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

What's the new frame?

Oldest bike used regularly was this 1953 Jack Taylor 'curvy-tube'. (This is what Jack himself called it when I rang the Taylor Bros published phone number and himself answered.) I commuted from Kilburn to Borough on it for years. It is very far from being original, as all can see. Pity about the original fork — the steerer had ovalized and wasn't happy in a new headset. I kept the fork and could have a new steerer brazed in I suppose. At least the bike has 27" wheels. It rides very nicely but the braking is rather lethargic for London traffic-jamming.

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Hi @SideshowBob
I'm embarrassed to say it's not pre 50's and it's not a Gillott.
However I couldn't resist it, I have always hankered after a Reynolds 753 frame, It looks unused and it was fairly cheapish.
It should make my commute a bit easier.

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Looks very nice and like new.

Lovely Jack Taylor, Any further photos to show the 'curvy tube'?

Thanks @SideshowBob
I'm not going to do it justice by building it up with choice parts though as this is a strictly budget built only using stuff from the shed for now.

@SideshowBob's request, vanity pictures of the curvy-tube Taylor.

The bike went on to the register sometime in the 90s and can be seen here in my original build. I did change the brakes to some modern Tektro sidepulls that worked a lot better. The bike is on semi-permanent loan now to a pal in Southport.

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Thanks very much, I would love a Jack Taylor but cannot find one.

There are some surprisingly close correspondences between the geometry of this 1953 frame and that of the 3T Strada, which was hailed by its designer as completely innovative!

It is a very nice frame!

Regarding the 'innovation' of the 3T Strada, at this point every different permutation of angles and lengths has probably already been done at some point by somebody...

a couple more interesting machines on ebay:

1951/2 Holdsworth Sirocco/Whirlwind, in Wigston (near Leicester). Looks totally original (aside from the pipe insolation bar-tape) and appears to come with a spare Brooks B17 and a vintage track pump. Stunning.

1940's Evans with clip type headset but mostly cheap 80's parts and a slightly unsympathetic powdercoat. £59 start, in Hastings.

Christ, I though my bikes got dirty. Did you oil it up or something to protect it?

A lot of the grime is grease from the bearings as I'm not shy when it comes to a bit of grease. I have bought some linseed oil to coat the frame this time. Last time I stripped and cleaned it I clear lacquered it.
There is now so little paint left on the frame I'm wondering if I should just respray it, that bronze paint that I described could just be rust under the lacquer.

The frame also has this stamped into the BB.
Anyone got any ideas as to who or what it means

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Does it say 'The Bow'?

Other than Bow being an area the wrong side of London for Gillott's I don't know....

Finished making the pedals today,a bit cold to work in the shed so I took the junior penny farthing in the kitchen to fit the pedals,just four more spokes to make now then have a look at making a period looking seat/saddle

Great work and looking marvelous.

That is looking really good! What's the plan for the saddle then?

Thanks for the comments,they are appreciated.Not sure yet about the saddle but probably look for an old beat up leather job that requires a bit of work, (never done any leather work before) the problem will be how to mount it on the thin (approx 2mm X 40mm) strip of steel that was and still is originally fitted to the bike,might look at bending some round steel bar with a flat steel bracket either end to bolt to the frame using existing hole,the saddle should be easier to mount to that using a more conventional saddle clamp,will keep you posted when I've worked it out

Very smart @plantfit.
I love the areo forks and those handlebars.

Update on the Junior Ordinary restoration, final four lengths of 3mm X 500mm bright steel bar arrived today so it was an hour in the shed making the spokes,first heat up end of steel to glowing,put home made die over the bar and clamp in the vice,whilst still hot start to form a rivet head on the end of the steel to the same diameter of the die,next,cut the bar to the correct length (402mm) and put a chamfer on the blank end using a small file,once again clamp steel in the vice with about 3/4 cm sticking out of the vice,start to cut the thread using a 5BA die,cut thread to 1/1.5 cm,spoke made,I have attached a few pictures that might be able to explain it better than me
Heating the end of the bar
Riveting the heated end with a ball pein hammer to correct size in the home made die
Cutting the thread using 5 BA die

Good work @plantfit.
I'm looking forward to the reviews once it's rideable.

"A Boy a Girl and a Bike"(1949) about to start on Talking Pictures TV: lots of shots of club rides over Yorkshire hill and dale. Not much of a plot, but the machines are great and Honor Blackman and Diana Dors are members of the club in their fetching short shorts.

Lugless Claud ending in an hour - currently £60.

56' Jack Taylor frame on eBay - 223421231860 (for some reason I can't select share on eBay any longer)

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