1947 Hobbs of Barbican Clubweight Build and many other old builds

PM sent about a lead for the cranks.
great time in Cambodia; passports go off this week for visas for Myanmar.
Philip

What a super star you are Philip. Will definitely let you know how I get on!

Right, so thanks to a lead from @Big_Block, I've got some Williams C1200 Cranks, chainring and bolts on the way for this. Thanks so much for putting me in touch with the gent. The internet won today!
My bars also arrived today. They look lovely.
They're (just) prewar maes type. A suitable choice I think for a '46 bike I think.
They read as follows :
Tour de Championna
France Du Monde
S.Maes M. Kint
Depose Brevete
Bit scratched round the where someone has tried to fir them into a too small stem but reckon they should tidy up ok. Is there a definitive guide for lighhtly polishing alloy parts? Any heavy polishing would remove the engraving which is already quite faint on one side.

Hi @ElGato, did you ever decide what the optimum chain length was for the Osgear on your Bates?

glad to facilitate.
For the scratches on your Titan handlebar, I would start with a metal polish to clean all the rubbish from the metal. You could assess how far you want/need to go with sanding.
Then I would gently use some very fine [800] wet and dry on the area that isn't clamped. My preference would be to keep the engraving and accept some patina.

Well, the cranks arrived today. Much better condition than I thought they'd be in as they've been rechromed! Classic Lightweight Williams C1200 Porn. I've been a lucky boy indeed! Bonus and at what I'd consider to be a pretty good price too!
Need to date them now. Here are some pics.

It's 1957

is the component collection now finished?
[if it ever can be]
as I am keen to see the build commence.

Can't wait for this to come together!

Neither can I!
Unfortunately, it might be a while as I still need the following and no
more money at the moment:
Front hub
Rims
Spokes
Headset (have a Brampton one I can use but will probably swap out when I
find something more correct)
BB
Bar Tape
Tyres
Saddle
Chain
Cages
Straps

Anyone know what year Brooks started making the swallow?

what size will you go for for the rims and tyres ?

And what type of chain as well ?

Anyone know what year Brooks started making the swallow?

Short answer: 1936
Extra information: In an article 'Brooks Sporting Saddles' in The Boneshaker, 183 Summer 2010, Alexander von Tutschek wrote 'The Swallow was introduced in 1936 as a new sporting saddle and remained in production into the 1960s'.
The 1937 Books catalogue in the V-CC library records that it was

Designed to assist riders who are anxious to convert every ounce of energy into driving power. The touring "multimiler," no less than the racing man, will profit by the absence of impediment to thigh thrust. The "Swallow's" cut-away lines conduce to coolness. Flap spreading and consequent friction is eliminated.'

I will refrain from commenting on the copy.

Pretty sure it's made for 26" wheels. Haven't got anything in mind yet but will wait and see what comes my way. If anyone has anything nice, period correct and desirable, please let me know! Not sure about chains yet.

Lols at flap spreading!
Many thanks Philip. If you know of anyone that has a nice old swallow that they no longer need, you know what to do :)

why not make your own version of the Swallow. Then you can claim you are able to "conduce to coolness"
the latest Cambridge Lightweight News (58) should inspire you. The article starts at p7
my latest recover (as you know) for my Hobbs, as I didn't wish to rely upon leather 69 years old to bear my weight.

my first attempt, in 2009, was Swallowesque

and how to do it

or get Skully to trim one up

Mine was made for 26" something, finding those rims and tyres is a pain in the ass.

I have some 26 1 /4 rims, although not that desirable to be honest. (Dunlop steel -not marked lightweight and a rigid on a sturmy hub..I think I may have a spare 26 1/4 tyre as well-gumwall as I recall. From what I remember the Dunlop came on a sturmy fm hub dated 49, so most probably from around then.

Pics of rims here: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/271583/#comment12407533

Yeah those are the ones i have got and are they heavy. Sourcing nice tyres has been problematic too

true. They are heavy. I'll have look tomorrow to see if I can find that spare tyre if you like, and photograph it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261978486803?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

These nice dunlop alloy are on ebay at the moment. I know they were around in the late 40's but not sure about earlier.

Alexander von Tutschek in his article Wheels for 1945-60s classic lightweights on the Classic Lightweights site records they were available from 1946, and with a caution.

1. Dunlop alloy turn up occasionally and look very attractive. BEWARE. There is a very shallow well in these rims and getting a tyre on ( even a Dunlop) can be difficult. Getting one off after a puncture on a ride can be a nightmare. I know, it has happened to me. 1946- 1955
   

and another set BIN £150.00

Yeah, I read that. I have some on my EF Russ, but they came with tyres so not encountered this problem yet. They are lovely looking though, kind of like a very refined Weinmann Alesa

It was a nightmare!

This is looking good!

Getting the chain length right was a bit of trial and error. I cannot remember how many links it has got but I did join two chains together.

I have used the same chain length with 48T and 44T chainrings and two different 3 speed blocks (one close ratio, one wide) and it worked with both setups.
The tensioner arm does take a fair amount of chain slack.

Cheers!
Going to try and get the '46 finished this year.
Anyone got any contacts for some classic lightweight approved 26 1 1/4 period correct rims? i.e Dunlop or Constrictor?
I know you all have a great network of contacts so any help that you can provide would be great.

some rims listed in the classifieds of the latest V-CC News and Views that arrived this week