Manx - Special TT
- Clydesdale Scot
- Posts: 2254
- Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:55 pm
- Location: Adelaide, SA
Manx - Special TT
Postby Clydesdale Scot » Sat Jun 24, 2017 4:40 pm
Ever since I did the New Look, I liked the style.
Skidstars are out there, but I like the more obscure.
Enter the Manx.
It was recently for sale at Scammells Auctions, then appeared on local Gumtree.
Mine will not be a period correct restoration.
I think the design is more the 1930s streamlined style, and lends itself to some customising.
So if you don't like that then read no further.
On the off chance there is anyone left in the room, my current thoughts are to get inspiration from old Norton motorcyles
using parts in the parts bin.
So black with silver trim
Major Taylor stem with flipped black celluloid covered North Road bars
big old light up front and old rear light both converted to run on LEDs
Shimano Nexus 8 speed hub.
One day it may also get some electric motor assist. I need to do a lot more work on that.
The frame seems straight and sound, with only some surface rust to deal with. The tubes are very strong, so I have no concerns there.
The bottom bracket is having some Penetrene applied to make its removal a little easier.
I am open to suggestions on this project.
Now to find a fork.
-
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:09 pm
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby old steel Bikes » Sat Jun 24, 2017 6:43 pm
Look forward to the build and see what you come up with to meet your objective.
Danny
- Clydesdale Scot
- Posts: 2254
- Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:55 pm
- Location: Adelaide, SA
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby Clydesdale Scot » Sat Jun 24, 2017 8:36 pm
I have two stainless steel bidons.
They might look good with one on the down tube and the other on the seat tube.
I am thinking about getting some fittings to braze on. Cable guides etc, so bidon mounts are likely.
When I picked up the frame, I showed it to Peter Giessauf at International Cycles.
I asked Peter if he knew anything about Manx bikes. We were chatting in the work room, he smiled and said the frame would have been bought into the room in which were were, stickered up, components added and then out to the showroom. The business operated as Manx Cycles before Peter's dad moved his business there.
Manx because the owner came from the Isle of Man.
Next time I will take some notes of Peter's recollections.
- QuangVuong
- Posts: 1794
- Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2013 5:04 pm
- Location: Villawood, Sydney
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby QuangVuong » Sat Jun 24, 2017 8:57 pm
Blog: https://villaveloframes.wordpress.com/
FB & IG: @villaveloframes
- GaryF
- Posts: 1201
- Joined: Wed Dec 27, 2006 1:38 am
- Location: Near Bundaberg, Queensland.
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby GaryF » Sun Jun 25, 2017 12:02 pm
-
- Posts: 277
- Joined: Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:18 am
- Location: Melbourne
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby Roisin79 » Sun Jun 25, 2017 1:35 pm
- Clydesdale Scot
- Posts: 2254
- Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:55 pm
- Location: Adelaide, SA
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby Clydesdale Scot » Sun Jun 25, 2017 1:58 pm
but the Norton Manx didn't exist until 1947, it had lost the streamline moderne styling of earlier Nortons.
When I was a kid, you bought old Nortons, BSA etc for $20 and used them as 'paddock bashers'
There was a great little track very near to where GrantW lives.
We had a great time as kids.
- Clydesdale Scot
- Posts: 2254
- Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:55 pm
- Location: Adelaide, SA
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby Clydesdale Scot » Thu Jun 29, 2017 5:43 pm
-
- Posts: 303
- Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2012 6:09 pm
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby old steel Bikes » Thu Jun 29, 2017 8:48 pm
Danny
- Clydesdale Scot
- Posts: 2254
- Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:55 pm
- Location: Adelaide, SA
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby Clydesdale Scot » Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:34 pm
anyone else get a flashback?
OK, my brain works differently to most.
Ooh, that some day he'd be a star
(A superstar, but he didn't get far)
But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don't always come true, oh no, uh uh
(Dreams don't always come true, uh uh, no, uh uh)
- Clydesdale Scot
- Posts: 2254
- Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:55 pm
- Location: Adelaide, SA
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby Clydesdale Scot » Sat Feb 03, 2018 8:57 pm
mainly at The CABE
I rather like the stylised Elgin fork. I think it suits the frame shape. The dropouts are in the same position as a regular fork, and are cut from a steel plate slotted into the fork end.
Up to me to try to gently bend the blades before they get brazed into the crown.
I have 'borrowed' the script from the Norton Manx. I find it curious that the Manx name is stylised into a cat with a long tail; but the Manx cat is known for its stub tail. So rather fanciful and as such, it is entirely consistent with this project!
The image above is a composite of a number of layers in Photoshop. This allows me to add decoration, change colours, swap over forks etc without destroying other elements of the image.
I will come back to this over the next few months, fiddling and meddling until I am ready to make it happen. It needs some fine lines to accentuate the frame design.
I am thinking of making the headbadge by electro-etching brass and then painting the detail. A good opportunity to acquire a new skill.
The old lights will probably be refitted with LED globes but I would like to have them flash for daytime running. There is a controller from China which I will need to import. The front light will be attached to the Major Taylor stem with its own headlamp clip. The rear light may have a custom fitting in the Rene Herse style.
The Shimano Nexus hub with will require a spreading of the rear stays. I will ask if I need to get new bridges brazed in to accommodate the new width.
Some cable guides to keep it tidy.
Comments and suggestions are always welcomed.
-
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2015 12:00 pm
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby QuantumMechanic » Fri Apr 27, 2018 2:56 pm
- Clydesdale Scot
- Posts: 2254
- Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:55 pm
- Location: Adelaide, SA
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby Clydesdale Scot » Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:11 am
I would think they were around the same period as the Skidstars, but that needs to be checked.
-
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Tue Apr 28, 2015 12:00 pm
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby QuantumMechanic » Sun Apr 29, 2018 10:29 pm
- Clydesdale Scot
- Posts: 2254
- Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:55 pm
- Location: Adelaide, SA
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby Clydesdale Scot » Sat Jun 22, 2019 5:44 pm
I will get this going first and then maybe do the special forks.
Handlebars are going to be a set of GB Maes bars. The Major Taylor stem has been wire brushed and will be given a cold blue treatment. Brake levers from the 'spares' pile.
The lamps have been refurbished and now have been updated with flashing LEDs. The front lamp has had the cold blue finish, and the rear has the paint removed and the brass polished.
The Shimano twist gear shifter was not to my taste, but there is an aftermarket bar end shifter that will work.
And I will need some appropriate non-turn washers
The vinyl decals have arrived and they are being used as a mask for saltwater electro-etching to make custom brass badges for the downtube and the headbadge.
One down, one bubbling away as I write, the third one tomorrow.
Then to anneal and form them to fit flush around the tubing, and apply a patina.
The forks are off to have more thread cut before fitting. Some minor work on the frame then the frame and forks are off for powercoating.
The Brooks saddle frame has been found in my 'spares' pile, and it will be a good opportunity to try out my new scroll saw to cut the leather.
No cable clamps or bands. There was some discussion a few years ago on the type of tape used (old cloth electricians type) and I have bought some hockey stick tape and will apply some shellac to seal it up. It should look close enough.
- WyvernRH
- Posts: 3179
- Joined: Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:41 pm
- Location: Newcastle NSW
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby WyvernRH » Sun Jun 23, 2019 2:13 pm
Every time I see this thread I open it expecting to see one of these....
Richard
- P!N20
- Posts: 4032
- Joined: Thu Jul 22, 2010 6:50 pm
- Location: Wurundjeri Country
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby P!N20 » Sun Jun 23, 2019 9:35 pm
Well this sounds interesting, tell me more!Clydesdale Scot wrote:The vinyl decals have arrived and they are being used as a mask for saltwater electro-etching to make custom brass badges for the downtube and the headbadge.
One down, one bubbling away as I write, the third one tomorrow.
Then to anneal and form them to fit flush around the tubing, and apply a patina.
- Clydesdale Scot
- Posts: 2254
- Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:55 pm
- Location: Adelaide, SA
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby Clydesdale Scot » Mon Jun 24, 2019 9:25 am
I used cut vinyl as a resist. The idea was for a brass headbadge and then some downtube badges.
The headbadge had some very fine detail and if I couldn't get the vinyl to work then I would go for the laser etching of a painted surface.
I was delighted that the detail of the headbadge survived the process.
"Weeding" the vinyl to remove the cut sections required to be etched whilst leaving the vinyl to act as the resist was the most challenging time. Then to transfer to the 'transfer tape' and applying to the cleaned brass took patience.
Always hard to photograph shiny surfaces.
I used a hole saw to cut the forms used to press the shape to fit around the tubes. Annealing the brass prior to forming allowed this to be easily done.
The downtube badges will have some salt and ammonia fuming to fake the patina and then the letters buffed to shine.
The headbadge will have some red and black paint applied to the area etched.
I did this as a proof that it can be done for bike restorations. Setup costs are low and with a little time and application it can be done, even by someone as practically challenged as me.
Inspiration came from the Board Tracker replica thread
The etching can be done on a number of metals and can replicate pantographs if you want.
- uart
- Posts: 3208
- Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2016 9:15 pm
- Location: Newcastle
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby uart » Mon Jun 24, 2019 12:35 pm
They turned out great CS. Very neat.Clydesdale Scot wrote:There are many resources online for saltwater etching. I googled a few and followed that system. Just rock salt and demineralised water with a power supply running low (2 volts).
I hadn't seen this before, but I assume it's a little bit like electrolysis de-rusting in reverse. That is, where the part to be etched forms the sacrificial electrode (positive). Is that correct?
I'm guessing that the slightly textured look of the etched regions comes "for free" (as in kind of unavoidable) as part of the etching process. It's great though, without that there would be no contrast.
- Clydesdale Scot
- Posts: 2254
- Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:55 pm
- Location: Adelaide, SA
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby Clydesdale Scot » Mon Jun 24, 2019 2:20 pm
Dimples are apparently more apparent if you crank up the volts.
As the etched area will be painted or subjected to accelerated patination the texture is of little concern to me. The contrast is more important.
I kept the volts low as I didn't want to risk too violent a reaction lifting off the vinyl mask.
Someone might find it useful. And this process avoids using some unpleasant chemicals. I did explain to the Woolies checkout operator that the rocksalt and the bottle of demineralised water were not part of some weird diet.
- familyguy
- Posts: 8365
- Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:30 pm
- Location: Willoughby, NSW
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby familyguy » Tue Jun 25, 2019 5:31 pm
"I ONLY take my salt with demineralised water, it's way better than activated almonds, but you wouldn't know that, PLEB, cause you're not PETE EVANS!"
This process is very cool. Might have to try it for some bits and pieces upcoming...
Jim
- Clydesdale Scot
- Posts: 2254
- Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:55 pm
- Location: Adelaide, SA
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby Clydesdale Scot » Tue Jun 25, 2019 6:45 pm
- familyguy
- Posts: 8365
- Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2008 2:30 pm
- Location: Willoughby, NSW
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby familyguy » Tue Jun 25, 2019 7:48 pm
Looing at some aluminium plate to try this on. Seems to work with most metals, most success on brass or stainless.
- Clydesdale Scot
- Posts: 2254
- Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:55 pm
- Location: Adelaide, SA
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby Clydesdale Scot » Tue Jun 25, 2019 7:57 pm
- uart
- Posts: 3208
- Joined: Sat Jan 02, 2016 9:15 pm
- Location: Newcastle
Re: Manx - Special TT
Postby uart » Tue Jun 25, 2019 8:24 pm
Yeah I recognized the dimpled appearance from the look of the sacrificial anodes after I've done some electrolysis rust cleaning. I just use washing soda as the electrolyte in that case, and a 12V battery charger. So yeah it's a lot more aggressive.Clydesdale Scot wrote:Yes positive to be etched.
Dimples are apparently more apparent if you crank up the volts.
That was something I was wondering about. How strong a glue do you need to attach the etch resist?I kept the volts low as I didn't want to risk too violent a reaction lifting off the vinyl mask.
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+11:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.