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N.B. if anyone has any spare Stronglight nuts like the ref 10 in my previous post pleast let me know. I only have 3 good ones left, one cracked and I seem to have lost one >.<

Talking of knee rubbers ... I've spent a lot of today polishing my adaptor. I was going to say polishing my ring, but cheap gag and factually inaccurate. I gave my nuts a good polish last weekend.

I hope we've all managed to stockpile enough wet & dry and Autosol to see out the crisis :)

Oof they’re real knee rubbers, I’ll share some pics ;)

Food for thought @falconvitesse @Skülly I’ve got a fair bit I’ve been thinking about putting on ebay. Problem with keeping it is I’ll need another bike 😬

nice bups :D

This is pretty much the bb set I've been putting together, pics from the 1958 Fonteyn / Stronglight catalogue in the VCC library. The bups I have look just like that, but have "STRONGLIGHT" engraved around the lock ring. Looks contemporary with the Competition headset at least.

The one Hilary is selling me looks a little older from various adverts and engravings I've looked at. Unfortunately bbs aren't such a sexy part that get pictured often in adverts and catalogues :)

Now I'm confused :D

I did pounce on a 113mm on Ebay from bwskinner on 13th Dec, that's not you is it? I'd been watching for one for months (and keeping an eye out since then as well). I've got some nice cups for that one too - it's going on the Mercian attached.

I've stupidly got 2 projects significantly on the go, another 2 in the attic I keep thinking about / buying the odd part for and the obligatory build for my wife ongoing. Luckily she's in no rush.

I have steel 49a cranks, which I'm pretty sure will go on the Mercian with TA single adapter. However I also have an early set of 49d and a Stronglight single 1/8" ring. So have been looking for another axle and cups to go with it. Hilary had a nos one, looks like nos adjustable cup and decent condition fixed cup for £35.

Anyway, he's always worth a call, or a visit if you can get to his Aladdin's cave in Wales. He's a rum old cove, but who isn't these days :)

Here's a nos one , bit $$ with postage from Greece

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-NOS-BAYLISS-WILEY-MOD-14-Bicycle-Bottom-Bracket-axle-for-RALEIGH-BSA/183869170782?hash=item2acf74e45e:g:pTAAAOxyzxJR7ZjQ

Have you asked Hilary Stone? Always worth giving him a call, I just got the Stronglight 113mm cotterless I've been after for ages from him.

Not perfect but buy it now £16 and no postage. Laura's not been heeding the government's advice to wash her hands regularly!

@falconvitesse here you go...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143551160617?ul_noapp=true

The second one in the pics looks better condition.

Overall length is very similar, Stronglight 130mm vs Phillips/BW 128mm. The LHS is also very similar but the centre of the Stronglight is longer and RHS shorter.

I'm no bike mechanic but my puzzling it out comes to this - your BW fixed cup will be screwed in the same depth whatever axle, and lining up RHS cones the beds for the cotters on the RHS line up, so guess you'll have similar chain stay clearance etc. The adjustable cup will be 3.5mm less screwed in and also the left crank further out than with the BW axle.

The "A" on the Stronglight axle means it's for English dimensions. In the 1958 Stronglight catalogue axle length 132 is for doubles, not sure what 130 is for! Not sure why the center is bigger on the Stronglight, afaik both use 1/4" balls, eyeballing some cups it does look like the BW ball track is more 'banked' so the balls would sit further inside the cup. I dunno. Think this is in the suck it and see category of bicycle mechanics :)

I think if it was me I'd probaly hold out for a BW axle, but you are very welcome to this one :D

Pics are with the RHS cone/shoulder lined up.

I have a Stronglight double with decent cones you're welcome to. The ends are a bit ratty, but would look ok de-rusted and polished. Pics are of it next to the Phillips so not the same length on right as the BW #14.

No worries, sorry I couldn't help. What's it going on? Do you have cups and cranks picked out already?

pics of condition

I thought I was going to be able to help, but the cones are quite pitted. You're welcome to it if you want it, I'll shout you the postage ...
I've got a Phillips double axle you're welcome to - same measurements as the BW #14. According to Brown Brothers 1952:

 A 1 9/32"
 B 2 1/32"
 C 1 5/8"

The 1951 all chrome ROH is the one on EBay doing it for me at the moment.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Stunning-Rare-RO-Harrison-Road-Path-Track-531-Frame-All-Chrome-Eroica-/193355772697
Think I’ve talked myself out of it! Luckily didn’t have the cash for the ROH branded stem listed recently or I’d be forced to bid on this :)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Hetchins-Racing-Bike-Tour-De-France-Frame-Barn-Find/402087839156?hash=item5d9e4d85b4:g:YQwAAOSwWWdeQ~6T#vi__app-cvip-panel

Sorry “cared” was the wrong word, I meant anyone spending big! Slightly surprised the Hetchins didn’t go for more.

I had toyed with the idea of putting in a cheeky bid for that frame. My size and I’ve had my eye out for something in original finish. I thought anyone that cared would be more focused on the seller’s Hetchins (listed as a Tour de France, but probably not one). Managed to talk myself out of it but very shocked when I idly wondered what it ended up going for. Original paint, pre war but a Vegrandis and needing a lot of TLC for a grand 😱

Anyone got any tips for cutting Fibrax brake blocks?

From one F. Ucktard to another 👍

I really didn’t mean to do it but I’ve got a Hobbs hidden in the attic that needs painting.

In my experience just v v fiddly :D

Thanks, yes it turned out very well.

@Squaredisk that is definitely a problem, it is hanging on the wall now waiting for the accumulation of parts nice enough! Nice to look at though and does inspire me to get on with polishing the hubs.

And here are the glamour shots :D

Here's an example of the downtube decal Jane copied and the paint scheme requested.

I was going to wait until I had the wheels sorted - always nice to see a frame with wheels, bars and saddle, but I've just seen the Mercian blog post and couldn't resist sharing. Long story short, Mercian did an excellent job of the restoration of my 1960 Superlight.

The seat-tube lug had been bodged at some point in the past but they have managed to make that look respectable again - one of the biggest worries in the restoration. The dropouts were a bit chewed up and they have been filled and put back to good as new. The rust pitting is still slightly evident, which is a shame, but Grant at Mercian did point this out to me ahead of the restoration and recommended enamel (rather than flam) as the best option to cover up as much as possible. You have to really look though, and I think the paint job and decals draw the eye enough for that not to happen!

The paint job is really fantastic, I've never seen such flawless lug lining and the bands are very crisp. Jane (at Mercian) also spent many hours recreating the "3D effect" transfers from the 1950s - a labour of love! When I first received it I was actually a little disappointed here - they looked great, but were quite far from the examples I had found initially. I was in 2 minds about whether to raise it, but luckily I did, as Jane showed me the examples she copied - which were 100% verified as period and original. The examples I found must have been either later reproductions or another version. Anyway, they look amazing and are accurate, so I couldn't be happier!

First here are pics pre restoration ...