Obscure 3-bolt chainset

[neil the wheel]

Hi combined brains of RetroBike,
I can't find any info on this 1950s crankset. It is engraved with the word RACELITE and came with a Gnutti BB axle. I have measured the PCD at 118mmm but all ifno on 3-bolt cranks suggest 16 is more likely, could this just be margin of error?
It needs re-chroming but I won't bother if I can't find a chainring that fits.
Thanks a lot!

 

[LikeClockwork]

Re:

Might be wrong but I think Racelite made hubs and such like too, in the '50's....

Suspect as you do that this will be 116BCD, it's difficult to measure accurately. Can't think there would be any advantage to them having a different BCD to the standard at the time....

 

[neil the wheel]

Re:

Mods - this should be in retro Road forum, sorry.
Yes LC, lots of stuff about Racelite hubs but nothing at all about chainsets. Puzzling.

 

[Midlife]

Despite the Racelite stamp it looks very Chater Lea to me? Are the cranks hollow?

Shaun

 

[neil the wheel]

Re:

Not hollow, solid steel!

 

[legrandefromage]

might be expensive to find out what fits

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NOS-42-TOOTH- ... SwkNZUjwir

*but

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Bicyc ... Swk1JWfImJ

 

[neil the wheel]

Re:

...although now you mention it, when I tap the drive side crank arm with a nail it does seem to have a hollow ring! Can't see inside it though, through the bolt mount or anything.

 

[neil the wheel]

Re:

Thanks lgf, I think trial and error may be the answer. I can always sell on anything that doesn't fit.

 

[Midlife]

http://forum.ctc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=73136

Racelite has been mentioned on other forums.

Shaun

 

[neil the wheel]

Re:

Thanks Shaun, that was my post too! Clearly I have the only Race Lite crank in existence