1947 Hobbs of Barbican Clubweight Build and many other old builds

Very tidy looking bike. I like the shockstops on the brake levers, nice finishing touch!

What you could do is release the inner cable at the brake pull out the cable outer from the ferrule and put a small amount of silicone sealer on the outer then reassemble.

Thinking about it further, they've been put in upside down!

Very tidy looking bike. I like the shockstops on the brake levers, nice finishing touch!

Thanks!
The Shockstops are all Big Blocks handy work all the way from downunder. So super stoked with them. Hopefully he'll be along soon!

Excellent work, 7VEN.
What's next?

Excellent work, 7VEN.
What's next?

Thanks!
All this talk from luckyskull has inspired me to want to build a osgear or handchanger setup.
I would also like to organise a LFGSS classic lightweights ride at some stage come spring if anyone's keen?
I do, however, need to finish my early 90's Colnago Competition 'Art Decor' build as I've signed up for the 2014 Marmotte and need a suitable bike for it.

I have a couple of lentons with Dunlop special lightweight 26" x 1 1/4" rims and both came to me with Woods valves.

I have just had a 1930s bike(maybe a sunbeam) turn up. Dunlop special lightweight 26" x 1 1/4 rims with woods valves.

Thanks!
The Shockstops are all Big Blocks handy work all the way from downunder. So super stoked with them. Hopefully he'll be along soon!

I was away for the weekend. Dodging the dead kangaroos on the roadside and live emus crossing the road in northern South Australia.
I was delighted to see the finished bike.
It is a tasteful tribute to the name and to the period.
I hope you will enjoy the bike and its quirks from the period it was built.

One small request, can you use the screw that came with the SA shift lever mount, with the screw head visible from the riders position?

Love this 7VEN, such good work - inspirational.
Hope you get many happy miles out of it!
Thanks for sharing the project - look forward to seeing how you get on with the shellac.

I was delighted to see the finished bike.

One small request, can you use the screw that came with the SA shift lever mount, with the screw head visible from the riders position?

Thanks Big Block.
Unfortunately, I can't get the screw completely in over two coats of bar tape.
I really doesn't look that bad in real life I promise! That photo where you can see the bolt makes it look a bit rough I must admit!
I would like to change the shifter out for an older period style one at some stage so will deal with it then.
I have to say that the honking rubbers are very comfortable on the hands when riding.

Love this 7VEN, such good work - inspirational.
Hope you get many happy miles out of it!
Thanks for sharing the project - look forward to seeing how you get on with the shellac.

Thanks Rik,
Will certainly keep the thread updated with my shellac progress!

Spotted another fast, mettalic brown Hobbs today.
9.45 am, West-bound on Embankment. Restored and SS.

Tried but couldn't keep up..rider was too fit.

Think I've see him round too. Was he wearing a kask helmet and sidi shoes with a 105 brake on the front?

Not sure.
He looked 'smartly attired' to me but I mostly look like a tramp.

Things I love about this country:
1) Someone will actually post you highly flamable methalayted spirits right to your place of work without a warning label!
7VEN's guide to shellacing your handlebar tape coming soon....

Ordered some downtube transfers from H Lloyd. Not sure if I can be bothered with application and lacquering. Thoughts? Yeah, yeah, nah?

Hi 7VEN,
it's a 'yeah' from me, by way of introduction and as my first post on the forum. I do have a vested interest as I await receipt (hopefully by Christmas) of my resprayed 1947 Hobbs "Criterium" frame from Kevin Winter, complete with transfers from H.Lloyd. I'll post pics as soon as I get it back anyway so you can see how they look but I guess you'll crack on before then.

Congrats on the whole build and thanks for posting all the details. It's been great following it from a distance and I look forward to your shellac guide. Can't wait to start my build now.

This is the Blue Riband that I recently bought. It is 21" which is too small for me. So I thought I would put it on this Hobbs thread to see if any of you are interested. I will let it go for the same price I paid not looking to make a profit just to get another classic back on the road. I have more pictures if needed also I have included the text from the original advert.

*Absolutely stunning vintage 1952 Hobbs 'Blue Riband' classic racing frame, frame No. E2516 on bottom bracket shell and fork steering stem, because of the spearpoint lugs I am almost certain it's the 'Championship' model. The frame has been resprayed in the last year to match its original colour and lug lined in gold, as original, frame is either Reynolds 531 or Accles & Pollock Kromo, in 1952 Hobbs used either tubing, whichever one was used this frame is extremely light.*Frame includes Brampton bottom bracket with TDC axle and also includes seat stem.
Seat tube 21" (54mm)
Top tube 21" (54mm)
Downtube 23" (58.5mm)
The headset is TDC, could be original fitting.
*A superb example of British Lightweight frame building. *
For the purists out there who have pointed out that Hobbs Frame Numbers were normally on the rear dropouts,
by 1952 Hobbs was not following closely the original methods of stamping the frame Number, this can be confirmed by the V-CC Hobbs expert.
I should have also pointed out that the Frame is built with Oscar Egg lugs.
The rear dropout width is 120mm.
Wheel size: 27s or 700c. with brake drop of 60mm. Preparation and re-spray by Mario Vaz.

Hmm, interested in a swap?
I have a 1949 Raceweight frame that's slightly too large for me, a 22.5" I think.

My goodness, the will is strong.
Lord knows the last thing I need right now is the expense of another project.

What a great thread! And what a lovely machine you've built. Thank you for sharing the story, 7VEN. All the hurdles you've got over are ones that I come up against all the time - I'm on my 11th build, a 1956 Morris and just starting looking for parts for my 12th, a 1949 PARIS Tour de France.

I'm particularly impressed that you managed to find an NOS Bayliss Wiley oil bath BB unit. I need one of them for the PARIS… Did you have any trouble fitting it? I have one on another frame but the BB shell on it has enlarged somehow and the tapers on the fixed cup and lock ring aren't quite big enough for the unit to wedge tight.

It was good to read about the Shockstops, too. I bought an NOS pair a couple of years ago and of course they were perished and unusable. I have a couple of bikes I can use them on so I'll be in touch with Big Block.

Thanks again!

... I'm on my 11th build, a 1956 Morris and just starting looking for parts for my 12th, a 1949 PARIS Tour de France.

I hope you are going to do a thread on these builds

we are all good to offer advice

I hope you are going to do a thread on these builds - we are all good to offer advice

Well, I might well do that as the UK, although not London, is my natural home as well as being the place where there is more interest in English bikes, which all but 3 of mine are. I have posted quite a lot in the Classic & Vintage section of Bike Forums, where I'm known as Dawes-man.

Thank you for the interest, Big Block. I love the image!

Here's a gratuitous photo of the Morris - I've just spent the morning painting the mudguard stays glossy black and am waiting for them to dry so I can fit them. Then I just have to link up the back brake, fit a chain and some bar tape, fit the pedals and it should be ready to ride:
](http://www.flickr.com/photos/22983673@N02/11490216866/)
Untitled by Dawes-man, on Flickr[/IMG]

and this image might be more appropriate than the grumpy old men

I will learn from your contributions.
I too participate occasionally in those forums.

and this image might be more appropriate than the grumpy old men

I will learn from your contributions.
I too participate occasionally in those forums.

I like the grumpy old men better… the classroom is too close to home (I'm in Tokyo).

Actually, I am already learning from YOU as it was your link to this thread on C&V that got me here. And I then followed your link above in this thread to the Shockstop thread over on BNA and have already sent Clydesdale Scot a PM with an order for 4 pairs.

So, thank you very much!

(I'm in Tokyo)

I knew that, hence the Japanese classroom.
PM replied
Philip (aka Big Block/Clydesdale Scot) in sunny Adelaide Australia, but then you know that.

A great thread and a beautiful result!