1947 Hobbs of Barbican Clubweight Build and many other old builds

Thanks for the links. I'm not really sure what I'll do with it other than clean and prep. it.
It's not my ideal size so might not be worth the effort if ultimately it's too big. Think it's a 22.5" frame whereas a 21" is a best fit.
Shame, as I'd like to build up a 4 or 5 speed to complement the (probable) Green and the Hawkes. I'll sit on it for a bit and finish some other builds first...

I have a 1952 Hobbs lugless frame with 531 Reynolds tubing, I don't really know alot about it but if anyone is interested in it please message me.

my mate is looking for a 50's frame, cant message as your new but email me on oliver.dunham at Btopenworld.com as he would defo be interested

Can you send me some pics please?!?

Yes, put some pics up!
Sadly I can't buy it as I've bought 5 bikes and one frame in the last 2 weeks...

Don't put it in the bikes and frames classifieds yet, or it'll end up powder coated baby blue with deep Vee orange wheels.

Right, a little more progress.
Determined to get this up and running before August summer (?!?) holidays.
The 40's/50's Brampton headset that I purchased online arrived today along with some late 40's GB bars (will look nice with a polish). The headset is in a nice used condition and the bearing races are in great condition. Still no sign of the stem but I have faith that it will turnup at some stage.....maybe.....
Anyhow, a few questions:
1) The headset takes loose ball bearings and hasn't come with any. What size will I need? 1/8"? 60 should do the job?
2) Anyone care to share their favourite brand of grease for the job (Lithium or something else)?
3) What were people using for bartape in the late 40's?

Thanks

Pete

looking good. I would of thought cotton with shellac like this http://www.bespokeandwheel.com/2012/10/cotton-shellac-handlebar-treatment-im.html

or maybe leather? Would of thought those are the only two materials around for bar tape at that sort of period?

Great build and story. Looking forward to following this. Best of luck.

Phil wood waterproof grease is the bees knees. Looks lovely this.

7

Here's the link for Universal's vintage shop area. Really good for hard to find bits and bobs - including nail on cleats and clothes, to cotton tapes, toestraps, old style textured cable housing, Ideale saddles, vintage chains, all sorts of hens' teeth type stuff.

looking good. I would of thought cotton with shellac like this http://www.bespokeandwheel.com/2012/10/cotton-shellac-handlebar-treatment-im.html

or maybe leather? Would of thought those are the only two materials around for bar tape at that sort of period?

The shellac over cotton finish looks great. Might go down this route!

Great build and story. Looking forward to following this. Best of luck.

Thanks Rat Racer

Phil wood waterproof grease is the bees knees. Looks lovely this.

Thanks loctez, will get some!

7

Here's the link for Universal's vintage shop area. Really good for hard to find bits and bobs - including nail on cleats and clothes, to cotton tapes, toestraps, old style textured cable housing, Ideale saddles, vintage chains, all sorts of hens' teeth type stuff.

You shouldn't have done that! You've just cost me £30.00 on some GB toe clips. Awesome site :)

I've just ordered some Simichrome to polish my, umm, err, bits :)

for the handlebar tape, have you had a close look at the Speedbicycles for the style and material used?
The 1952 Brown Bros catalogue has the colours that the cotton tape came in 1952, p252
I was chastised for using shellac by an old racer. He said that when the tape was dirty, they would remove the tape, wash and let it dry, then reinstall.

Wow!
I have a new favourite site.
Thnaks for that Big Block. Cotton (sans shellac) it is then!

I was chastised for using shellac by an old racer. He said that when the tape was dirty, they would remove the tape, wash and let it dry, then reinstall.

I find it really hard to buy this... Seriously? The only tape I was ever able to re-use / re-wrap with good results more than 3 times was the leather one by brooks (present from work). The only reason I wouldn't buy it again is the ridiculous price and the fact it's made in china. Good tape though...

Thnaks for that Big Block. Cotton (sans shellac) it is then!

I'm not saying shellac is necessary, coton can age nicely... But what that old racer said can't be a valid point against it I think...

I experienced shellac for the first time recently, it's a pain to do (you need 6-7 coats!) but the result is quite satisfying... Raw coton isn't great when it rains in the winter (I have non shellac cotton tape on my everyday commuter / beater)

Wow!
I have a new favourite site.

Me too, amazing, thanks!

7

Here's the link for Universal's vintage shop area. Really good for hard to find bits and bobs - including nail on cleats and clothes, to cotton tapes, toestraps, old style textured cable housing, Ideale saddles, vintage chains, all sorts of hens' teeth type stuff.

What link please? Did you remove it so 7 stops spending money. (sorry if I miss something, I can't see that link...)

Oh, and I forgot to say, probably because it's so obvious, great project!!!

What link please? Did you remove it so 7 stops spending money. (sorry if I miss something, I can't see that link...)

http://www.universalcyclecentre.co.uk/retroshop.html

I'm not saying shellac is necessary, coton can age nicely... But what that old racer said can't be a valid point against it I think...

I experienced shellac for the first time recently, it's a pain to do (you need 6-7 coats!) but the result is quite satisfying... Raw coton isn't great when it rains in the winter (I have non shellac cotton tape on my everyday commuter / beater)

Thnaks, I shall ponder this some more!

I like how it has aged on my winter beater...

7
Glad you liked Universal. I have those toeclips.

To shellac, or not to shellac ...

I'll be coating my white cloth tape in a more modern clear lacquer, not tinted brown by dead beetles.
White looks nice ...for a couple of weeks. Or less, for the likes of me.

I like how it has aged on my winter beater...

That has aged well. Looks great!

I'll be coating my white cloth tape in a more modern clear lacquer, not tinted brown by dead beetles.
White looks nice ...for a couple of weeks. Or less, for the likes of me.

My rides always seem to be punctuated with some unforeseen impromptu maintenance mid ride so not sure white would be for me! Looking forward to seeing some pictures of how this turns out!

Off to Harry Perry soon to get my wheels laced up. Excited by this!

I'll be coating my white cloth tape in a more modern clear lacquer, not tinted brown by dead beetles.
White looks nice ...for a couple of weeks. Or less, for the likes of me.

Photos of the result please when you're done...

When I used shellac for the first time, it was on red cotton tape, I knew it would get brown, but not as much as it did... I have some white cotton in my box that I never fitted, the day I do I'd be interested to know what product to use... I found it a pain to source shellac (not that much of a pain, I bought it off ebay, but I though my local DIY shop would have some and they didn't...) Maybe that modern lacquer you are refering to is easier to find on a sunday afternoon in London?

^^ Sure. I have a few types of clear lacquer in the garage, so I'll try a few small samples first.

I have some time off work at the moment. Before dropping the wheels off at Harry Perry, I decided to get the Morgan Blue out to give them a quick clean and to get the packing tape residue off where they'd been stuck together. An hour, a fair bit of Morgan Blue and toilet paper later, they'd come up nicely. It's amazing how filthy NOS stuff can get sitting round in a shop/workshop/house sometimes.

Nice!
Are these hookless rims?