My newly completed project "Silverlight"

[silverlight]

Thought id post an image of my newly completed bike,
With this Adelaide weather its been hard to take picts but ill show for now just the frame.
It is a Thanet Silverlight (now you will know where my username comes from), dated around 1947/48 (haha not born in these years though)
This has the unconventional bottom bracket which at the time was seen an advancement of geometry but reports were that these were highly known to be weak as well as the tubing which is smaller diameter than conventional frames.
Built along the lines of a Hetchins that these were highly recognizable when ridden, I believe most were used in Time Trial events,
Ill post a complete image shortly however components include Chater Lea cranks, Marsh bend bars, GB Hidimium brakes, Airlite wheels and a mansfield Eclipse saddle, all silver colored line-work upon black.
One of the finest and most awarding builds i have done

[ghostpoet]

Stunning, who did the paint?

[WyvernRH]

Oh yes, very nice! The finish is supurb, maybe I am going to have to start sending frames down to Adelaide....
I don't think I have ever seen two of these that have exactly the same lugwork and I've seen several 'Ploughs' back home.
Good to see yours has the reinforced bottom bracket.
Looking forward to more pictures.
So... that's a Hetchins Curly and a Thanet Silverlight... you don't have a Waller and/or A Baines Whirlwind hiding down there as well?
Cheers
Richard

[Ozkaban]

Stunning!

[ldrcycles]

Oooohhhhh. Very pretty. Spectacular paint work.

[utedeej]

That is schmick, great paint job

[servicimo]

Work of art! You must be stoked how its turned out. Looking forward to seeing it together!

[Clydesdale Scot]

Mario,
your reputation continues to grow.
as you know I am particularly interested in this period, so I will watch with great interest.
is this a rider or just for show?

and your choice of rims?
and round arm cranks?
geared?
and either your NOS Shockstop 'honking rubbers' or the much anticipated replica Shockstops!

[WyvernRH]

and either your NOS Shockstop 'honking rubbers' or the much anticipated replica Shockstops!

Shockstops! Who's doing replica Shockstops?
Cheers
Richard

[Clydesdale Scot]

Richard,
honking rubbers-it is a work in progress. I chased up reports of previous replicas being available and they all ended in a dead end. NOS ones are just too brittle for use on a rider.
Mario is also a very patient man, it is his original NOS Shockstops that are being used as the standard for measurements etc. It needs to be very very close to the original.
I am awaiting on a tool from WA to be delivered (last checked earlier today, still not delivered) so the final machining of the alloy master by a mate can take place. Then for pantographing of the Shockstop name (vector artwork done), then a the mould to be taken off the master, then the production. The company making the mould and the production run was last seen yesterday.
The steps beginning at the pantographing have all been identified and secured from regular commercial providers.
When they are in production I will advise and take on orders from those who may be interested. It may defray some of my setup costs.
Mario is, of course, be entitled to as many as he wants free of charge.
It is the last piece for my renovation of my 1948 bike, and perhaps some assistance to other owners of GB Hiduminium brake levers pre-Superhoods.
Philip

[ldrcycles]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a shockstop?

[Clydesdale Scot]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a shockstop?

for cushioning the GB Hiduminium brake levers or similar. see photo
and in use on Richard's Claud Butler

[GaryF]

Simply stunning - I'm very jealous.

[singlespeedscott]

That is so nice.

[silverlight]

Thanks for the compliments all,
Adelaide's weather has been nice the last few days so I managed to take a quick picture of the Thanet,

The bike has been built with pretty much all NOS or very lightly used parts, its been built to my liking with parts of its era, i wont be changing anything as im really happy with its look.
I have ridden it around my street and rides well, the bars take a bit of getting used to. Most likely take it out for a longer ride on a nice biking day or a tweed run.

Thanks Philip for the update, the hoods would suit this well and look forward to them and yes round CL cranks running a freewheel, Airlite hubs, Bluemels guards and Apex pump,
Sorry no Waller or Baines Richard, (would love to have a Baines) i have some other english lightweights that i have completed in the last month or so, as i get time ill take a picture.



Another ticked off.
SL

[GaryF]

I could just look at this magnificent bike for hours - I bet you could too.

[Stuey]

Jesus H.

Lovely.

[Tinker]

Being new to this caper, seeing bikes like this is a great inspiration and then aspiration for a new comer.

Gorgeous bike.

[RobertFrith]

Hey, Mario, it is a disturbingly attractive bike. Far too clean though if you took it for spin for 5minutes in Perth today you could easily get quite a bit of patina!

Seriously, i's a beautiful piece of machinery, and from your photo's, restored to perfection. I particularly love the way the top tube and seat tube lugs meet the head tube, in the photos it looks as though they're held in place by magnetism. Or magic..