OLD Bike with 'A" on headstem?

[RetroPilot]

old men's bike I bought in garage sale, very little in the way of markings, has a dual-ended rear wheel sprocket,fixed one way, freewheel and brake the other side, no numbers under bottom bracket, but I just realised the head-stem is a capital A block-letter..



anyone know what it is?

[WyvernRH]

More pictures? Looks interesting... the decorated clip holding the cable is unusual, looks like something that might be used to hold a St Christopher or club badge onto the bike?
Cheers
Richard

[RetroPilot]

i think there is actually a St Christopher medal on it somewhere Ive seen...more pics coming.

[RetroPilot]

[RetroPilot]

[RetroPilot]

[ldrcycles]

Very very cool, that's the first time I've seen North Road bars flipped up like that .

[RetroPilot]

is that the handlebars? North rd bars?

[ldrcycles]

Yep, they are usually installed like this on upright town bikes




Or flipped around for more sporting bikes like this



The ones on yours have been installed "flipped" and then turned up so they're pointing forwards. Very common to see that with drop bars BITD.

[RetroPilot]

t/y..

[WyvernRH]

While not wanting to start 'what exactly is a North Road handlebar?' debate again, I don't think those are roadster type 'North Road' bars, the drop is too steep (see side view) I think they are an early track bar a bit like these:

Looking at the photos I think this is an old racing bike from the (early?) 30's that has been 're-birthed' as a commuter some time later. Note the steep head angle and nicely worked stays and forks. Also the 'tacked on' mudguard stay mounts - quite crudely added later in life I think. The adjustable stem is also unusual, quite light weight compared to the normal 'Major Taylor'. I have seen stems like this in Europe but not in Oz (yet). Might be a hand built one-off of course.
A most interesting find, I hope you can find out the maker but it could have been any one of many small shops that built their own frames. The only maker I can think of is Alcon - there are a couple of marque enthusiasts on the list maybe they can help you there?
Richard

[RetroPilot]

thanks for that info...someone else asked me if mudguard stays were original or not..


me...shrug...???????

one of the rear ones looks like it has snapped off at one point and been replaced with a bit of wrap around..

true that for an old bike, it was far lighter than I expected when I picked it up, lighter than a 70s/80s average 27X1.25, anyway..

[marc2131]

The only maker I can think of is Alcon - there are a couple of marque enthusiasts on the list maybe they can help you there?

Not sure if Alcon's Bill Connolly was active in the 1930s. From what I gather he only began working in the 1940s. He was born in 1917.

[bicyclepassion]

Lugs look 1930's to me.
I think the 'A' bikes have been discussed here before? Two more suggestions are ARROW and ACE.
The rear ends with cam stop holes were not used much after mid 1930s.
'Clip Head' type head fittings were not used much after mid 1930s. Check for 30 tpi or 24 tpi locknut. 30 tpi is earlier.
I think that particular type of adjustable stem was made by BSA. Quite rare to see in Australia.
If it was built for 27" wheels, it will be mid 1930's or later.
Any clue as to whether it came from Melbourne or Sydney, which part of the country was it found?
Warren

[RetroPilot]

Garage sale SE Melbourne 2 Saturdays ago..

[WyvernRH]

So why did you bother to ask us for info?
You could have flipped it without bothering the group.
No more info from me...

[RetroPilot]

I never realised Id 'bothered' the group.

Wouldnt the fact that someone was selling something mostly obscure/unknown to them be one primary rational reason for seeking info?

I didnt realise that Id breached ethics or trangressed some ideological Ghostbuster sign...

As for your resolution-Got it.

[Clydesdale Scot]

OP does not post much on the Retro forum
so he doesn't know some of us have a dislike for those who are soliciting info for a quick sale.

Had it the quick sale been disclosed upfront then Munga would have given it a full and frank appraisal, sight unseen.

[ldrcycles]

I have no problem with people buying and selling bikes, I do it myself, but the polite thing to do in this instance is say up front that you don't intend to keep the bike, people feel exploited otherwise.

Fair enough on not knowing the "rule", I don't think I've ever seen it actually written down anywhere, that's just the way it is.

[Tinker]

If people are going to sell it they should offer it to this community first, at mates rates of course

[WyvernRH]

I never realised Id 'bothered' the group.
Wouldnt the fact that someone was selling something mostly obscure/unknown to them be one primary rational reason for seeking info?
I didnt realise that Id breached ethics or trangressed some ideological Ghostbuster sign...

OK, a tad too snappy a response from me there maybe but... I dislike wasting half an hour or more of my spare time scanning the web, flipping through my magazines and books to find info for someone who has no interest in the bicycle except as a profit motive. Basically I'm doing Mr RetroPIlot's research for him for free (more sucker me, I know... ).
No objection to folk buying/selling bikes, that's the life blood of the retro scene but It is only polite to say upfront you are only interested in flipping the item, not keeping. Nor was the fact this item was for sale mentioned at any point.
I think from now on, if the knowledge is not between my ears and can flow to the keyboard, I doubt I'll bother going looking for it unless I know the poster (by reputation at least )

Richard