Crusty Carlton Corsair - to save or not to save?

[sparkybhp]

Picked up this old thing yesterday evening, a last minute eBay bid secured it (cheap!) and the B17 saddle on it means I’m quids in either way.

Stripped it down this morning and it has yielded some half decent parts, sr laprade seat post, stronglight cranks and Sachs mechs all look ok.
Frame is 531 and light, possibly helped by the tinworm which has eaten the surface in various places. The wire wheel has took off a lot of it but under the top tube I found a pinhole - I gave it a good poke with a sharp point and it didn’t go through.

I think a sanding disc on my grinder will help to further assess the condition. A dab of weld might be enough to save it? We’ll see.

Be nice to save it really, I could practice my painting on this frame and get it looking presentable for very little outlay - it’s my size too which is a touch.

Let me know your thoughts, could be a nice little project for the Christmas break.

 

[Jd345]

I think it's just the frame and brakes left before that corsair completes the ship of theseus challenge. Could form the basis of a fun town bike but I don't think it's worth trying to make it resemble a corsair again

 

[sparkybhp]

I think it's just the frame and brakes left before that corsair completes the ship of theseus challenge. Could form the basis of a fun town bike but I don't think it's worth trying to make it resemble a corsair again

Agreed, I love the fact that it’s clearly been well used and loved over the years. Obviously it’s been upgraded and had bits changed as needed to keep it in use.
I think you’re right - I’ll fix it up, paint it and make it a decent usable bike again so it can be used some more. No need to restore it - it’s not particularly rare or desirable anyway. As long as it doesn’t get crushed and recycled yet I’m going to call that a win.

 

[Jonny69]

Let me know your thoughts

Random question, is the shop that sign came from the shoe shop that used to be on the corner of the road down that end of Kings Road? I’ve got a very vague recollection from when I used to drive through there years ago (well, 25+ years ago ).

 

[sparkybhp]

Random question, is the shop that sign came from the shoe shop that used to be on the corner of the road down that end of Kings Road? I’ve got a very vague recollection from when I used to drive through there years ago (well, 25+ years ago ).

Yes it is! It would’ve been at least 25 years ago. We fitted out the shop as a dry cleaners after it was a shoe shop and found two of these signs in the basement. I was working for my father in law at the time and we kept one each rather than putting them in the skip.

 

[Jonny69]

Wow, that’s a proper bit of local history now! That was a really old shop from what I remember.

 

[bikeworkshop]

There are loads of decent condition (and more unusual) 531 frames slowly rotting away - I think it makes more sense to send this for recycling and rebuild onto something with less rust.
If the world needed another brown carlton corsair, I'd say save it.

We've got a few nice bare frames in the basement, not worth building up because the parts are worth more than the bikes.
as it's Christmas, i could let you have one foc if you find yourself in Bristol - just pm me. One is a London builder, Holland - I can't remember the others.

 

[sparkybhp]

There are loads of decent condition (and more unusual) 531 frames slowly rotting away - I think it makes more sense to send this for recycling and rebuild onto something with less rust.
If the world needed another brown carlton corsair, I'd say save it.

We've got a few nice bare frames in the basement, not worth building up because the parts are worth more than the bikes.
as it's Christmas, i could let you have one foc if you find yourself in Bristol - just pm me. One is a London builder, Holland - I can't remember the others. View attachment 911235

That’s a very kind offer, I might well take you up on that as I’m down your way in early January. Yes, sadly this is too far gone, the frame is so thin that a welder is blowing great big holes in it.

RIP..

 

[bikeworkshop]

It can be melted down and made into new bicycles

I thought the bb area would be close to failing with that level of corrosion.

I'm not sure I'd recommend mig welding on the mid point of a 531 frame tube though, perhaps lugs only?

 

[sparkybhp]

It can be melted down and made into new bicycles

I thought the bb area would be close to failing with that level of corrosion.

At least I don’t have to find that out the hard way now..
Ah well, it definitely had some good use in its life and the components can be reused so not too sad.