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

Yes, that's the blue that was underneath. Had to do some touching in in parts, but overall the acetone worked a treat with a microfibre cloth. Took some patience to do but well worth it. The front shifter is a bit tricky to set up yes, but I've used it before on my Ellis Briggs and I find it really easy to use, so thought I'd put it on here (whilst the Ellis Briggs is on baby carrying duties running a 3 speed AW hub).

You are right about the chain though, the wheel does definitely need setting forward in the dropouts-I'll have to try and remember that before using it this week.

The top tube is a weird one, it has a definite bend down into the lug when you look at it, but having stripped the paint in that area there is absolutely no sign of creasing, stress fractures or crash damage at all, and the forks and down tube are not bent in any way. The bend is not as bad as it appears to the eye, maybe only 1-2mm maximum when you set a level on it, and the bike feels fine to ride when I've tried it (over admittedly short distances), so hopefully all will be well and I won't be going head first into the road due to tube failure...!

I wouldn't worry too much about that bend, but I suspect it is crash damage.

My main point was, once again, that if you have anything made in imperial measure, it's best to stick to that system - conversions will only lead to inaccuracies and trouble. Your frame will have been made to some round number of inches between the centre of the rear fork end and the centre of the front fork end - if it doesn't come to a round number (possibly including half inches) something is bent.

North London Veteran - Cycle Club Rides

I notice you live in Chingford - the NLVCC rides usually meet in Hertford, which would be pretty convenient for you. Your Gillott would be a typical bike for that group.

There is a regular ride on the third Wednesday of each month - I realise you are young enough still to have to work, but there are some weekend rides. You would not need to join the VCC to start with, but you should have third party insurance to go on any ride with any club (or any ride at all, really) Let me know if you're interested and I'll keep you posted.

I'll have a measure of the wheelbase in inches and I guess that will tell me for sure, but you are most likely right

I would be interested in any North London VCC rides yes, although weekends are generally rather full at the moment as well with a young baby. Hopefully some will be free though so yes, please do keep me posted. I have though about joining the VCC for some time but never yet take the plunge as it were. Out of interest, does membership of the VCC come with 3rd party insurance (as I believe British Cycling Membership does, for example)?

VCC membership does not include insurance. Probably best to join the CTC ( 'Cycling UK' as it now styles itself) or the much disliked British Cycling.

I feel sure that you (and other readers of this thread) would benefit from VCC membership.

Still have the transfers, with the letter to the bloke who sold the bike to my dad in 1953. No point rushing to complete a project 🙂

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^ that is a lovely piece of history.

Has anyone had experience of applying "spirit" transfers. I've tried Google etc, and it's only served to make me an expert in poltergeist and exorcisms :-(

Used these a few times back in the 70's on 50's renovated frames. As wrinkly as Nora Batty's tights :(

Does the H Lloyd website have a section on using them in the history part?

If spirit transfers are the same as varnish fix then yes I've used them. Not easy but really look the part. I still have the gubbins needed to fix them-goldsize

^ and ^^ thanks guys. Apparently they are applied using a mixture of methylated spirit and water.

https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/restoration/spirit-fix-transfers/

All the modern stuff is vinyl, which "they" claim is as just like the originals; "they" are lying ! Being an old boy, with several frames from the 40's to 70's which still have their original transfers, I can tell you that they were waffer-thin. Modern stuff is more precise, but their thickness, even discernible under lacquer, is just wrong for me.

I'll let you know on the outcome .....

A disaster with the blue Gillott I posted a few days ago- 2nd ride in to work on it today and I still hadn't quite adjusted the rear derailleur fully- I ended up overshifting it into the rear wheel spokes and it got ' sucked in' to the wheel, snapping the drive side drop out, spokes and bending the derailleur in the process- que a long and depressing 5 mile walk to work.

So a trip to Varhona frameworks may be in order to get a new dropout fitted, although considering they are very unlikely to have any of the original matching 'stallard' dropouts I may need to have two new dropouts fitted, probably campagnolo with mudguards eyes will be the best match if they have any. A bad day indeed...

Ouch. Painful to read.

Ping the Gillott group on Facebook, maybe a couple of dropouts will pop up

Thankfully the wheel stayed in place and I stayed upright so only pain is to my wallet. Good idea asking the Gillott group, maybe someone will have one

Fingers crossed!

Vorkwerk tape. Is this rim tape or bar tape that would be Shellacked ?

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Is this rim tape or bar tape

Looks like you have some double sided tubular tape (the grotty stuff in the cellophane wrap, Felgenklebenband in the native language) and some rim tape for clinchers. There's no real difference between fond de jante and cotton guidoline except the width, but it's a PITA wrapping bars with narrow tape and you need more length of it. Vorwerk bar tape was 19mm wide and sold as Universal-Klebeband for multi sport applications. The adhesive tape division of Vorwerk & Sohn became Certoplast Technische Klebebänder GmbH in 1991

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Thank you.

Sorry to hear about your problem.

I haven't got any Stallard fork ends but I do have these (see photo below). You're welcome to have them if they're any use to you.

They are Campag., but I think they must be pretty similar to the original ends on your frame.
Personally, if I were going to the trouble of changing the ends, I would go for the more modern forged type, but these are available if you want them.

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Thanks for the offer, but Winston at Varhona frame building says he will try and find a match so hopefully he can. If not, I think I'll go with two new ones, possibly more modern campagnolo ends or similar

Came out very nicely, lovely blue paint. Sorry to hear of your troubles, hope Vaz brothers sort you out soon.

Need to finish late 50s Ephgrave, almost there, need to mount appropriate brake levers, new chain and play with DT shifters - currently sporting Campagnolo levers with Huret/Simplex screw on bolts, due to braze on thread not accepting Italian part. Threads are different pitch? Fitted tubs on the rims, first time ever 🤗, using tape rather than cement, not planning to race it so I think I'll be OK.
Needed a nice stem, so 'borrowed' it from yesterday's purchase (lovely mid 50s Norman Pile mixte), naughty, but will replace with something of the same era when I get around it.
It is almost completely black, including saddle - with shiny silvery bits of course - so was thinking brown bar tape, cotton over something that can save my hands from getting numb, or perhaps Brooks leather one, which will aged nicely I think. Is there such a thing to wrap a cotton tape over something else, would it look and perform badly?

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Oh and as someone mentioned Hobbs - collected this few month ago - it is 49 Hobbs, contrary to a comment on here it may not be, and as pretty sure I will not be starting another build soon, so if anyone is interested £40 will do, less than paid for.

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Handlebars are Il Primo - Giro di Sicilia?

Velo orange do a double thickness 'comfy' cotton tape (I've not tried though):

https://www.veloduo.co.uk/products/velo-orange-comfy-double-thickness-cotton-handlebar-tape-4-colours

Yes they are, was looking to get same stem, but rather silly prices they are on. Awaiting someone to coma back to me re stem, without the bolt.
Do you recognize the stem ^? No branding on it.

Thanks, may give it a go and report back.