1947 Hobbs of Barbican Superbe build

I had thought that I had a Lytaloy BB axle and asked @7ven to post a picture of his to see if mine matched. From the picture he posted, although mine was hollow like his the way the hole was drilled didn't look the same.

I had been reluctant to strip down the BB, as I am constantly using the bike, but felt I needed to to find out what the BB axle was (the BB cups had no markings).

It turns out my BB axle is a Bayliss Wiley No. 15. I looked in the 1952 Brown Brothers catalogue and found a matching hollow BB axle although this was marked 15R (racing?). I have found mention here that Bayliss & Wiley introduced a hollow BB axle in 1953 but it is described with the name featherweight. So I'm not sure exactly what I have, although I have a feeling it might be a later version than 1953, looking at the stamping.

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What are peoples thoughts regarding wheel sizes and tyre availability? Currently both my Hobbs have 26 x 1 1/4 wheels, but I was thinking of fitting 27 x 1 1/4 wheels to the Superbe because its easier to get tyres. Is it possible to still get decent 26 x 1 1/4 tyres, and what about in 5 years time? Is anyone still making new 26 x 1 1/4 tyres?

I was looking for gum walled 26 x 1 1/4 tyres recently and simply couldn't find them anywhere. The one I managed to find turned out to be 26 x 1 1/4 x 1 3/8 and is very fat. Not what I was after at all.

Just interested in peoples thoughts and experiences.

Lovely bike!

I found it impossible to get any gumwall 26x 1 1/4 tyres for my (now gone) Hercules. Kenda and Raleigh did them until recently but now only produce all black ones (and they look pretty bog standard). Options for 27 x 1 1/4 seem fairly limited too now...

Thanks #nonowt, your previous Hercules looks fantastic.

I am on the lookout for replacement rims for my Superbe at them moment and have pretty much decided on 27 inch rims purely because I want to be able to get decent tyres. I want to use this bike a lot so don't want to be afraid of wearing the tyres out. And gum wall tyres simply look nicer on these vintage machines in my opinion.

My latest purchases are a Simplex Tour De France derailleur, a pair of early Fiamme track sprints on BHC Airlite hubs and a beautiful Durax Chainset.

The derailleur needs a clean but looks nice.

The sprints look great but as they are track versions they aren't designed for brakes, although by brakes seem to work with them ok once adjusted. I will probably fit these to my Hobbs Raceweight as that is a track frame with only one brake and I should be able to use the brake less. I'm still on the look out for some 27" wheels at an affordable price.

The Durax chainset is a work of art in the flesh. Its light and very elegant. much better than I expected. It dates from the late 30s to early 50s I think.

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Good choice derailleur. In my mind, I've always felt that it is probably the one from that era that looks really old timey but will work as well as a modern one. You'll have to let us know how it goes.

Cranks look lovely too.

depends on what is affordable
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CONSTRICTOR-ASP-27-UNUSED-NOS-RIMS-Vintage1930-50-S/263279794896?hash=item3d4cb2dad0:g:RGEAAOSwRrlZ8DOb

what version derailleur is it: chain width/speed?

Thanks. Yes I'll keep the thread updated with progress. Not everything I'm buying now will stay on the build as I'm keen to keep the bike ride-able and upgrade when funds and opportunities arise.

The cranks look even better in the flesh. I was quite surprised. Much better than the more common pressed steel ones (this is cast).

The rims you linked to are lovely, but they are a lot of money. Certainly more than I want to pay. At that price I would also want the best hubs I could get so overall the price would keep going up!
I don't know what chain width or speed it is. The jockey wheels don't really have teeth on them so I was hoping it wouldn't matter. The derailleur seems to have quite a large throw so I'm guessing it will be 4 or 5 speed.

Is there any way of telling from the markings? I don't have it in front of me at the moment but I'll have a look on Monday. I haven't really got my head round the whole 1/8 3/32 chain thing. I was just going to put it all together and see if it worked!

I've got one too (a simplex t de f) , not set it up yet as it will go on my yet to be painted Carlton Flyer frame. Try and get your head round this though; http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/simplex_adjustment.html

If its for 1/8th it will be marked 3.17. (and will be 3 or 4 speed) If 3/32 2.38 (and will be 4 or 5 speed). Mines a 4 speed 1/8th I think-I can check the markings at some point if you need to compare to find out what yours is. Good choice of cranks by the way, I've got some of those as well, lovely light and elegant looking.

it may be marked (not all were!)

some fitting instructions are at http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/ncl/pics/Simplex%20Fitting%20Instructions%20c1950%20(V-CC%20Library).pdf

On page 3 of this Simplex Spares Catalogue No. 23x you can see which parts are interchangeable.
For the one I have, it must be an early 3 speed 1/8" version, as it has even less facility for adjustment. It is important to get your chainline correct.
Don't try to do it in a hurry as you will soon appreciate why later design changes were made to derailleur design.

Shipping on those Constrictor rims would be another £59.00 for me.

They're in good nick but I've got whole constrictor wheel sets for less than that on several occasions, so hold out and better priced ones will appear....

Those cranks are very nice! This is going to be lovely!

@Big_Block, @jeff80 you both have me itching to check my derailleur now! Unfortunately I can't do it until Monday. I have had a look at the picture I have and on the Jockey wheel cage its says JUY. It doesn't have a number on it. I can't see what is on the main body in the photo.

Those Constrictor rims are listed as NOS so that's why the seller wants so much for them. The problem with paying that much for something is that the moment they get used they lose a lot of value so really only collectors are likely to want to pay that sort of amount.

Thanks @7ven. I'm getting close to the point where i need to paint the frame. Unfortunately my other half isn't as enamoured with this as I am. Some delicate negotiotions are going to be required :o)

These negotiation dinners are what keeps the prices of our bike components high.

I've just checked my derailleur and it is marked "5 vit Chaine 2.38". So I'm guessing that means it is 5 speed and 3/32 chain. My rear dropouts are 115mm but I might be able squeeze a 120mm axle in at a stretch. So 4 or 5 speed freewheel required. I'm quite pleased with that!

Are your Durax cranks French threaded? I've just tried my English threaded pedals and they appear to bind. I don't want to put too much pressure on in case I thread the crank. What pedals are you planning to fit?

With the Simplex TDF derailleur, it would be regarded as a later upgrade.
The available Simplex in 1947 would be the Champion Du Monde 46. The second wheel was added in 1947 and it was renamed as Tour De France after Robic's 1947 TDF win (The Dancing Chain 4th edition p157)
The first post-war Aids to Happy Cycling (1949) notifies that the only Simplex listed "Simplex Champion-du-Monde gears. Available from time to time as supplies reach us from the Continent." (p6)
In mid-1947, it appears that the fitting instructions for the were only in French. (Cycling, 23 July 1947 p75)

The French threading on the cranks is easily resolved. I had the same with my Stronglight steel cranks. Get the English pedal thread taps (loaned by my LBS) and get the thread holes drilled out and tapped at a engineering shop.

I have got a Simplex Champion du Monde - Made in Italy

I had one too,

but it is now in service on a friends 1947 Hetchins

got it for my Holdsworth, but it has now a cyclo ace, so put this for sale. I, too, have the shifter.

they are very nice.

I ummed and ahhed between the Champion Du monde and the Tour de France, in fact the Champion du Monde was my first choice. I think it was the fact that a decent Tour de France turned up first that converted me. That and the fact that a lot of bikes on Classic Lightweights were using it. It will do for now and I can look for a Champion Du Monde in the future.

My other problem is actually with the Simplex shifter. I have a Cyclo/Simplex braze on boss according to Hilary Stone, but unfortunately the screw he supplied with the lever simply will not fit. The threads in my boss seem further apart. I suppose I could try and re-tap it, as you suggest for the cranks, although I prefer to use the right size to fit. I'm unsure if the Simplex screw is French thread or Imperial or something else (bike thread?). I have a screw from a 50s bike pump bracket and that seems to fit so I'm guessing that would be Imperial (Whitworth?). I have tried metric and they don't fit. I wanted to use the pump brackets so don't want to use the screw. In the picture, the screw head sticking out is the pump bracket screw and the shorter one the one that came with the Simplex lever. The pump bracket screw definitely appears to have threads that are more spaced out.

Any ideas?

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Btw the one I have has a Made in France shifter.

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You seem to have cornered the market in Champion du Monde derailleurs! :o)