TRADITIONAL 🅵🅾🅾🅻🅸🅶🅰🅽 - 1930s Elgin Oriole

[kingfish254]

Man, THREE grail springer-forks?!? My eyes are turning green

That particular style of beehive springer is one of my all-time favorite parts

I like the scaffold fork the best out of the mockups. Beehive is lovely (of course), and the Evan-action needs a weight balance (imho) like a tank or something?

View attachment 264053
View attachment 264054

This "waterfall" beehive is the first version of the beehive springer that Murray made for Higgins. Later ones (like ingola's) don't have the "waterfall" truss arms.

 

[kingfish254]

@MattiThundrrr lives 5 mins bike ride from my house he doesn't even know where I keep the good stuff

Smart man!!!!

 

[ingola]

This "waterfall" beehive is the first version of the beehive springer that Murray made for Higgins. Later ones (like ingola's) don't have the "waterfall" truss arms.

Never even noticed that little detail nice

 

[kingfish254]

View attachment 264067
See what more could you want

 

[ingola]

View attachment 264154

Yours will hold one to

 

[kingfish254]

Can't deny it. Evans and Elgin really nailed that curve, design-wise.

View attachment 264099

To me, the early Elgins are even more unique because of how far the lower upward curve of the downtube sticks out in front of the cranks.

The Robin and Bluebirds are similar to my Oriole in that regard. Unfortunately, I do not have either of these in my stash!!!

 

[kingfish254]

Need to work out more items for the build before I decide on which fork works best. I am currently leaning towards the beehive as well. I even have a ratty one from @Wildcat 's old copperhead build that I can use if the build needs something more gritty.

I've owned a couple of beehives over the years, but have yet to use one on a build. The closest I came was my faux beehive I built up for starsNbars in BO9

 

[kingfish254]

I really want to use Schwinn Aerovane tires that I finally scored last year. I actually like how beefy the wheelset is too. So I went to one of rental property stashes and pulled the wheelset.

 

[kingfish254]

I'll need to file two notches on the front axles to allow the forks to slide on, but for today I'll just rest the fork as far as they'll go. Good enuff for mockups.

 

[kingfish254]

Man, the thickness (2 5/8") and wall profile (2 5/8") really make for a wicked stance.

I'll have to either massage the inner chainstays or make a dropout extension, but the wheel slid on well enough for mockups.

I think clearance will be good with either fork, but wont know for sure until i notch the axle.

Here is the Evanaction

And here is the beehive

 

[Captain Awesome]

Evan’s follows the lines but the Beehive is beefier and really accentuates those tires!

 

[Wildcat]

Man, the thickness (2 5/8") and wall profile (2 5/8") really make for a wicked stance.

I'll have to either massage the inner chainstays or make a dropout extension, but the wheel slid on well enough for mockups.

I think clearance will be good with either fork, but wont know for sure until i notch the axle.

Here is the Evanaction

View attachment 264162View attachment 264163View attachment 264164View attachment 264165View attachment 264166


And here is the beehive


View attachment 264167
View attachment 264168
View attachment 264169
View attachment 264170
View attachment 264171

Looks like something from Mad Max. There's another sequel coming out, Furiosa, later this year. I can't wait.

 

[BobbyStillz]

Man, the thickness (2 5/8") and wall profile (2 5/8") really make for a wicked stance.

I'll have to either massage the inner chainstays or make a dropout extension, but the wheel slid on well enough for mockups.

I think clearance will be good with either fork, but wont know for sure until i notch the axle.

Here is the Evanaction

View attachment 264162View attachment 264163View attachment 264164View attachment 264165View attachment 264166


And here is the beehive


View attachment 264167
View attachment 264168
View attachment 264169
View attachment 264170
View attachment 264171

 

[RustySprockets]

That combination is already looking killer with just the basic mockup!

 

[Chad T]

Them tires are really boss! Kind of like the Evanaction with the wheels. Might be better to file flats in the axles? Doesn’t look like a lot of extra meat on the forks.

 

[kingfish254]

Them tires are really boss! Kind of like the Evanaction with the wheels. Might be better to file flats in the axles? Doesn’t look like a lot of extra meat on the forks.

Yes, filing axles are much better and safer than filing forks in my opinion.

 

[Chad T]

I misread. You got it. Thought you said forks.

 

[The Renaissance Man]

Yes, filing axles are much better and safer than filing forks in my opinion.

Agreed.
I've had some very passionate arguments against filing the axels claiming that it is unsafe blablabla. So by that argument, you can only conclude that original smaller axels made to fit the dropouts must also be unsafe! lol

My biggest argument however is that axels are much easier to replace than a vintage fork if you decide to go back!

 

[RustySprockets]

TRM beat me to it, but yeah, it's far easier to source a replacement axle! I use hex jamb-nuts to hold the axle secure in a bench vise while I do the filing--one side then the other. Helps keep everything nice and parallel. Go slow and deliberate...you can always take off more.

 

[OddJob]

@kingfish254 , I was going to hold out to vote on the fork until I saw the Koi and Goldfish popular vote. But I don't see any fish in the Kingfish / Queenfish pond? Absentee ballot?