Possible BSA Frankenstein mess.

[Nabeaquam]

It’s got a lot of old 1910-20s parts. 5 pin crank, flat pump mounts, an inch pitch sprocket that looks like a Williams without a Williams trade mark stamp. Bayless Wiley BB. I think I saw Charter Lee on the headset, but I have to check that as it’s stored in a plastic bag, stored in a box, with the other bits. I’m thinking they aren’t original parts, too old for the frame. Any clues? I’m stripping off three layers of paint. The original was blue. No head badge. Almost no rust on the frame but one of the crank arms is rusty, which makes me wonder. The crank is stamped Made in England. I’m thinking it’s a 1950s BSA? It came without wheels and no chain. I’m rebuilding it, making it a rider, no fancy paint. All fitting are Whitworth. It had a lamp mount with BSA stamped on it. The marks in the pant look like a BSA head badge. It wasn’t a decal as the head badge dug into the recoats of paint.

 

[greencat]

I find it bizarre that someone would put 30-40 year old parts on a 50s frame (it's like taking a modern frame, and putting stuff from the mid to late 80s on it). Maybe the prior frame didn't fit or was damaged - and someone was being super frugal.

 

[Nabeaquam]

I find it bizarre that someone would put 30-40 year old parts on a 50s frame (it's like taking a modern frame, and putting stuff from the mid to late 80s on it). Maybe the prior frame didn't fit or was damaged - and someone was being super frugal.

A brain cell fired, I remembered that I once had a Raleigh with a gallows seat post so that could be original. The crank is probably original but the inch pitch drive is something I’ve only seen on old English track bikes and early American balloon tired bikes.Perhaps the inch pitch was a factory option. The quill stem looks like it’s from the States, about 1920s vintage. Everything is in very good shape except the drive side crank arm, which has surface rust. The rust has been removed. The frame has mini,al surface rust without pitting.

 

[Nabeaquam]

I stripped the frame and primed it.

 

[Nabeaquam]

After I cleaned the inch pitch chainring the Williams makers mark became visible. No model number under the makers mark but it looks like an old school, 24 tooth, steel, inch pitch, track ring.