1950 - Holdsworth Cyclone-De-Luxe

[sparkybhp]

More progress on this, I gave the frame 2 cleans in muc-off bike cleaner and then a polish with t-cut.

Looking better, I’ll get some polish and give that a go before I start re-assembling it.
The wheels have come apart ok, I managed to salvage a complete spoke from each so I know what I need to order. Fronts look like 32 @ 301mm and rears 40 @ 303mm, anyone have a recommendation of a company who can provide these. I’ll check eBay and see what I can find in the meantime.
The hubs are Bayliss Wiley like the bb, most of the chrome has flaked off the centre parts but I made out the stamping on the rear one.
I’ll repaint the centres in silver once I’ve sanded all the old chrome off.

Rims are branded ‘Alumlite’ and have a gorgeous profile, looks like they’ll clean up just fine.

Hubs stripped down ok, big bearings in these! Cones have very little wear/pitting and should be fine to reuse, only one side undoes, the other is machined as part of the axle - never seen that before.
Coming along nicely.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Lovely, rims are rare.

 

[Glug]

For spokes I've used Spokes From Ryan and SpaCycles.
The advantage of Spokes From Ryan is they will do any length 210 - 310.

https://www.spokesfromryan.com/product-category/spokes/?filter_spoketype=double-butted,j-bendhttps://www.spacycles.co.uk/m20b67s156p3841/SAPIM-Race-Silver-Spokes
Edit:
I'm guessing the rear hub is symmetric then, weird but fair enough

 

[sparkybhp]

For spokes I've used Spokes From Ryan and SpaCycles.
The advantage of Spokes From Ryan is they will do any length 210 - 310.

https://www.spokesfromryan.com/product-category/spokes/?filter_spoketype=double-butted,j-bendhttps://www.spacycles.co.uk/m20b67s156p3841/SAPIM-Race-Silver-Spokes
Edit:
I'm guessing the rear hub is symmetric then, weird but fair enough

Thanks for the links, I went with spa cycles - just the plain Sapim Leader spokes @ 40p each, seems good value. Think I was measuring the spokes wrong, after a quick google search I went with 300/302mm, fingers crossed.
I did check side/side with the spokes, they looked the same each side which made sense to me with the rear being a flip flop hub. That would mean the rear wheel would need to be symmetrical for chain line and to put the rim central to the rear stays whichever way round it’s being used, at least in my head anyway..
Todays progress was removing the flaky chrome on the hub centres and spraying with etch prime, silver and lacquer.

It was the devils own work to get the flanges suitably masked up!
Once they’re done and dried off I’ll get them rebuilt and await the delivery of the spokes.

 

[Ghaben1]

My brother's 1947 Cyclone De-Luxe Road-Path frame before and after the build (the latter picture is crappy phone photo, sorry). The frame was updated for cantilever brakes and a modern internal gear hub.

Look for more photos on the frame restoration here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hgabor/albums/72157717566447147

 

[sparkybhp]

Slowly getting there now, I nearly have everything I need to finish - just waiting on some red outer brake cable to be delivered.

The spokes arrived from Spa Cycles so I got the wheels rebuilt, they’ve come out great. Only issue was I didn’t realise the rear was laced 3 cross originally so I had to start again as I laced it 2 cross to start with like the front. 40 spokes, it’s a strong wheel!

The original chrome on the stem was way past saving, I’ve repainted it in silver and red to try and replicate the original finish.

The cranks have cleaned up ok, I’m not going to polish them or anything - I think they suit the overall look of the bike as they are.

I was just cleaning up the lamp bracket and discovered it was stamped ‘Reynolds Hiduminium Alloy’, I thought it was light - even the bolt and washer are alloy.
Next update should be with it mostly assembled, looking forward to seeing it back in one piece again.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

This will be lovely, I'm really looking forward to it.

 

[sparkybhp]

Couple more hours on this this morning and she’s ready for a test ride while the suns out! Just need to add the red cable outers when they arrive and I’m pretty happy it’s finished for now.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

LovelyWhat size is it centre to top? Asking for a friend

 

[sparkybhp]

Thanks, it measures 24” or 61cm centre to top, the top tube is about 57.5cm centres. A bit on the big side for me (I’m 5’10”) but I’ll see how I get on with it.