Help required with vintage parts - 1952 Hobbs of Barbican

[Ironmanstrath]

I am trying to renovate my Dad's 1952 Hobbs of Barbican Blue RIbband bike. I've got most of the parts I need (mixture of nice old GB parts and some modern replacements). The things I am struggling with are the chainset and the derailleur. It's set up as a 5 speed and the square taper BB extends 1 inch from the BB casing. I got a chainset but it is too deep to fit on with the set up the bike has. I don't have a derailleur and would like to get something appropriate for the era so it looks right. Not knowing anything about bikes of this era I'm a bit confused that there's nowhere obvious to attach the derailleur to. Any help would be really appreciated as I want to get the bike together so that Dad can have a go on it.

 

[sdp2112]

I suppose it depends on the drop-out width and whether there are any braze-ons for levers. A Sturmey could be appropriate, perhaps a Simplex TDF (3,4 or 5 speed). It may have been a single gear bike when new. Chainset; Chater Lea or Williams, Durax if feeling extrvagant. GB brakes. Worlds your oyster really.

 

[Excel]

if you have a square taper b/b axle and wish to retain it then a Stronglight 49d chainset would look appropriate << http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx? ... AbsPos=333 >>and be compatible for the quality of the build and era as for the rear derailleur a Campag Gran Sport/ Simplex/Cyclo Benelux with a hanger are readily available on eBay or similar.....these components were very popular in the 1950's. My personal preference would be to change the b/b to a cottered version as a steel chainset would have been fitted to 90% of lightweight road bikes back then!
Griff
ps: 1951 Blue Riband << http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/blueriband.html >>

 

[Ironmanstrath]

Ah, struggling with the terminology here. Actually think it's a cottered bottom bracket. Pretty sure the BB is the original. The bike has a single downtube shifter, also original so definitely had some gears. Dad can't remember whether it was 3 or 5 speed.

 

[roadking]

Hobbs of Barbican.

My own 1951 Hobbs of Barbican had a 3 speed Sturmey Archer - alloy shell - hub from new (my Wife's Father built the bike in '51).

HoB catalogues list 3 speed derailleurs/fixed/SA hubs as options, if you want a period derailleur then the Cyclo should be your choice - I prefer the aesthetics and reliability of the SA hub.

A typical chainset fitted to HoB frames (and depicted in their catalogue) was the cottered Williams (C34). Of course many folk build these frames with Stronglight alloy, BSA or Chater Lea chainsets, but many of these were quite rare and expensive in the 40s and 50s and not commonly seen - aspired to yes.

Hobbs actually sold the frames with chainsets fitted as it still enabled the avoidance of Purchase Tax (complete bicycles attracted Purchase Tax, frames did not).

Hobbs did not build frames after 1953; that is a useful date if you want to build in period.

Hope this helps.

Rk.

 

[Ironmanstrath]

PIcture of the bike as it is at the moment. Not a great paint job (!) but will think about that once I've got it going.

 

[roadking]

PIcture of the bike as it is at the moment. Not a great paint job (!) but will think about that once I've got it going.

Bigger/better picture would be nice.

Rk.

 

[Old Ned]

Frames at that time did not have integral threaded gear hangers, the hanger was attached to the gear mech.

Like this -

http://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx? ... &AbsPos=10

Should be relatively easy to find something suitable either on here or at a jumble - or even flea-bay.

 

[Ironmanstrath]

Thanks for all the help. Just got to chase down the parts now. Here's a few more photos, hopefully a bit better.