Who do you think you are kidding Mr Butler

[Peachy!]

Well the New Years resolution of no new projects in 2023 was blown last night when I noticed @Gtpulse had posted this;
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/1940s-gents-claud-arp.455132/
Well its in my size and I'm a sucker for WW2 memorabilia!


For £45 I think it's a steal and will collecting sometime in January.

Plans?

Well I've had a text conversation with the seller and it turns out it was his farther who had used it during the war whilst he volunteered in the Auxiliary Fire Service during the Blitz, he's not sure what colour it was before the war but insists it was never black as per the usual ARP wardens bikes and believes his father painted it grey as per the National Fire Service war time Grey with white mudguards (1941-45)
Although the seller believes it to be an ARP/Utility bike, there are some inconsistencies which need investigating.

Once I've had a face to face and striped the bike down, I'll have a better idea of what needs doing, but my intention is to take it back to War service trim and possibly have it on display at the Shuttleworth collection.

 

[eric_james]

Good stuff I'm replying here for updates

 

[Peachy!]

Odd frame number. 624722
Looks normal but doesn’t quite fit.
I’m asking the numbers Guru @dwscrimshaw for advice.

 

[mdvineng]

That's looking like semi lugless and the ARP No2 picture is lugged?

BSA version on ebay for 550

 

[legrandefromage]

Sram GX 12 speed?

 

[Peachy!]

That's looking like semi lugless and the ARP No2 picture is lugged?

BSA version on ebay for 550

Yup. I need to look into it more but the seller believes his dad had it built specifically for his extra long legs but short reach and that it wasn’t an issued machine, fillet brazing would accommodate this if the off the shelf lugs didn’t fit the angles, maybe?

 

[Peachy!]

Sram GX 12 speed?

Silly bugger

 

[jim haseltine]

Assuming that the spec in the ad matches the spec that the bike were produced to other things don't quite add up, like the position of the mudguard eyes. It's got wide clearances with the 27" wheels pictured, 26" would be massive and probably more than the brake drop. Alloy stem, pedal bodies and a 5 bolt chainwheel too could all have been added later in life.
I suspect a later lightweight frame that's had some stuff from the original bike swapped over. My own father (who's in his nineties) can't remember everything about his bikes from the 1950s so info like that can easily be missed.
It's a nice looking frame though.

 

[The History Man]

Put that light out!

 

[Peachy!]

Assuming that the spec in the ad matches the spec that the bike were produced to other things don't quite add up, like the position of the mudguard eyes. It's got wide clearances with the 27" wheels pictured, 26" would be massive and probably more than the brake drop. Alloy stem, pedal bodies and a 5 bolt chainwheel too could all have been added later in life.
I suspect a later lightweight frame that's had some stuff from the original bike swapped over. My own father (who's in his nineties) can't remember everything about his bikes from the 1950s so info like that can easily be missed.
It's a nice looking frame though.

Yes I’ve noted these details, but I’m going to see what this chap can tell me about the bike and what he remembers his Dad telling him.
I could of course quite easily list all the inconsistencies and advise him of them, but in my experience that can sometimes come across as rude and I don’t want the chap to get the hump, certainly if there’s any chance of getting some of the history from him.

Ps headset and Continental drop-outs also don’t match. But for the sake of £45 I’m still interested to hear what the old guy has to say.