Raleigh Sprite 20spd, a sheldon-esque conversion from way back

[squirreldh]

I came across this Raleigh Sprite from my work recently. I am unsure of the year, not much research has been done on it yet, but once I looked at it I knew something was strange. Wiping off the rear hub it says "70" which sounds about right, maybe its late sixties? Anyways thats where it starts getting weird. It also says "three speed" on the hubshell, but it has 5spd internals, shifted by two traditional SA shifters on the bars. Also, it has a two speed cog setup on the driver for the sturmey hub, I am unsure of the manufacturer or if its a custom job, I heard there is a company that used to do two and three speed cogs for the sturmeys, a huret derailleur shifts the rear, and a stronglight cottered crank with a double ring setup shifted by a simplex fr derailleur. A very strange conversion resulting in 20 speeds! Also sports the dynohub front hub, and front and rear lighting, a weathered brooks, and a few other strange bits. Here are some pics:

I will be refurbing it so I can ride it and bring it to shows as a conversation piece. Will retain as much patina as possible while also making it functional again. The tires even seem to be in great shape!

 

[A.S.BOLTNUT]

Looks tall

 

[squirreldh]

I know but these Raleighs are so deceiving. The seat tubes on the smalls measure 21" which sounds big but the top tube only measures 21.5" which is short in comparison. Most vintage Raleigh frames i have seen are strangely tall and short. This one does have a long stem it seems, though it may only be installed an inch... I am 5'10" maybe 5'11" and it feels small under me.

 

[Wildcat]

Definitely different! The SA 5 speed internals must fit the three speed hub shell. Someone went to a lot of trouble to get all those gears. One of a kind!

I think that's a bike license on the seat tube. I wonder if you can check the records and get info on the bike.

 

[Funkme]

I just purchased SA 5 speed dual shifter.

The sprite with the 5 speed internal hub were made in 1967 for a couple of years and then went back to a normal shift system. Yours looks like it has been upgraded with thumb levers.