More info/advice about this flying scot?

[jeffcapeshop]

Hi,

Got this flying scot, frame number is 99A on the dropouts - i think it's 1951, am i right?
badge is damaged by i assume rubbing cable or something unfortunately.

I'd like to know a bit more about the components too - which might be original, or what they might have been around that time if not.

hubs are bayliss-wiley, rims are constrictor "boaloy"
huret wingnuts on front

brakes are weinmann 730 - they seem to flex an awful lot, is this age or normal?
levers GB something

stem is cinelli milano

derailleur is campag gran sport, other gear bits are also campag of various ages - i think?

bayliss-wiley bottom bracket

cranks ?

pedals, whatever they are they are surprisingly uncomfortable! be interested to know what alternatives there might be

In terms of replacing things i like the idea of restoring it to original components but if the reality of that is a bike that doesn't work as well (it's very smooth in its current state) and is harder to maintain that puts me off - i will be riding it! so any advice on that side would be appreciated.

the frame looks a lot nicer in these pics than the baby poo colour it does in real life - am considering getting it repainted but i'd be interested to know what colours might have been common and available at the time - and what colour this might have been before fading - anyone know?

there's also the fact that the scaffy bits might look a little scaffier with a shiny new frame.. hmm..

thanks!

 

[fiks]

All the parts on the bike looks to me to be of roughly the correct period, although the front mech might be a bit later. More often than not, riders bought a frame and fitted parts of their own choice.

My own opinion is that old bikes should be ridden/bought for what they are.

pedals, whatever they are they are surprisingly uncomfortable! be interested to know what alternatives there might be

They're supposed to be used with cycling shoes, ie shoes with a hard rigid sole.

 

[Gregorio]

Nice-got a soft spot for Scots. Late 50's early '60's sounds about right. The flex in the cables is probably because... they're old and sticky and need to be changed! Cheap and easy to do so no excuse!

Getting those pedals off might be the cause of a small seizure or great depression so I'd either get in the gym or find some stiff soled shoes ESP in glasgow does cheap but good powdercoating from what I know-its in Maryhill I think (I say that as from the pics it looks like a good old tenement in the background!). The appropriate decals are pretty easy to come by either on evilBay or with someone like Mercian.

Good find anyway-hope you enjoy restoring and riding it!

 

[jeffcapeshop]

aha - that makes more sense regarding the pedals!

i actually meant the callipers themselves were flexing but i think it's just that they were loose instead.

i imagine things would have been added and replaced over the years yes - expecting everything to last 60 years is possibly pushing it!

and yes, it is a tenement, but an edinburgh one.

 

[jeffcapeshop]

anyone know the crank logo, out of interest?

 

[Old Ned]

anyone know the crank logo, out of interest?

It looks a bit like a very worn Raleigh Industries one to me. The one with Sir Walter and his cape? Possibly not an original fitting if this is correct but the cranks are very nice and thin.

As far as the rest of the bike is concerned, most of the fittings are period correct. The wheels are very good as are the stem, bars, brake levers, saddle. The Gran Sport rear mech is OK datewise but it seems to be fitted on to a non-Campag hanger and the top fixing bolt isn't correct, it should be black and recessed like the bottom one (unless it's a very early mech but then both bolts would be similar to the top one?). The front changer is definitely to modern. To match the rear mech it should be a Gran Sport 'matchbox' type. Weinmann brake calipers have probably been fitted to replace some original GB ones but they're basically OK for period as the design hardly varied from the 40's but may be much newer than the frame. There's often a date stamp on the inside face of the 'long' arm. The pedals look to be in period so persevere with them and wear some harder sole shoes. Not for nothing were pedals of this era called 'rat-trap' pedals!

All in all an interesting machine, try and keep as much as possible original - including the patina!

 

[jeffcapeshop]

excellent - thanks! pretty sure it is raleigh industries, yes - can see why they changed it! i still don't know what it's supposed to be..

i'll keep a look out for appropriate gran sport bits to match them up.

On that subject, the gear cable doesn't go through both braze on loops suggesting that it's not original, do you know what kind of gear lever system it might have been designed for?

In terms of the finish i'm not totally decided what to do - i'm inclined to agree that keeping it original makes sense, but it was never a particularly impressive paint job, doesn't seem to have had decals etc (or they have long gone if it did) - i also don't want the condition to get any worse, but perhaps that shouldn't be a realistic concern if i plan on riding it in mostly dry conditions and keeping it indoors.

the pedals, man i don't know if i can cope!

thanks!

 

[jeffcapeshop]

also - bottle cages - no cage bosses, so what was the standard way to carry water in the 50s?

or was it all tearoom/pub stops?

 

[legrandefromage]

Bottle cages were bolted around the frame, looked nice if chrome but buggered the paint if they slipped.

I have some early Campagnolo bits you are welcome to, I'm sure I have a black mech hanger and an early GS front mech.

 

[jeffcapeshop]

hey - yes please!

guessing it's a little later than the afore mentioned "matchbox" type but it's certainly more inkeeping with the style (and probably works better) so if the offer's there..