1949 Rotrax La Premier Model

[scooter]

Hi ,
Here's my 1949 Rotrax La Premier Model.
Hand built by the later Rotrax Cycles Shop in Shirley high street, Southampton.
Ive restored & had a polish up with some minor changes.
Before- In Brunswick green colour








Frame Strip, Overall the frame was good underneath the old paint, just some light pitting and a small pin hole on the forks which I had brazed up, the chrome is still in good condition.





And some restored pics - Flambouyant Purple with Ivory Inlay & Gold lug lining.



































Spec List -
Frame & Fork - Rotrax 1949 La Premier Model, Reynolds 531 Tubing.
Stamped 49112 on BB & fork steerer tube.
Frame & fork size - Seat Tube 22" (56cm) Top Tube 21 1/2" (55cm).
Head stock 5" (130mm) Headset 1".
Fork steerer tube 6 1/4" (160mm).
Crankset - Williams C34 Steel , Made in England.
(stamped inside chainring E.B.W sword trademark, AL=1949.
Arms - 6 1/2"
Chainring - 48 Tooth.
Bottom Bracket - Bayliss Wiley, steel, Made in England.
Headset - Brampton Alacet, steel Made In England , Aluminium Spacer & Locknut.
Brake Calipers - GB Hiduminium Side pull, Fibrax Blocks.
Brake Levers - GB Adjustable.
Stem - GB Hiduminium Arrow head, quill size 22.2mm, 90mm reach, 25.4 clamp. size
Pedals - Conloy Constrictor Boa, 9 1/16 threads.
Toe Clips - GB Stainless Steel.
Rims - Dunlop Aluminium LA 27" x 1 1/4" HP KR, 32 Spoke front, 40 Spoke rear.
Hubs - ? Loose ball, Grease nipples, chrome plated steel & Flip flop rear.
Rear Sprocket - Cyclo 3 Speed 20-16-14 Tooth, & 16 Tooth fixed cog.
Rear Derailleur - Suntour VX-S, Aluminium, stamped - VL = 1977 -1985 ?
Gear lever - Suntour.
Saddle - Brooks Competition B75 (1975).
Seat Post - ?
Handle Bars - GB Maes 1950's.

Hope you like & Thanks for looking
Scooter....

 

[sisyphus]

What a bike and restoration!

 

[Spokesmann]

A feast for the eyes. Just enough old patina left and not too much new bling. Love that colour. Great refurbishment.

 

[KidDynamite]

Very lovely bike, a great restoration and a great choice of colour.

 

[quiet mike]

Love the colour! It suits the machine far more than the green.

I have the same rear hub with 3 Cyclo gears and a fixed cog in my spares bin that I could use on my Jim Guard project, but the freewheel is really worn. I have a feeling that there is probably no way to restore it though?

 

[Jonny69]

Beautiful rebuild - thanks for sharing!

That saddle looks quite dry and you'll give it a new lease of life with a bit of leather nutrition (Dubbin or Brooks' Proofide). If you ride it like that it'll crack up and split quite quickly!

 

[Nob]

what a great attempt but you need to weed out your lawn alittle more yet.

 

[Robbied196]

Its time we started a Rotrax appreciation society

Lovely job you've done. Did Tim Maund help you out with details?

I've read somewhere that Rotrax are the oldest bicycle company in Britain who are still in operation.

Here's mine, much younger at 1986 but it also started life in Brunswick Green.

 

[scooter]

Yeah Tim Maund identified the date & Model for me and supplied me a new Headbadge.

I used a guy called superbikedan for the paint job (well powder coat)
The Rotrax decals i found on eBay although Tim also sells these, & the other decals from H lloyd cycles.
The lug lining i done myself using One shot sign writing paint and a fine manicure brush, steady hand and a large magnifying glass

I have some Neats foot oil that i will probably use on the saddle. We sometimes do a sunday ride out to a country pub(s) in the summer months, the gearing is mega hard when climbing hills tho

I agree , Some sort of Rotrax gallery would be cool

Hey can anyone identify the seat post i have :?:

 

[pauln]

Classy, and I was worried about purple for my Puch (not any more), a great resto love the VX mech as well.