Moulton returning “home” after 60+ years

Living in Bradford on Avon where the Moulton Bicycle Company is based i thought it a good idea to get a Moulton…
I replied to a post on another forum and will pick up (freecycle) what looks like a series 1 from Frome on Saturday. This is going to be a bit of a project i reckon

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A drop of oil on the chain and you'll be able to ride that home

Fun project

Sub’d

Alex Moulton used to have an open day for our cycling club at the factory many years ago. There were some wonderful machines there that we could take for a spin. Always fancied one but never been in a position to get one.

Someone rides a beautiful chrome one on the bath-bristol bike path regularly.

Front wheel = toast. Rear wheel = burnt toast
Luckily I have what I hope is a cost effective plan considering I got this free…
Frame including rear forks are free from cracks as far as i can tell

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It’s a great place to visit, think I’ll join the club to go to the twice yearly meetings and rides

You want to replace the steel rims with Brompton Al rims anyway.

The original free bike components were knackered but I bought another complete bike for £50. The wheels are pretty good with new tubes and tyres and the frame is an earlier 1963 riveted which looks nicer than the 64.
I’ve stripped it down and cleaned and greased the BB and headset, put on a chain and some old gipiemme pedals. Cables have just arrived so will be putting on brakes and hopefully getting the sturmey archer 3 speed to work!
I really fancy a black brooks swift , front carrier and black bags for this….

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That seems like a good price, do they normally go for that or did you get a bargain?

If you do a bit of searching they can be had quite cheap. There are a pair in Gloucestershire on the bay currently. 1 restored apparently and the other in need of for £100 for both which seems like a bargain to me!

Hmmmm, something else to add to my watchlist!!!

Indeed, they’re fun projects.
I have the added bonus of having the factory up the road that’ll keep me entertained for years of old boy nerdery and slow rides with other old giffers (planning my retirement!)

Brakes sorted now just grips and gear cable then a proper test ride

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It looks beautifully simple doesn't it.

All done keeping on a tight budget. Gears working fine and brakes work although I’m waiting for new brake blocks .
It lives again!

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Two probably obvious questions - does this fold, and what's the front hub? Nice work getting it rolling again!

Moultons don’t fold and this model does not separate in half, like a lot of Moultons do.

It is a Sturmey Dynohub (trademark). About 1.8W at 6V.

Yup what @LWaB said.
The stowaway model separates a bit like s and s couplers. I seem to have knackered the dynamo bit of the hub but that’s another story

Great work, love it!

Cheers! Went for a spin in the dark (by the canal/ bits of town) and it was a blast! It will need a bit of fettling and definitely want a brooks saddle, some bags 💼 and a front rack

Mudguards on , flew into town past all the traffic then managed to cycle it up the hill by my house without having a coronary

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This is what it would look like with the elusive front rack

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I’ll ask David next door if you want, he has 4 moultens of different types. He may be able to scare one up?

Oh that’d be amazing- this rack is an early one the middle attachment is higher up than later models. Think they did these in 1963 only