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.

Bicycling Bee Gee and Lulu

Maurice Gibb from the Bee Gees and Lulu on a tandem in 1969.

Back when I worked at jack Hearne's cycle shop I remember him saying that one of the Gibb brothers took up cycling in the seventies as a diversion from the excesses of the pop industry. I cannot remember which of the brothers it was now and I've searched in vain for a picture of a Bee Gee on a Hearne cycle. Can anyone out there help?

Bee Gee Maurice Gibb and Lulu on a tandem.

Coupled cycles

This picture is cribbed from 'The Devil on Wheels', a 1946 biography of the father of all bicycles Kirkpatrick Macmillan by Gordon Irving. I've never encountered anything like this before, looks like a kit to tether two regular standard bicycles together. I suspect a horror to ride!

1934 FW Evans cycle

This is the current project. A 1934 FW Evans. The cycle came to me in pieces from the grandson of the original owner. I actually bought it for the parts but when I got it home I realised that it was way too nice to split and should be kept as is. It would be a shame to swap out the original parts but some are rather delicate (saddle and handlebar grips) plus it even has pre-war sports tyres. I've decided that the best plan of action will be to source suitable riding parts and keep the originals on the shelf, that way it can be enjoyed and ridden.

It seems like this Evans was used as a general all round clubmans machine for touring and club rides. The three speed hub and hub brake is likely a later addition. I have a Midland pannier rack with it which is rather heavy duty and much as I want to keep it all original it does look awful so this will probably remain off the bike. The mudguards and rack are quick release

F W Evans links:

Bike Brothers FW Evans Resource page
Classic Lightweights FW Evans page
Veteran Cycle Club New England post war Evans Tourer
About Evans Cycles by Evans themselves

1934 FW Evans.

Sturmey handlebar mounted three speed lever and celuloid
covered bars.

I'm not sure if the original owner painted the accessories to
match the frame or if that was done for him by Evans.

'Ten Spot' cantilever brakes. Very simple and
effective. I had never heard of these brakes
before let alone seen a set.

Swan neck stem, possibly a BSA one and BSA headset.

Rather heavy but high quality Lucas dynamo
and rear light.

The original customer must have specified every braze-on
available in the build. There are even three clips for the rear
brake cable along the top tube.

Constrictor handlebar grips and stylish flat moustache
style handlebars.

The bracket for the (missing and to be sourced)
Lucas milometer is mounted on the fork drop-out.

Attention to detail is superb, even the pump pegs are elegant.

Parker White Knight tyres and correct metal woods valve caps.

Renolds Chains postcard

An original advertising postcard from the twenties. Lovely painting by the artist Kenneth D Shoesmith, best known for his work depicting Ocean Liners with an instantly recognisable and evocative style.

Renold Chains advertising postcard
by Kenneth D Shoesmith.

Sun Manxman finished

The last few parts finally arrived for the Sun Manxman and it was time for the finishing touches.

I'm very pleased with the way it has turned out, not 100% period correct but fairly close. Everything works as it should and the ride is comfortable with a nice direct lively feeling. The gear change is somewhat wanting but with the long route of the cable run via the Campagnolo bar end levers to the sixties changers this shouldn't be a surprise. The 'matchbox' type front changer lives up to its reputation of being particularly woeful.

The drive train threw up a couple of last minute surprises; the cages of the Raleigh branded pedals clashed with the crank arms. Strange. Solved by adding a packing washer on each side. The inner chainwheel is a very tight clearance to the frame. Careful fitting ensured it doesn't rub but possibly I need to source a packing washer to fit beneath the right hand bracket cup to push it out slightly.

A couple of recommendations for a vintage build. The chain is a Clarks Anti-Rust, cheap as chips and ideal for an older cycle. The mudguards are unbranded plain black from ebay. £20 the pair and they look period. 

The Sun will be a summer ride, the chrome work on the stays and forks is delicate. So 'till next year it is destined to be wall art.