« 雑種号の試乗 | トップページ | 3段変速機設置 »

2008年7月 6日 (日)

雑種号への変速機　第２チャレンジ

以前雑種号にSturmey Archer(英国製）内装3段ハブを付けてみたが、ハブ軸が短くて無理があって諦めました。

先日日本製内装3段ハブ新古品を手に入れました。

Img_0619

経年で箱がかなり傷んで「６６Two Six」と書いてあります。
取り扱い説明書に「淡島変速機株式会社」と書いてあります。

Img_0625

Sturmey Archerと６６Two　Sixを比較すると、軸の長さがかなり違います。
（上は６６Two　Six、下の方はSturmey Archer）

Img_0617

今週車輪を組んで付けてみよう。

2008年7月 6日 (日) 昭和レトロ自転車 (Vintage Bicycles) |

« 雑種号の試乗 | トップページ | 3段変速機設置 »

「昭和レトロ自転車 (Vintage Bicycles)」カテゴリの記事

コメント

Hello, Showajitensha.
I am an expat American in Niigata City. Your restoration work is most impressive. I ride a late model Bridgestone 実用車 but for several years have been on the lookout for a NOS or restored machine- so far without any luck. Would you have any tips on locating a vintage bike?
Any information would be much appreciated.
Regards,
Brian Southwick

投稿: Brian Southwick | 2008年7月 9日 (水) 10時07分

Hi there Brian
Thanks for dropping me a line.

Niigata? I make it to Niigata at least once a year on business. As I ride the bus through the multitude of rice fields I cannot help but wonder just how many wonderful old bicycles must be asleep in the granaries (KURAs) that accompany each old farm. Like in the US where you have “barn finds”.

There is a guy down in Wakayama that has sent me some wonderful photos (see following 3 links below) of cargo bicycles he has acquired. Apparently he has a thing going with the local enterprise that tears down old buildings and he has the pick of the lot. He has done a nice job of bringing them back to life and even has the trailers to go along with these old beasts of burden. That may be one route worth considering, especially in your neck of the woods.

http://chikutakurinrin.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2008/02/kagome_c31c.html

http://chikutakurinrin.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2008/03/post_c66e.html

http://chikutakurinrin.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2008/03/post_3df8.html

Another route is YAHOO AUCTION. If you are looking for a rod brake bicycle from late 60’s – 80’s these can be had at a relatively fair price. But the bidding has become quite competitive for bicycles from 1945-1959, even for an old beater bike worth fixing up. To find a bargain on Yahoo you have to look for someone that has listed an old bicycle as junk or under the category of used bicycle and not under the categories of ANTIQUE or JITSUYOUSYA (That’s where the collectors tend to hangout). I landed a real prize last year this way. But it is time consuming scouring the auctions and it seems with each passing day more and more people are bidding on these old relics.
(see links below for samples of what is currently up for grabs!)

http://page7.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/g62815804

http://page9.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k54169192

http://page9.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/k41119044

You could always visit old bicycle shops in the local area, they may not have a complete NOS bicycle but you may be able to get some NOS parts this way and, combined with parts from Yahoo auctions, eventually assemble a bicycle based on NOS parts from different manufacturers. The old Mom and Pop bicycle shops are a great place to land some NOS parts. I did this with my most recent bicycle which I appropriately dubbed “The Mongrel”(ZASSHUGO). She is a beauty as 99% of the parts are NOS and it was a great learning experience but in hindsight, I don’t recommend this route. The reason? In the end the parts were not originally designed to mesh with one another and this is reflected in the overall performance. Better off starting with an original bicycle as complete and original as possible. I’m a stickler when it comes to original. Even with the Mongrel, although the parts are from various manufactures, they are all (excluding spokes) original parts from approximately 50 years ago.

Another resort worth considering is Ebay. especially UK (United Kingdom) ebay. I have seen great old Raleigh bicycles all original, just in need of a minor overhaul and tender loving care selling for less than $100 US.. Of course the hitch here is shipping.

In the end it comes down to personal preference: The spectrum is pretty wide. On one end you have the maniacs. These people are intense to the extreme. I swear they want to have it absolutely pristine perfect to the extent that, if it were possible, they would bid on air from the same year the bicycle was manufactured so they could put it in their tires. At the opposite end are the easy-going people who are content with a recently manufactured replica. And of course there are all sorts in between. I’m happy to pass on any miniscule knowledge I may have picked up along the way, so drop me a line anytime.

投稿: Brianさんへ | 2008年7月 9日 (水) 20時27分

Hello, Showajitensha.
Thank you kindly for the lengthy and informative reply to my query and the links as well. I will scour area bike shops first in the hope that something turns up. Thanks again. By the by, should you ever visit Niigata City on the 1st or 3rd Sunday of a particular month (Mar.-Nov.), the local petanque club meets at a lovely park in central Niigata. The club was founded by a Kiwi cycling enthusiast and former penny farthing racer and builderand numbers about 20 expats and Japanese among its members.
Regards,
Brian Southwick

投稿: Brian Southwick | 2008年7月11日 (金) 10時44分

You are more than welcome, Brian. I took the liberty of Googling the Niigata Pentanque Club and was pleasantly surprised to find a blog. Quite interesting and certainly looks like fun for all. I shall keep it in mind whenever visiting Niigata.
Thank you for the information and good luck in your pursuits. If you or your friends restore an old bicycle please feel free to share your learning experience/photos herein.

投稿: Brianさんへ | 2008年7月11日 (金) 12時54分

Hi Showajitensha

My name is Don Speden and my friend Brian Southwick pointed me towards your fantastic site. I must say your restoration on Showa period bicycles is very outstanding, I used to restore bicycles for private collectors in NZ and I built replica high wheel bicycles for several years as well. Most of the bicycles I restored were from 1900 - 1940s period and British. But it's great to see someone taking the time to do a quality restoration as I know how difficult it can be, as it used to be my job. Searching for the correct parts , getting parts re chromed or nickel plated etc but as your photo's show the end result is worth all the effort. I have included a link to my blog 3 speed touring in Japan. And if you look at the start of the blog you'll find some photo's & articles of interest pertaining to vintage bicycles and the restoration of my Fathers 1947 Humber sports. As Brian mentioned if you're ever in Niigata drop by or maybe we could even take a trip to visit you.

All the best
Don Speden

投稿: Don Speden | 2008年7月12日 (土) 14時55分

Hey there Don,
I happened to stumble upon your fine blog after googling Pentanque Club which Brian interestingly enough mentioned in one of his comments. I was drooling of the Humber and still am...making a down right silly mess of my keyboard too, if saliva conducts electricity I may be in serious bodily danger.

I enjoyed several of your articles, your exploits with the cotter pin removal brought back some not so fond memories (I too have endured drilling one out and after that invested in a remover)
http://bikesmithdesign.com/CotterPress/index.html
Also the sidecar article, what a great project!!!
I was curious to know, if you happen to know off hand, what model rear hub is on the Humber?
The moustache handlebars and that chain ring are just exquisite! (Slurp, slurp...damn typing through a puddle of saliva is not only messy, but tedious.)

Thanks for your kind words but I really do not deserve them. Unlike yourself, I am very much an amateur, just like to tinker with old things, bicycles and clocks. Never done any high wheelers, have read up on how to build frames but don't have a workshop. Currently my makeshift workshop is a 6mat room on the second floor. Dragging bicycles up and down a Japanese staircase (you know the kind that have that damn 180 degree turn halfway up) to a second floor 6 mat room already occupied by four other bicycles and boxes of parts is well.... getting old. In need of some space.

I found the link to Brian's blog via your blog and found a shot of his Bridgestone. Maybe I ought to consider moving out to Niigata, the photos on your blogs certainly makes it tempting and the two of you are certainly having a ball out there.

Happy wheels to you both and I will look you up if I am ever in the area, feel free to do the same if you are heading to the Tokyo area.

投稿: Don　Spedenさんへ | 2008年7月12日 (土) 17時03分

Hi Showajitensha

Thanks a lot for checking out my blog 3 speed touring in Japan. And yes the Humber Sports is a mighty fine bike, I'm lucky to have it and I'm lucky my Father had such good taste in bicycles back in 1947. He customized the Humber when he bought it from a Dept store in my home town and changed the standard 3 speed Sturmey to a Sturmey Archer ABC 3 speed with a drum brake. Last year when I was riding home from work on the Humber there was a loud crack and the rear hub seized up, so now the rear wheel is in the US at a mates place getting the hub re built with period parts. Once I get the rear wheel back I'll carry on with the side car project as my dog keeps on asking me when it's going to be finished, I bet he's been bragging to the other local dogs that he's going to have his own bicycle sidecar. Also I want to fit a Carradice touring bag to the Humber then it will be finished. Keep up the great work and do you know if there is a club in Japan for vintage bicycles if not there should be with an annual meet each year, swap meet, tour, party etc. As that way it would bring together all the collectors of old bicycles which would be great fun.

Happy cycling Don

投稿: Don Speden | 2008年7月16日 (水) 09時48分

Thanks for the kind words and the information on the Humber's rear hub. Just last week I landed a 1937 Sturmey Archer KB7 internal brake 3-speed hub off of Yahoo auction Japan for 3,000 yen. A steal. I'll be posting photos in a week or two.
I agree there should be a club in Japan for vintage bicycles, I know there is a group called LAMP NO　KAI （ランプの会）http://rikew.exblog.jp/4089210/　　

All I know is that if there is such a thing as reincarnation, I wanna come back as a dog and have an owner who would build me my own sidecar.
Good luck with the Humber and sidecar project, love to see it when you finish.

Happy wheels.

投稿: Don Spedenへ | 2008年7月16日 (水) 19時53分

Hi Showajitensha

You are very lucky to have found a Sturmey KB7 hub for 3000 yen as that is a rare in this country. Also thanks for the link to the site Lamp No Kai as the photos were pretty nice. But I was surprised to see circa 1900 - 1920 carbide / candle lamps on bikes from the 40s etc But the older chap in the suit with his Dawes looks very dapper. I like what you have done with the Sturmey Archer hub on the older Showa bike as I was thinking about fitting a NOS Sturmey archer hub into my Bridgestone but the thing that put me off was the rims on my bike, if I could have picked up some NOS Westwoods with a 40 hole rear it would have worked out quite well. My fathers Humber sports had on it a Sturmey archer top tube quadrant shifter but even after I restored it it still slipped when riding so I put on a NOS trigger instead which works a lot better. I'm looking forward to getting my wheel back from the US so I can ride the Humber again.

Cheers
Don

Happy Cycling

投稿: Don Speden | 2008年7月17日 (木) 12時42分

Hey Don
Rims...tough to find good period NOS rims. I have found a couple but they don't come up often. I have even resorted to ARAYA which still makes the Beaded Edge rims in the same specifications (32 hole and 40 hole) but not the same materials. They are not chrome but polished stainless steel.
Beaded Edge
http://www.araya-kk.co.jp/rim/catalog/57_be.htm
Wired On
http://www.araya-kk.co.jp/rim/catalog/56_wo-3.htm

Sure you will be one happy camper once you get your rebuilt wheel back. Imagine there are lots of cool roads waiting to be traveled by you and your Humber.

Happy wheels.

投稿: Don Spedenへ | 2008年7月17日 (木) 22時26分

コメントを書く

(ウェブ上には掲載しません)

トラックバック


この記事へのトラックバック一覧です： 雑種号への変速機　第２チャレンジ:

« 雑種号の試乗 | トップページ | 3段変速機設置 »

Retro Richard's Youtube Videos