RRA, Raleigh Record Ace Post War. Model 26.

As a Nottingham born boy, I've always had a certain love for Raleigh, and for the last few years have promised my self I'd one day get a post war RRA, the pinnacle of Raleigh bikes (prior to G.O.D at least. )

Well, as look would have it, about 3 months ago I spied a poorly listed and badly photographed one going cheap on ebay, in a rather sorry state in Oxford,, with horrible paint and a jumble of parts.

IT's been hanging around in the storage space for about 3 months as I finish other things, but now it's time as come.

I've stripped most of the jumble of crappy old parts (some of which is on sale here now-nothing special though I'm afraid.), and collected a few bits so far.

The f & F with original RRA head clip:

IT's been painted with a horrible thick yellow paint. I tried to strip it gently to reveal the original paint etc but it was nigh on impossible, so it'll have to go for re-enamalling somewhere soon.

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I managed to get some idea of the original paint though-looks to have been a dark raleigh green enamel, as mentioned in the original catalogue:

http://threespeedhub.com/post-war-raleigh-record-ace/

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This frame has pretty much all the braze on's it could, including brake cable clips, lamp and mudguard mounts, chain hanger and fittings for the special RRA saddle bag support (There was one of these on ebay last week that I was going to bid on, but it went for over £200!)

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It came with the original Reynolds alloy very long seat post, and I've collected a few bits so far, including some Reynolds alloy Pelissier Handlebars and A rare 1950's Sturmey AC close ratio hub.

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sturmey ac

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I've also managed to get hold of some GB hinduminium brakes with early levers (sadly lack the adjusters off the top if anyones has any of these...?) and some lovely convoy constrictor 27 inch rims that should arrive relatively soon.

Now need a stem, front hub and to choose ac chain set. I would really like to hold out for the special RRA stem,chainset and pedals that came with the full RRA, but these are incredibly hard to find and very expensive (as the price of the saddlebag support will testify!)

I do have an older pre war chain set that I could use for now, but it has lost all it's chrome/nickel plating and I'm not sure if it would look out of place on a newly repainted bike. Also, it would be 10-20 years too early for an RRA of this period, so unsure. Any ideas lot suggestions more than welcome. I thought maybe a Williams 1200 or Chater Lea, or maybe a period stronglight 5 pin. But suggestions welcome.

For the re-enamel I was going to take it to Mercian as they look good,and have history and there shop in Derby is easy enough to get to from my parents in Notts. Anyone got any thoughts/experience of them, or anything good nearer to London where I am now?

Nice!

Well Mercial will do a faboulous job of course and you'll pay for it. Cheaper option is Mario Vaz in Hither Green.

It looks like a great project! Well done so far.

Yeah, I realise Mercian will be fairly pricey but it's easy for me to get to next time I visit my parents in Notts, and I think as I coveted one of these for a while I'm happy to pay for it this time, as I reckon this will be a definite keeper that I add to when parts come up over the years.

In that case go for the best quality paint :)

Yeah, I was thinking plain enamel either no 32 or no 25,

http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/colours

both of which are close to the original raleigh green or black enamels, and I've always wanted a green bike, due to my dad have a green 60's Carlton with green airline hubs since he was a kid.

I'd like 35.

Yeah like Carlton's green too. I'm on a Facebook Carlton group and there are plenty in green, one of their nicest colors.

can you get the frame date?
serial numbers

The frame number is 390105P, which would make it earlier than any I can find, possibly one of the first of the 1947 run. Also, it has 'D' sectioned forks, which means it has to be one of the 40's ones as this option was withdrawn by 1950. O know the hub is a bit later, but it does not seem to unlikely to me that many frames could have been updated as it time went along.
The frame also has what I think is it's original RRA specific bottom bracket cups, they're certainly unlike any other I've seen. (although I admit I'm a long way from being and expert)

ok, this frame should be going for a repaint sometime pretty soon. I wavering a bit on the plain green enamel, anyone else got any suggestions, in case I do change my mind.
It'll be going to mercian most likely, so here is a link to there colour options:

http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/colours

jeff80, glad this popped up, looking at a later 1957 Superbe project bike which is maybe 90% original/complete and after a spray down and wipe over with wd40 is in fairly good order(not as rusty as it appeared) wavering more to a damn good clean and polish and the rougher patina befitting it's age than the full strip down and re-paint.
I dated mine as a 56 SA hub (4spd dyna rear hub) and a 57 frame, although i am not sure on the frame, and a lot of Superbe's where made. I did notice that the frame dating guides are not super accurate for some models and claims Raleigh have re-used serial numbers over varying models over time.
While our bikes are very different, but fairly close in age, something on yours has caught my eye.

On your frame you appear to have 2 grease-nipples, (head tube/BBshell) are they both standard/original fittings ? or later shop fittings for the owner ?

I have a similar fitting on my BB-shell but it appears to be a flip top oil port and is on the drive side of the shell, i haven't noticed a head tube port (and the bike is tucked away again until i get round to collecting it)
Still looking for info and manuals on mine before i start playing with the electrics :)

Will be following your build, can't wait for the re-paint, i will blame the yanks for the ebay prices on bits :) as a lot of my looking around has been on american sites who really like doing the full works and better than new showroom condition rebuilds(thus not so many parts about)

yah, tell me about it. I think they're original great nipples, they seem to appear on other images if RRA's I seen.
Tell me about the prices, just go outbid on ebay for a RRA-specific chainring earlier today, only time i've see one come up in over 2 years. They paid £80 for it nearly in the end, but I have the feeling they'd have gone much much higher on the bidding if they needed too, so I had no chance really. Very annoying, as I don't imagine I'll see another for a good few years at least!

Keen to see this built up

OK, got some components together over the last few eels and being sorted through them and cleaned them up a bit. I don't want to clean things up too much as I want to keep a bit of age related patina even if the frame is being re-painted.

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lovely pair of constrictor conloy 26 1 1/4 rims, have a bit of pitting but have apparently never been build up, according to the seller. I was going to go for 27 1/4 but can't seem to find many for a half way affordable price. I have managed to get one constrictor 27" front wheel too on solite rim, but it is bucked to s%@t and really needs a rebuild. Still if anyone had a 'spare 'back of this size they could possibly part with I may still be tempted yet.

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I've polished them up to a soft sheen and got rid of the worst of the pitting, don't really want to polish them more as they look nice as they are I think.

They will be build up onto:

A Powell of Coventry large flange on the front

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And a Sturmey AC close ratio from 1950 on the rear

(sorry, can't get a decent photo of this)

I have one Sturmey wing nut to go with this, so if anyone has another spare to sell...?

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I have two possible axles, a brampton 127mm and a TDC 124mm one, but need to try these to see if they fit ok in the raleigh specific 71mm bottom bracket shell, as I can't find a short enough raleigh one. I did find a slightly earlier raleigh one but it's diameter is a mm or so too thick to fit in the canter lea crankset. Never encountered this problem of a too think axle before, anyone else ever seen it?

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