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

That (build) is just terrific.

Thanks for your comment - you've cheered me up.

I was pleased with the way it looked, but not the way it worked.

In some ways it rode pretty well, but there were two problems.

1 The derailleur was attached to the chainstay with a clamp (not a brazed on mounting). In order to remove the back wheel it was necessary to loosen the clamp and swing the gear out of the way. Unfortunately the position of the clamp was critical to the working of the gear, so although it was not too difficult to reset on a workstand it was next to impossible after a puncture at the roadside.

Also, the control cable is quite fragile and they are difficult to find or make.

However, I could see why this mech remained in production so long, since when it did work it was a pleasure to use.

2 Those brakes! They must always have been challenging since the are much more fiddly and unforgiving to set up than anything modern. The cables have to be a fairly exact fit and the only way to get a new one is to have it made (unless you can do it yourself - and if you can - congratulations). In my time I've had two made: one failed suddenly and dangerously - it was for the back of a tandem and I had a child behind me at the time. The other started to fray.

The brake blocks are special and although it's possible to buy modern blocks which fit the Resilion shoes, they are not 'angled' upwards like the originals and so do not come up square to the rim. There are still some original blocks around, but since they must be getting on for 70 years old they are excessively hard.

I've had an enquiry for the brakes (I'll respond to this separately tomorrow) and so I thought it worth explaining my experiences with every one as well as the would be buyer.

In a nutshell, it did look good, but it wasn't a practical bike to ride. The frame would probably make a decent vintage hack if fitted with other kit

That’s quite a terrifying series of product reviews lol

Hi guys,
Looking for brake shoes for 1937 ish Sturmey Archer drum brakes .
Anyone got any NOS ?
Rear hub is a KB 7
As far as I can tell the bike is a Sports X Tourist .

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My late grandfathers 1950’s custom Hetchin has come into my possession. He used to ride this round his parishes (he was a local pastor) across Lincolnshire and Norfolk until the early 90’s we think. It’s had some restoration and changes (not all sympathetic) and most recently had a repaint by Mercian a few years ago back to its (almost) original blue. Exciting to have something like this and to ride it next spring once I can arrange collection. New brake blocks, guards and tyres probably in order as it’s been sitting in storage for a number of years. Some excellent legwork details (excuse the terrible photos…)

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That's lovely.
I'm not an expert but the lugs look like it's a "Nulli Secundus" (second to none) model.

Hetchins Quick Model Identifier
https://www.hetchins.org/302c.htm

Oh neat, I’ll take a look. I gather it was completely custom (hence the non-wavy chain stays) and cost £50 for the frame (only) back in the 50’s. That lugset certainly puts it in the right era.

You should be aware (perhaps you are already) that those existing brake linings are probably asbestos, so be careful with the dust. It's carcinogenic.

It would almost certainly be possible to find some one in the old car business who could reline your existing shoes with non asbestos material, but it's worth mentioning that I've heard the modern linings don't work as well as the old asbestos type.

Is there a 70s thread?

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Never come across a 70's thread. My Avatar is me hill climbing in the 70's. :)

completely custom (hence the non-wavy chain stays)

I'm sure it's been said before in this thread (and I've probably got it from somewhere on here), but I've heard that straight-stayed Hetchins (Hetchinses?) are more valuable than wavy-stayed ones. The wavy stays became a kind of trademark and were produced much more.

They do seem more unusual for sure. I have however seen one real life wavy-stayed Hetchins and did think it looked pretty cool nowadays and agree that’s probably what many people associate them with.

This also has proper pencil thin seat stays which is apparently a good thing too

That would not be correct. Market for wavy ones is still and will remain much stronger.

I may well have confused that with them just being rare compared to the wavy ones.

Lovely, not much fettling needed, clean, lubricate, change consumables - pads/tyres/cables - although even those look kind of OK. Polish and wax for the frame and it will shine again. Dura Ace headset? Chain seems a bit short to me too...not on large cog at the back and quite stretched already?
Bag if a bit dry can be re-waxed too, very easy job. Congrats, hope it is your size and you'll enjoy riding it.

Thanks :) Don’t think it’s a DA headset, would have been campag originally as was the groupset and I think this is a modern interpretation. (Maybe dia comp, as the levers are…). I did think the chain was a bit tight too, but it’s a massive 54t chainring I think so that’s not going to work round me unless I’m going downhill 😂

It’s a 120mm spaced 5 speed rear hub. I did half wonder about putting a sturmey 3 speed hub in there as it would have had at some point to make it a bit more useable for me

I’ve not been able to ride it but having put it together and stood next to it it’s going to be pretty spot on with size. I’m not that dissimilar is height/build to my late grandfather and as this was made to fit him I’m hopeful it’ll be pretty good.

On middle pic looks like bottom cup is DA....but it does not matter. I'd look for smaller ring rather changing to SA hub, something like 46/48 perhaps, or whole new crankset to make it much more usable, see this one for an example

Yeah, 46 chainring (maybe 44) definitely on the cards. Debating over whether to move to square taper vs cotterles as there’s more choice but then not as original.

Do see your point re DA bottom cup. Will have to get a better look when I actually have it in person.

Period correct square taper is not easy to find - Stronglight are quite expensive nowdays...nothing wrong with cottered ones I think, have few on my bikes, including fixed.

For something hidden like a BB in not as worried about period correct as long as it looks the part and functions well! But yes, will just use it as is next spring and take it from there

That's a good point! Will be careful when it's time to strip the hubs down. Will try car/motorbike restorers if I don't find any at a bike jumble !

I know several NACC members who have used Villiers in the past - I suspect yours will be smaller than a vintage autocycle hub, but it might be worth giving them a ring?
https://villiersservices.co.uk/product/brake-shoe-re-lining-service/

Thanks for that ! They day any size on the website.

1930s Selbach on eBay. Restored, but looks quite nice to me.

Are you saying I would have to sell my Holdsworth on the bay? 😭😭😭

Well if you can't sell it elsewhere it is worth a try, you'll soon find out who the tyre kickers are and ignore those