Best of British (Components)

[Canuk]

Harden Bottom Bracket Unit Part No C5000
This is an alloy unit in which are fitted bearing races and a tool-steel axle in the end of which is a grease nipple. The barrel of the unit is 2 5/8″ long and to use this device the threads of the bracket must be removed, it is held in place by a locking ring at either end.

I remember having one of these that I picked up at a jumble and totally mystified at ours origins.

 

[Canuk]

Shellwin lightweight hubs

 

[Canuk]

Shellwin hubs were manufactured at The King’s Heath Engineering Co. Ltd. (Kingsway Works, High Street, Birmingham 14).

They were designed to reduce the risk of spoke breakages by using a bevelled flange which the manufacturers claimed produced a more rigid flange. This eased the line of the spoke from hub to rim, thus reducing stresses which could lead to breakage. The easier spoke line can be seen in the image on the right.

The hub shell and flanges were made of special light alloy polished with solid nickel chrome molybdenum steel spindles grooved and with hollow ends, hardened steel cones, washers and lock nuts. The rear hub was fitted with a larger diameter locknut which gave a greater area with which to secure the wheel in the frame dropouts and so reduce the chance of the wheel pulling over.

The cups and cones were standard size and used ¼” diameter balls front and rear.

 

[Canuk]

Solite hubs - British Hub Co.

 

[Glug]

TDC Continental S headset
I think it's a direct replacement for the Brampton Alatet.

 

[Canuk]

Wedgelock cranks and axles

 

[Canuk]

TDC Continental S headset
I think it's a direct replacement for the Brampton Alatet.

View attachment 928261

I remember grabbing one of these from off a 40yr old Carlton to rebuild a Holdsworth in the late nineties, extremely well made and built to last!

 

[Canuk]

Wedgelock Cotterless cranks, were made in the West Hants/Dorset area in the early 1950’s. The cranks were alloy, and a long bolt ran through the bottom bracket, the axle being cut with wedge ends, hence the name.


Wedgelock cranks were made in Horsham in the late 50s, I think in Moons Lane. I have seen a few over the years but no information on how good they were. They did advertise, in Cycling weekly.

 

[Canuk]

Williams component dating


Many of Williams components are stamped with a letter code which denotes the year of manufacture as listed below. In the table the year is followed by the letter code. This can help to identify the date of a machine if you are confident that it is original equipment. Sturmey Archer of course also date stamped many of their hubs.

 

[Canuk]

GB Coureur brakes