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

Is Keith Marshall still finishing frames, he's from the old school and might show a bit of sympathy for lug shore lines..

interesting research. I also was looking for those options (plus a bit of chrome), but also kinda start to like the 'super patina' mine has.

but those lugs and fork crown deserve to stand out

I don’t take on old school restoration projects I’m afraid. Not my kettle of fish.

Oops, meant to type Chris Marshall, sorry.

Are you Keith Marshall @hoops ? If memory serves are you in Australia?

I am neither Chris or Keith Marshall.
And I’m deffo not in Australia.

ahahah

Hilary Stone just wrote this to me elsewhere

"Argos can do quite a thin paint if requested and will do a mix of gloss and satin lacquar which is much closer to older paint – That's what I normally ask for… And if you ask for Hilary's type paint, they will know what you after."

So I guess I'm going to have to put some shit on the block.

Mario Vaz is from the old guard.
He does single colour, decals and minimal polishing if you're after a period correct style finish.

Tools and materials have come a long way and we often plump for a modern approach at Cole Coatings Workshop, even on a classic restoration. By that, I mean things like... we'd opt for airbrushed decals instead of transfers and replica sticker kits; we'd high polish throughout instead of leaving a gun finish or 'peel' and where box lining is concerned, we'd use masks and stencils instead of applying them by hand... example attached.

A well considered primer application and good colour choice (avoiding hues that require a groundcoat for example) can do a lot for your the crispness and definition of your lugs.

You could opt for a type of product known as a "Direct Gloss" or DG. This is applied as a topcoat so doesn't require a clearcoat over the top of it. You could even choose to have minimal polishing to maintain the peel.

Drop us a message via the Cole Coatings Workshop site and we can have a chat about your project if you like.

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Is there any evidence of a repaint?
It is the twin roller on the RHS top of the bottom bracket was a later addition to the 1952 EA Boult frame I have. Dave Orr, the original owner wasn't impressed with how they worked, so it now only has the RD cable running through the single roller.
The roller, some extra cable stops, rear brake caliper mount reinforcing, downtube bottle cage mount, and the Campagnolo single downtube lever mount and CO2 pump mount were made by Roy Mitchell. Mitchell also sold these to other frame builders.
The Simplex cable operated FD would have come after 1952 (I think) so I am puzzled as to how a 1952 frame would have needed the dual pulley mount when it was originally built. Hence the question on the repaint.
Because of the braze-ons added to my Boult frame during the 1950s I run a Huret cable operated FD, but with a cable running under the bottom bracket to get the cable path flowing. It works well with a Cyclo bar end shifter.
For paint colours, Mercian has a wide range and the colours can often be seen in the framebuilders catalogues. The flamboyant colours (tinted semi-transparent coat over a silver or chromed base) or polychromatic (very fine metallic) were all available at the time.
Dave carefully drew the original spearpoint silver and magenta scheme for his Boult. This was recreated with the refinish. Lugs were not lined.
So not all bikes were solid single flat colours.

Warning serious vintage bike nerdery below;

Yes it's definitely original paint so the rollers, shifter brazon and Simplex/Agrati ends are original too.

The Juy 53 went on sale in '52 (I've seen its date given as '51 too) so it's probable this is how it was equipped
A Cyclo Benelux 2 cable rear also used a double pulley but clamped to the chainstay, Huret made a similar design in 1950 (I reckon Simplex ripped it off) but that didn't attach to a rear derailleur hanger
The detective work was the funnest part of this project.

I know about the crazy flam paint jobs of late 40's early 50's bikes, Paris (Rensch) was a leader with these. I think Gillott were a bit less radical and I'm pretty much decided to return the bike to as original as I can.

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Will you marry me? That's the sort of nerdery that I'm looking for in a life partner.

Doh.

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Is that a yes?

Third time's the charm.

I meant third marriage

:-)

Fyi Ellis Briggs take their frames to Bob Jackson! Bizarrely I think they're a bit cheaper than BJ.

I have the Dancing Chain, and I have found too many inconsistencies to be regarded as more than a guide. Primary sources are more reliable. Contemporary advertisements for Simplex were rare, and their non-participation in the British Cycling Show makes it harder.
However the 1952 Holdsworth Aids does show the components.
If you look on Classic Lightweights you will see two examples of Gillotts being ordered with flamboyant paint; a 1952 with "Super Electro Flamboyant Majenta"[sic], and a 1953 with "Blackcurrant Flamboyant Silver"

I've heard that The Dancing Chain has more errors in the later chapters. Mine is the 2nd edition and there is now a 4th - maybe it's got sorted. It's a pretty fucking niche area of study even now, when it was written it was proper arcane. It's a pretty amazing achievement and a fascinating book.
Anyway the Holdsworth Aids corroborates the dates from Berto - although I'd imagine the '52 edition was printed in '51 so the date I'd heard for the Juy 53 might be right.
Those Holdsworth Catalogues are a brilliant resource, thank you I didn't know they were free online now, they used to only be for VCC members.

Mine is the 4th edition. The 5th is now out
The Brown Brothers 1952 catalogue is not showing anything beyond the TDF rear derailleur and the rod front derailleur. V-CC version and the clearer Dawes-man's version by occasional contributing member M.O.H.
Items from the V-CC Library were previously available to non-members for a small fee for each file, but that charge was removed. The cost is borne by members. The only publications now restricted to members are The Boneshaker and News and Views. There are some excellent contributions there and all back issues are scanned and online. They are fully searchable.
I am a member.

What we need is access to the "Half a Century of Development in Simplex Derailleurs" prepared by Raymond Henry and presented at The Sixth International Cycle History Conference (1995). (and reported in N&V 249:47). I see there is a V-CC member by that name, and I have sent an email.

[Edit: and I have had a reply from Raymond Henry, who has included a series of photos of his 1995 paper. I will read and report back]

What's the scoop on 'Half a Century of Development in Simplex Derailleurs'?

Enquiring minds etc.

took yesterday 1955-59 xb3 Kharkov bike. already modified, but quite interesting, to have integrated fork crown design, crazy big flange flip flop hub, cinelli milano stem and Brooks saddle with logo of 1940s era. also tyres are cyclocross tubulars

rear hub compare to campagnolo one

fork crown details

That's amazing!

That stem