Blandford Cycling Club

Here's an ebay find that I paid too much for. Couldn't resist as Blandford Forum in Dorset is my home town and I had never heard of the Cycle Club before. Had a search on google and I can't find anything out. Is there anyone reading who can elaborate? I guess it was just one of the thousands of small town clubs that existed back in the day.

Blandford Cycling Club enamel badge. 1920s?

VAR Depose third hand brake tool

I used to use one of these every day back when I worked with Jack Hearne Cycles. Brilliant tool, so much better than the more recent dodgy sprung wire ones. Thus I was pretty stoked when I saw this one come up on ebay and picked it up for a song. One of the most useful cycle workshop tools, do yourself a favour and seek one out for yourself.

VAR Depose third hand brake tool.

The VAR Depose in action.

Butchers bike

Great old photo of a butchers bike. Chap looks happy with his job!

Butcher bicycle period photo.
Probably 1930s.

1934 F W Evans project finished

The Evans is finally back together. A couple of small parts held up the project but are now sourced and I'm pleased with the finished result. I didn't want to do anything to it cosmetically as the patina is so fine, just assemble it from the box of bits it was and make sure everything works. As the frame is too small for me and it's going to be a display piece for the time being I decided to leave the Parker White Knight tyres on there even if they are not rideable. There didn't seem a lot of point in replacing the tyres and it can be done any time in the future should I or the next keeper change minds.

The Evans came to me with mudguard brackets, the only trace of the original guards was around the rivets on the brackets. The guards had been white so I sourced a period pair of Bluemels Populars to fit. Unfortunately the Bluemels blades couldn't be matched to the Evans brackets so they have gone on the shelf and the complete Bluemels are fitted. The other missing part was the Lucas mileometer which sits on the fork bottom. The bracket was there so I found a replacement head only and fitted it.

The build quality on the Evans is very high and it's a lovely original cycle with a number of unusual features. The only deviation I have made from how it was last used is in omitting the Midlands rear carrier which just looked clumsy and out of place fitted.

1935 Evans near-side view.

1935 Evans off-side view.

Lucas Mileometer with unusual fork bottom mounting clip.

Very grand Lucas headlight, part of a dynamo set.

The small oiler clip is a lovely detail on the headset.

Sturmey rear hub brake.

Sturmey handlebar mounted changer. Note also the very long
headlight bracket with supporting clip to stop flex.

Bicycle wall mount idea

I saw a photo of a cafe with a cycle hanging from the wall by a pair of handlebars, the details weren't clear but it looked good. I had a pair of unloved bars hanging around, a wall that needed a bicycle and the urge to make something so this is what I came up with. It was a fairly easy job: just measure up the distance you want the cycle to hang from the wall (doesn't have to be too accurate as it's adjustable anyway by the angle of the bars), find a scrap piece of heavy guage plate and a tube with the correct internal diameter for the stem.

I cut the plate in to a shield shape as it kind of suits the house, picked a good looking angle for the tube and welded it on. Four screw holes (countersunk) to hold the bracket to the wall seemed like an appropriate amount. Some white bar tape and a couple of Brooks end plugs that were kicking around finish it all off.

Overall I'm very pleased with the result. It's probably not anything like an original idea but I hadn't seen a bike hung like this before. The bonus is that it is really easy to lift the cycle on and off.

1920s mystery girder frame bicycle - Royal Enfield or Robin Hood?

This machine has just come my way. I had been looking for a Royal Enfield Girder or Duplex frame for a while and then this appeared at the right price. Only thing is I really don't know what it is. To all intents and purposes it looks like a Royal Enfield but has no head badge and never has had. 

I've done some investigations and it seems that Robin Hood also offered a girder frame model, possibly actually built by Royal Enfield so this seems most likely what it is. The handlebars may just have been replaced some time in the bike's life and the Sturmey three speed dates from mid thirties but I would guess that the rest of the cycle is early twenties.

Some folks would restore it in this condition but I plan to oily rag and service. It's pretty much rideable as is, but lacks pedals. 

If anyone out there can recognise the manufacturer please do let me know.

Mid twenties girder frame cycle. 28 inch wheels.

Offside view.

The mudguards are very distinctive and may
give a clue for identification?

I like rust and this is a good coating of it. No structural
damage at all just a good patina.

Here's that all important girder. The chainwheel seems to be
generic and doesn't give any clues as to marque.

I'll even leave the period bodges in place if they work!

Perhaps the lamp bracket holds the key to identity?

French club rider 1908

Evocative photograph of a French uniformed club rider from 1908.