Pre 1950s rides of LFGSS: old bikes, vintage rats, classic lightweights

Thanks for that, had already seen the listing. Looks as if they may be the Stainless version rims, but in poor shape. Probably a good buy on the basis of the hubs alone.
Colin

Dunlop Special Lightweight = chrome plated steel
Dunlop Stainless Special Lightweight= Stainless

The 7th photo in that ebay listing has them as Dunlop Special Lightweight

The description does make reference (incorrectly) to Stainless in the rim condition and yes, you are quite correct, ythey are the chromed steel version.

I have a 40/32 pair of the dunlop chrome rims I don't need. The 40 has a slight bulge on the brake track, reckon a bit of vise can fix it. In otherwise great condition. Cheap if meet / collected, I'm in SE London, could drop within 10miles or so.

That would explain the price?
Very useful info.

That's brilliant - thanks for the links. So it looks like sizes were between 1" and 1-1/4".

I've come across a bit of a problem with my repaint. The Halfords paint I'm using is reacting with traces of whatever is left on the fork. I managed to get the fork to what looked like completely free of the old paint but it is still reacting in places. I won't be able to get the frame anywhere near as clean because of the nooks and crannies. I think I'm going to strip off the paint I've put on the fork and switch to enamel, which I know won't react. It'll also give a better finish than Halfords black which is crap.

Thanks for the offer, Its early days, so will see if I can find the Constrictor Asp rims I am really after.

Does anyone fancy enlightening me about Airlite hubs: I heard somewhere they're different size flanges that mean with 40h 4x and 32h 3x, you can use spokes that are the same length. True? The calc I'm using is bringing up an almost 2mm difference (front shorter than rear), making me think I need two lengths.

Skully, Warren has some comments. Apparently the rule applies to hubs other than Airlite large flange models.

I have two sets, one earlier set has larger flanges on the rear 40H, smaller flange on the front 32H. The later Airlite continental, with Q/R has the same size flanges front and rear, if my memory serves me correctly

The airlite I've seen def had smaller flanges on the front than the rear hub. Can't remember what the difference was though

It just so happens that I have a pair here, of the older, different size flange type.
Rear flange diameter is 3.5", front flange is 3"
Hope this helps

The Resilion ones I used on my BSA have a much bigger rear flange (WEHEY!) but the spoke lengths were different front and rear. I hadn't considered that it might be to keep the spoke lengths constant. I don't remember whether they were longer on the front or back wheel though.

Can you take some pictures of the Fisher? Would really like to see it.

Two years later! Turns out I'm at my parents and was looking at this thread before breakfast... I went to the garage, quick dusting and photo shoot in the garden.

So, this is not the most sympathetic restoration, but it was a long time ago and I did what I could... I worked in Paris then and found that bike in a skip on my way to the office. No wheels, rotten steel mudguards. I was cycling but managed to drag it to work. I couldn't take it home because I lived at relatives, no space for it. So I left it at work, which was in some kind of industrial mews. Most days after office hours I'd spend a bit of time on it. "Re spray" (there was nothing left of what would not have been the original paint anyway) with some mat black anti rust paint, which kept the bike in its "legit patina"... I think this part of my job was ok... Metallic grey car paint for the (O so classy Philippe) stem/bar combo and seat pin... They were really really not good cosmetically, I could just have brushed and do some kind of blackened steel effect, but whatever... Rebuild and re greased the bb and headset if I remember right, and re installed the only and rear brake, strange, but that's how I found it. Red bar tape, because the old rotten crackly handles were red. The wheels are obviously not period, I bought them at the local decathlon at the time, 700c, some (still made in France) Rigida rims on generic hubs.
I wanted steel mudguards and these are from a shop in Paris that do Dutch bikes. Sadly they came with too short stays, so setup is a bit weird, and limited tire size to 35c. An easily perfectible thing though. I never got round repairing the front porteur rack that came with it, because it needs brazing at the ends of the stays and I didn't have the facility.
When I finished the bike, which was made in Paris I believe in the 20s / 30s, I rode it home and it felt like traveling back in time, going over the Seine on the Austerlitz bridge. Awesome feeling.

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I should sell it to some real amateur over here, who could compete the job maybe, otherwise this will carry on living in my parents garage. I rode it like, every 5 years, for the sake of it... Such a weird ride...

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It actually says Fisher Freres (meaning brothers), Rue Saint Denis in Paris.

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Long Reydel saddle is long...

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I think it's very cool....you did a decent job on that!

@veLLo +1 lovely. That stem angle ... beaut.

and a little spam here too... sorry

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/291043/#comment13146831

Final build on the Parkes is ON. Frame painted and wheels built. Tyres are on their way, wingnuts for the front on their way. I just need to find a brake lever and I think that's it.

Scuse the plasterboard. It's not just the bikes which are WIP!

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Fantastic!
"dat" seatpost! Any story being? Seems silly, in an awesome way...

Haha, I wanted some comically silly drillium, the sort of silly thing they'd have done back then with big scary looking holes and no regard for personal wellbeing!

Drillium does have some history, but I would not be comfortable riding that.