Help with Speedwell indentification

[austy37]

Hey, just pick up this speedwell at the local tip. Its painted in a navy blue ?house paint. Scrubbed it back today and its revealed some 'speedwell' logos, with some ?world cup stripes. And i think a white S painted on the head tube. Dont know why anyone would paint over the nice origninal paint, looked like a nice red. It has pretty relaxed angles and some braze-ons so i dont think its a track bike.maybe a roadster? But it did come with a flip/flop hub (SIW japan) is all thats written on it. Has brakes, i think maybe this very installed later.

[lemmiwinks]

Where do you live? I am coming to raid the tip!

[im_no_pro]

Where do you live? I am coming to raid the tip!

You me and everyone else on here

cept for Kuka, he already has enough bikes

[cludence]

Good score. You have an early one there. Is there a frame number anywhere?

Karen.

[austy37]

i couldnt see a number, nothing stamped under the bb or anything, where would be a good place to look?

[austy37]

just had another look, had HEAPS of thich paint/grease under the BB, but it revealed D 4043

[WyvernRH]

Interesting... I'm sure there are a few Speedwell gurus watching but here are some points that leap out at me.

The frame is probably pre-war as it has the squarish bearing retainer moulding on the head lugs. Its all brazed up which places it probably in the Thirties/Forties
The Forks are not original, probably off a Raleigh. The top headset fittings are also not original.
Some-one's given the rear dropouts a hard time They look like they have been spread to take a modern round axle instead of the older type of axle with flats on the axle (which would be a smaller diameter esp'y across the flats)
The two snail washers that fit over the rear axle that are used to adjust the chain tension are missing. Probably got tossed with original hub as they would not have fitted on the current one (no flats)
Those brazed on mudguard eyes are very uncommon in Australia. Common on 20's-50's British frames but I've seen only a couple of frames fitted with these in Oz.
What's that funny braze-on for on the seat tube? Could be for an oiler fitting or maybe a chainguard? Possibly (unlikely but possible) it's braze-on fitting for an early 'suicide' front changer?
Nice chainring and cranks!

Nice find but gonna need some work. Several unusual features like that braze-on. Anybody got any ideas?

Cheers
Richard

[cludence]

I'm no expert but the headtube is what stands out to me. It is identical to the olympic model. I am sure others used same lugs though because as I type, I am remembering that I have a speedwell royal with the same headtube so may it is the same.

I am currently waiting to hear back from a friend regarding the frame number. He built speedwells around this time and though not fully versed on all the numbering, he is familiar with the lettering and what models used what.

Hopefully it might shed some light.


Karen.

[WyvernRH]

I'm no expert but the headtube is what stands out to me. It is identical to the olympic model. I am sure others used same lugs though because as I type, I am remembering that I have a speedwell royal with the same headtube so may it is the same.

I am currently waiting to hear back from a friend regarding the frame number. He built speedwells around this time and though not fully versed on all the numbering, he is familiar with the lettering and what models used what.

Hopefully it might shed some light.


Karen.

Karen if this chap has ANY idea on the numbering system PLEASE write it down and post it. All info on the Speedwell numbering system is really needed, even if incomplete as it can maybe later be pieced together with other info. The number is very similar to my pre-war Speedwell which is a 'D' with four numbers
In keen anticipation
Cheers
Richard

[austy37]

thanks for a ll the help guys, i am carefully taking the old paint off thte forks, seem to be the same red as the frame, maybe with an 'S' on them, written in white similar to the head tube, but not sure as the paint poor on both sides. Although the above poster thinks maybe raleigh forks, so maybe its a R? who knows.

[Torana68]

its probbaly about '31/32 ish, as to if its a Olympic or not its a bit too far gone to tell, chrome lugs and fork ends would be a pointer (but I would guess not all were chromed especially WW2 ear bikes) but thats a repaint and the forks do not belong. I have documented "D" prefix bikes from that era that are roadster and Olympic so I dont think the serial (at this time) will tell anyone much. It is a towards the better end of the catalogue but what it was I dont know, look for traces of original paint around the head tube, olympics have 3 colours plus frame colour there, look for signs of chrome , but if its been blasted you up the creek.....Correct forks will be VERY hard to find for a upper end Speedwell from the thirtees.(none of the components are original to the frame)
Roger

[austy37]

didnt find any chrome on the forks, just more of the same red paint with some nice white stripes down the sides, the stays are almost down to the bare metal, but are red colour too. thanks for doing all the homework.
next question is what do i do with it now? strip it? it rides great as is. any ideas?

[cludence]

Unfortunately I am unable to offer any further information. From what I was told "o" was often used for Olympic models and "g" for general ones. My friend said other lettering could have been used but that is all he can recall. Unfortunately the other person who knew now has dementia. He does not know of anyone still alive that was involved with building them that would recall..

Karen.

[hartleymartin]

Those handle-bars might not be original, they do look like the classic "moustache" handle-bars, precursors to the modern drop bars. I think that this IS a sort of track/racing bicycle, somewhat like this from il padrone.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/ful ... 6151JFrUyi

I think that you would have fun with this bicycle

[WyvernRH]

didnt find any chrome on the forks, just more of the same red paint with some nice white stripes down the sides, the stays are almost down to the bare metal, but are red colour too. thanks for doing all the homework.
next question is what do i do with it now? strip it? it rides great as is. any ideas?

This thread from a while back might help you out, it also has a picture of my 1930's Speedwell racer

http://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic ... ll#p111937

<edit>
Also this thread which has before and after pics of my 'Victory' 30's bike which was kept totally original but made roadworthy.

http://bicycles.net.au/forums/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=5893

two different ways to go, both fun!

Cheers
Richard

[austy37]

again THANKS for all the homework everyone has done, great job team!!!
anyone got any ideas on what do do next? ie do i strip it back and start againm or is there a way of preserving any of the history?

[hartleymartin]

You can always get it re-done in original colour scheme. Some bloke named Greg does re-production decals which might suit your needs. I need to find his contact - don't know where I've put it!

[Torana68]

You can always get it re-done in original colour scheme. Some bloke named Greg does re-production decals which might suit your needs. I need to find his contact - don't know where I've put it!

unfortunately at the moment he only does a late '60's style decal set, he can be found at cyclemondo on Ebay
Roger