Raleigh Record Ace model 26 frame number help

[74Pirate]

Gave the bars and seatpost a clean on the green RRA today. Both came up well and they’re both stamped Reynolds Aluminium Alloy. The bars are the Maes bend and the seatpost is the R1 version and with a date code of 10 53.

Assuming that’s Oct 1953 and the post is original it could mean this bike was assembled no earlier than that date. Of course that isn’t a definitive date for when the frame was built as it could have come straight from the paint shop or been on the shelf for an indeterminate length of time.

But interesting anyway

 

[3wheeler7]

I've got four R1 seat posts and not one of them is dated
Raleigh sleeved the top 2½" of the seat tube down to 1" to standardise the range, if you put your finger inside you can feel the step.

 

[74Pirate]

I've got four R1 seat posts and not one of them is dated
Raleigh sleeved the top 2½" of the seat tube down to 1" to standardise the range, if you put your finger inside you can feel the step.

Not the best but you can just about make it out from this pic

 

[3wheeler7]

You've probably seen this but I'll attach it anyway, I've not yet managed to find the list describing the part numbers but a lot of it is self explanatory.

 

[74Pirate]

Thanks - yeah I have seen it but still a great thing. I seem to have the bare bones there in mine. Finding the concave bb cup was a bonus. It has a Raleigh 16 axle but not the hollow one.
I have a load of early hiduminium brakes and period Brooks saddles so it should be possible to get a fairly decent looking bike together fairly quickly

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Be good to see it when its finished. Enjoying this thread very much, learnt stuff too.

 

[vcballbat]

Another FS number...1954 1089FS..
https://www.cicliartigianali.co.uk/bikes/Raleigh/RecordAce1954-1

 

[74Pirate]

Looks lovely - can’t wait to get riding mine too
Despite school hols and a family holiday I managed to get some work done on the Model 26. Chrome cleaned and polished , frame rust treated , small parts , stem and chainset through the acid bath and forks and frame put back together with new headset bearings.
The wheels have had a quick clean and are coming up really well - the spokes and Airlite hubs seem especially good. I was going to completely dismantle the wheels , polish and rebuild but I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m hoping a clean , regrease and true will suffice.

 

[3wheeler7]

This is going to be a cracker when it's done! Love the colour. Are you keeping it fixed wheel or going Sturmey Archer?
(Did you ask the seller why he advertised it as a Road Ace?)

 

[74Pirate]

Cheers - I’m gonna get it up and running as a fixie to start. I’d like to leave that wheelset as is. I have a few Conloy rims knocking about but think they’re 26”. But the longer term plan is to do it with an alloy Sturmey FM set up.
Also have a nice fluted set of Williams cranks (albeit circa 1960) which would improve on what was on it until I can get the correct ones or a bit earlier. And obviously the GB early hiduminium brakes.
As for the description as a Road Ace - I spoke to Brian when I picked it up and I think he has just so much turnover that it got missed. He was happy to have made money on it and I felt I got a good deal. The wheels when cleaned and serviced are prob worth about what I paid for it.
Unfortunately I have a busy couple of weeks with professional exams and 2 overseas work trips so not sure how much I can get done.
Im going to use white brake cable outers but am having dilemmas over whether to go with white or green cloth bar tape. Normally white looks garish to me but it may work with this frame colour. What do you think??