Picked this up from a local bike collector a couple weeks ago. Along the way got to see a collection with an Aerocycle, Elgin Bluebired, and other similarly rare bikes! Needless to say they got me very stoked to start this project.
All I know is that it's a Triumph. He said it's from the '30s. I can't find another one with the bent top tube like it online. This bike has had the living heck beat out of it during it's life though, one of the fork dropouts has been replace, half of the rear triangle was broken off and welded back on a very long time ago, and there is some non factory braze work done on what I assume are were broken welds. The frame is still pretty straight and rigid though.
I assume it's been in someone's front yard for years, as when I was tearing it down it had tons of mold and moss growing on it. The spoke nipples had pulled through the wheels they were so rusty! I scrapped the wheels, but saved the hubs. My plan is to completely tear it apart before rebuilding it as a single speed commuter. I've almost got it all apart, except for the sprocket side of the cottered cranks, the cotter pin is bent/mangaled, so I'm taking the grinder to the cotter pin tomorrow. Worse case would be cut the center axle and just get new cranks. Also, the stem is stuck in the fork, which is also stuck on. That's the biggest problem, as it's been soaking in penetrating lube for a week and still no budge...
Anybody have any info on it? I'd sure like to know what's stock and whats not.
^As it looked when I brought it back to my dorm.
^As it sits now.
^The Velocity deep v wheelset I picked up for it, I plan on lacing the original SA coaster brake into the rear wheel so I have brakes, as there aren't any mounts on the frame and I don't want to drill any.
All I know is that it's a Triumph. He said it's from the '30s. I can't find another one with the bent top tube like it online. This bike has had the living heck beat out of it during it's life though, one of the fork dropouts has been replace, half of the rear triangle was broken off and welded back on a very long time ago, and there is some non factory braze work done on what I assume are were broken welds. The frame is still pretty straight and rigid though.
I assume it's been in someone's front yard for years, as when I was tearing it down it had tons of mold and moss growing on it. The spoke nipples had pulled through the wheels they were so rusty! I scrapped the wheels, but saved the hubs. My plan is to completely tear it apart before rebuilding it as a single speed commuter. I've almost got it all apart, except for the sprocket side of the cottered cranks, the cotter pin is bent/mangaled, so I'm taking the grinder to the cotter pin tomorrow. Worse case would be cut the center axle and just get new cranks. Also, the stem is stuck in the fork, which is also stuck on. That's the biggest problem, as it's been soaking in penetrating lube for a week and still no budge...
Anybody have any info on it? I'd sure like to know what's stock and whats not.
^As it looked when I brought it back to my dorm.
^As it sits now.
^The Velocity deep v wheelset I picked up for it, I plan on lacing the original SA coaster brake into the rear wheel so I have brakes, as there aren't any mounts on the frame and I don't want to drill any.