly interesting results. Our frames are very close in date if your theory is correct, and it makes total sense to me. Also interested in the differences in our frames as well. The different fork crown caught my eye - mine has spearpoint ends. And both different to 7VEN's! Also your lugwork has cleaner lines too.

The Internet. Enabling you to find rare stuff since forever!
My wanted ad on Retrobike last week has netted be this beauty. Far from perfect but certainly rare and useable and at an amazing price. Aiming to get the bike in a slightly more period correct guise for Eroica this year.
Need a new BB axle as the one I have is too long and is throwing the chain line off slightly. It's also not 100% straight :)
Any suggestions on correct length?

if you get flooded with more of those headsets, I know another person who is after one for his Blue Riband build.

Just taken mine out. Not going to be much use as to the correct size. It is 138.9mm!

no chance of it ever hitting the chain stays.

Will do, I'm always on the lookout for Lytaloy stuff so will let you know if I come across another.
Thanks for taking the measurements. Think I might get a range of sizes and see what works best.

Talk to me about pumps. I've measured between the pegs and it's 47cm or 18 1/2 inches. What brands should I be on the lookout for?

Is that BB shell a standard for that years? Got the same on my 39 Holdsworth

I have no knowledge. We would need to get the others to post photos.

I think its a Vaughan's of Birmingham BB shell

I'm extremely disappointed in myself.
I've somehow managed to acquire another bike (well frame and bits). I'll be giving @luckyskull a run for his money soon.
It is supposedly a 1946 Hobbs of Barbican Cubman. I haven't heard of the 'clubman' model yet so will need to do some more investigating.
Not sure what I'm going to do with it. Any thoughts? Off to my storage locker for a while till inspiration strikes. Anyone recognise the cranks or headset?
Will get some better pics up when I pick it up.
If bikes were cats, the RSPCA would have been round long ago to prosecute me.

nice...... is it a Williams chianset?

Possibly! Won't know till I pick it up but might be.

I haven't heard of the 'clubman' model yet so will need to do some
more investigating.

Thread title?
well done, earlier in September '46 than mine.
It is in good hands.
Very interested to see if the Hiduminium stampings are on your callipers.
I have now had made some 'rubber' cable bands that you might be interested in.

Smashing frame, looks like a Lytaloy headset to. Is it a club weight? I have one exactly the same, same year also. Used it for commuting great ride and very light for its age.