Totally Stoked - Stokes of London

[fiveSixteenths]

A few small things today…
…the original alloy cable clip I noticed, and the frame looks like it’s had rear rack mounts cut off at some point - you can just make out the marks on the seat stays

 

[fiveSixteenths]

More amazingly, headclip bolt free, stem nut free (courtesy of a pin spanner) and…
THE STEERER STEM ISN’T STUCK YAY!

 

[fiveSixteenths]

And and in other news, the BB is stamped
The exciting news is the mould/forge marks are all visible but also, the thing’s been stamped
03907
and
112
So frame number 112 from July 1939?

 

[fiveSixteenths]

And finally today, two of the rear spokes are broken, so will likely need to rebuild the wheels I suspect

 

[fiveSixteenths]

I mean, complete respect to the previous owner, everything has come apart (with a little plusgas so easily - proper greasing saves lives - and now is bagged and boxed so I can tackle one thing at a time.
Might leave the crankset and bb for now as a. It’s super smooth, b. Has zero play and c. Hate taking off the pins if there’s no immediate reason to, can clean around it.
Fork stamps match the frame numbers also, lugs on the crown are rather nice as well…
Happy New Yeaf all as well!

 

[fiveSixteenths]

Today I have mostly been using tinfoil, white spirit, autosol, various greases and wire wool in a confined space and I think I’m slightly high.
However the Williams chainset now looks presentable (can see the name on the arms now), the seatpin sits snuggly in the tube (needs cutting down a little more (c.40mm) and the headset clip is a Chater Lea, so that’s nice.

 

[fiveSixteenths]

Ah, also, the saddle. How or can I save that? Is it possible? There are no tears, it’s reasonably supple but the top surface is quite ‘rough’ but I’d like to try.

 

[dan73uk]

Ah, also, the saddle. How or can I save that? Is it possible? There are no tears, it’s reasonably supple but the top surface is quite ‘rough’ but I’d like to try.

Try Brooks Proofhide (top and underside) which should nourish the leather and make it useable.

 

[dan73uk]

I mean, complete respect to the previous owner, everything has come apart (with a little plusgas so easily - proper greasing saves lives - and now is bagged and boxed so I can tackle one thing at a time.
Might leave the crankset and bb for now as a. It’s super smooth, b. Has zero play and c. Hate taking off the pins if there’s no immediate reason to, can clean around it.
Fork stamps match the frame numbers also, lugs on the crown are rather nice as well…
Happy New Yeaf all as well!

Paintwork - I'd buy some of this https://www.halfords.com/motoring/c...ng/autoglym-paint-renovator-500ml-181331.html

I've found it's brilliant for cleaning and renovating old paintwork.

 

[fiveSixteenths]

Neat, will buy both things