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

The wrong end of a metal tyre lever, I've found this to work very well as it fits the back of a rim perfectly

2 Attachments

Should say the correct end of a metal tyre lever :l

Is it the old red stuff? If so, it’s shellac-based and meths will take it off better than acetone.

Otherwise, all you can really do is soak it, so douse some cotton wool in meths/acetone/petrol/thinners/(maybe white spirit but use proper old stuff), lay it on the rim and let it soften the hardened cement a bit at a time.

I've used white spirit followed by scraping with a metal tyre lever, followed by wire wool. Probably not great for the rim, but it should give a decent tooth for the next coat of tub cement or tub tape to adhere too.

Not red exactly but an orangey brown, could well be shellac based. Thanks for the meths tip I’ll give that a go. Thanks @sideshowbob and @jeff80 for advice. I’ll be glad when the rear is done!

Would any of you good people be interested in buying my Simplex front derailleur, the rod operated 'suicide' type?

Pretty rare model without the stop nodule on the lever handle. This fellow: http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=740D2CC7-46DB-4E62-A3B6-0420DDA02FCC&Enum=113&AbsPos=3

It needs a bit of a polish and clean and putting back together but all the bits are there and it's very simple to rebuild.

I was keeping it for a future build, but that won't happen for a few years yet as I don't have a frames for it and I need the pennies to build up a 90's Mercian.

Also have a 40s/50s Simplex shifter lever, for the rear derailleur if anyone wants one of those?

Talking of Simplex front derailleurs, I just started keeping an eye on these again as I have a NOS Simplex Juy 53 (which I will be using)

What is wrong with this picture‽

1 Attachment

Is that the same part being flipped each time?

Nah.
That would be crazy!
The one that sold for £66 is the Juy 53
The one that sold for less than £23 and the other for £370 (😳) are Juy 53B (they seem in very similar condition but not identical).

Bike people are nuts.

I don’t know what the difference is between the 53 and 53b btw.

@jeff80 I would but I have got the marginally earlier Tour de France model for my 1948 bike 🤓

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=2C470BCA-4DF4-444E-BAB5-D20072EA6F65&Enum=113&AbsPos=33

1 Attachment

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Stratalite-Strata-South-Of-France-Handlebars-/265081576764?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292
Just sold for 155 quid?
That Gillott auction finishes in 15 minutes as well be interesting to see if.it climbs much higher at the last minute.

Ugh I just missed the job lot of hubs with Blumfield fronts, the job lot of levers with 2x Conloy and the nice Stratalite break.

Are you popping in a cheeky bid? :)

Hardens as well.

Yeah I would have sold on everything apart from the Blumfields, I could make use of all of those. Bit of a risk not knowing how good the Hardens were - that could have been a decent chunk back. Risky spending big bucks on a job lot but it all looked pretty decent. Hey ho.

If anyone here won it or has any spare fronts and wants to part with one, please let me know!

Love too but.its definitely out of my price range.

Mine too, although at £2,200 I was thinking that’s not awful for what it is, then refreshed the page!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/A-S-Gillott-Rare-Vintage-Bicycle-/224378819609?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292
Wow 3700 pound

Wow 3700 pound

I know, I really shouldn’t have.

Forks would make a nice lamp.

Forks would make a nice lamp.

Exactly

After I’ve crashed it.

I know how to crash a Gillott 😅

If I remember correctly @anidel crashes into the back of a car waiting to turn right. The car happened to be a convertible and anidel flies over the back of the car landing on the back seat unharmed. Unfortunately the same can not be said for the Gillott. Luckily the driver was very understanding and the car was fine.
The frame looks superb now and will hopefully be up for another group ride at some point..

I crashed my ‘54 Fleur, it’s rideable- but has a big dent in the downtube.
😖