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Re orchid pink in 1945 as @mig says yes I think so. From memory I think there’s a 1946 (or thereabouts) Hobbs Superb on classiclightweights in a salmon / dusty pink that is original paint.

Looking at the Hobbs catalogues around that time I remember the flams being mentioned explicitly. It’s not called flam though, can’t remember what, I’ll dig it out of VCC catalogue later. I was contemplating magenta flam which is mentioned as a stock colour 😍for a Hobbs repaint. More vibrant and full-on. I think probably quite stylish with gold lining.

I didn’t love the orchid pink with blue lining when I got it. It’s really grown on me though, especially with the red highlights. Pink and red (or orange and red) work for me. Probably looking at it as part of a full build also helps.

Love this, will try and save / post some pics. Seller confirmed 58.5cm size … too big for me.https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133843159359

Love this. Size 58.5 too big for me …

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133843159359

Thank you! I do have some other bits and bobs like brake cable oilers but agree it all gets too much. I’ll start a thread on my Hobbs build at some point now this is done - that will be a jazzy paint scheme :)

N.B. final weigh-in was 9kg / 19.5lbs

Not me. No. More. Bikes. For a bit anyway :)

I forgot where I'd seen the older catalogues for a minute there - 1935 and 1938 in the VCC library of course!

Thanks that's great to see. I hadn't even thought about it but 23-41 does seem big! Rereading some classiclightweights articles (on the wayback, links below) there's this comment from his daughter:

"The business prospered and another very large shop was leased for retail trade at no. 23 Queens Road Peckham. This property provided spacious living accommodation which the family moved into in 1938, moving from their second house in Kidbrook."

Classic builders:
http://web.archive.org/web/20200124150141/http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/harrison.html

Reminiscences of daughter / grandaughter:
http://web.archive.org/web/20191226005704/http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/harrison2.html

The 1949 catalogue is here:
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/Harrison-RO_main.htm

Thank you!

I'm very pleased. Glad I persisted and restored that headbadge (close to) how I wanted it; also glad I replaced the vinyl decals with waterslide and the high gloss with a soft sheen lacquer. Just takes the edge off a bit.

I obviously tried hard for a long time, but it feels like the bike isn't trying too hard. Other projects and frames I've got a bit carried away with paint scheme, etc. But this tobacco is great and I'm sure is very close to the original frame finish. Phew! It was touch and go at times :)

Thank you 😊

Oh and Lytaloy headset, seatpost clamp and Chater Lea binder bolt 🙌

GB Hiduminium brakes - I think no logo on the callipers means a 1946 date (there were similar but with logo and knackered on the bike when I got it), Strata stem and Reynolds Jean Aerts bars (that are original), Le Coq alloy bell, Dare rubber grips and matching period brake cables (yes!), Shockstop honking rubbers.

I think the seatpost is original to the bike as well actually, Reynolds I think but shortened. Modern Brooks Swallow with copper rails and Apex Superlite pump (that does need work still - no pressure).

Stronglight no “marque” 49d 170 cranks with period 2-pin dustcaps, T.A. track adapter with single 47t ring with old logo (have a nice selection of 1960/70s logo rings I’m going to swap to now pics are done 🙃), Lyotard Berthet platform pedals (I guess properly period have slight differences - dustcaps most likely but I couldn’t say for sure), Christophe clips with the old logo, modern Brooks straps, little leggings of leather I stitched on from a Velo Orange kit, Renold Elite 1/8” chain.

The non-drive side crank has just about bottomed out on the spindle 😬

Oh and period correct acorn nuts on the chainring. You know you have problems when you have period correct nuts!

I did! Rides very nicely, not sure how to describe it but feels surprisingly solid and connected to the road, dare I say well built! I took some more pics beforehand just in case I chuffed it up …

Wheels are Airlite double fixed large flange, period Fiamme “Brevetto Longhi” tubulars, no mark on the spokes, Chater Lea nuts, single Villiers 16t 1/8” sprocket, Villiers lock-ring, Cyclo chain tugs (as described above) and Vittoria Rally tyres (slightly older logo that’s not as jazzy as the current one).

[Saving weight without the second sprocket and also seemed even more affected to have chain tugs with different tension required on both sides!]

Edit: the front spokes are actually period correct Robergel Sport, the rear have no mark / are unknown.

Thank you 😊

Oh I meant to say, a nice touch - I bought the wheels from Alexander von Tutschek, so they pass the period exam by default :)

Perfect barrels on the df Airlite, very nice Fiamme rims. I know he likes to dirty up stuff a bit to make it look more in keeping - was having a little laugh to myself cleaning them up to suit how I like old parts to look. Funny old game vintage bike fancying!

I do finally have a large flange pair of Blumfields I’m going to lace into 1950s Mavics at some point. These AvT wheels are destined for a Hobbs …

@crossedthread @SideshowBob @falconvitesse @anidel thank you 😊

Yep pretty pleased with it. I don’t know who is managing to put these together without chipping the paint! I’ve managed to only do it in unnoticeable spots at least.

A respray probably isn’t to everyone’s tastes but I do feel this works ok. Some of the parts are a bit patinated - I’ve de-rusted and polished but I quite like that look and I think the tobacco paint carries the new/old.

The only thing to go back on, from the parts I got with it, are the stem and bars. I really like that ‘Jean Aerts’ bend.

It’s unlikely a cyclist in the UK would have had the T.A. track adapter in 1947 but pretty sure they existed at the time. The perishable leather and rubber parts are all new but otherwise it’s period.

ROH were quite Continental looking, the 1930s catalogue has a fair amount of French parts specified. The ‘Lyta’ was specified with all alloy parts so I think the build is in keeping with how the builder intended.

I couldn’t find my camera today but it’ll take some more pics at some point. Looking forward to taking it out!

Thank you, it has been a labour to get right! Or right enough for me anyway. Any advice appreciated!

The chain tugs are Cyclo ‘True Track’ adjusters for forward facing dropouts (and fixed gear). Probably a bit affected but hey I am riding a 1940s bike so that horse has bolted! Theory is you get chain tension where you want it easily (like track end tugs) but also I won’t pull the wheel out the dropouts pumping my guns! I don’t really see that being a problem, but they do look cool :)

Sorry been away for a while, vintage bike fancying on the back-burner for a bit. I have finally finished my ROH. Sort of. More to do - the Airlites probably aren’t the final wheels, hopefully I’ll build a set with LF Blumfields. The all alloy build (apart from Airlite barrels 🙃) means < 20 lbs which is nice. Up and down our road felt good ealier!

https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/333588/

Very pleased with the badge. I am almost certain now that the writing would have been red, but I like it black and I’m not re-doing it!

I bought the Brooks saddle with copper rails a few years ago when they came out - it’s pretty and I’d had a medicinal brandy. The perfect frame to carry it off and Argos using copper rivets on the badge was a clincher!

Ok I finally got the frame to a point I’m happy with - water slide transfers and a soft sheen lacquer rather than high gloss. Just got to glue the tyres on and it’s shakedown time 🙌

Some cheeky phone pics in the sun today …

Ah nuts I thought my long association with (difficult to say love of) Excel was keeping one leg out of the hipster overlap. Don't say the hipsters have got to Excel too?! My wife made me do a 'proper' dance on our wedding and I'm still mocked for putting it in Excel to get it to make sense 😂

Yeah I like that one. I reckon that’s 50s pushing 60s though. Still a little tempter...

The sweet spot in the Venn diagram of humanity where love of vintage bikes and Excel overlap 🥰

Monday morning whisky is a bit punchy. Been entering the world of period correct bells, another vintage rabbit hole to fall into ... I quite fancy one of those nos Ricspur ones on Ebay - I see they are in the 1952 Browns. Not quite exciting enough though, can’t pull the trigger. That’s the bell you’d get if you walked in to your lbs in 1952 and said “just give me a bell”.

Edit - I would be happy to be talked round :) A lot of them have sold, I guess a few to peeps here!