The year was 1893 and Raleigh Cycles of Nottingham, England was the largest bike manufacturer in the world. Founded just 6 years earlier, Raleigh was among the first companies to capitalize on the industrial revolution and mass produce bicycles for the world market. Fast forward to present day and the company is now a shell of it’s former self with eroded market share, completely outsourced production, bought and sold by private equity firms every few year.Raleigh founder Frank Bowden.
Here is an all original 1950 Raleigh Sports Tourist Ladies model. The above photo shows its condition after much cleaning and mechanical work. The bike includes the original frame pump, plus a Brooks B-72 saddle and a rear Dutch carrier (both upgrades from the base model shown from the 1951 catalog above). 1955 Raleigh Lenton Sports Reg Harris Road Model; 1955 Sunbeam Ladies Light Tourist; 1956 F. Parkes (Sun) Ladies Bicycle; 1956 Harding Model C TWS (Two Wheel Steering) Tricycle; 1956 Harding Model C TWS Tricycle; 1956 Harding Model C TWS Tricycle Motorized 32cc; 1956 James Comet Roadster Model J11 & Comet Hanrez; 1956 Mochet Velocar CM-125Y.
Image credit:.And yet the brand Raleigh prevails and the company makes nice looking, affordable bicycles. Many of the most popular Ralegh brands can by purchased used for $100 to $200.
The company also has an assortment of quality brand new bikes that can by purchased for under $500.
I think I might be turning into a collector of Raleigh’s…
In my usual style of scouting eBay for new bike listings I’ve come across a few I wanted to win. The first was a Raleigh Trent Tourist (to go with the Trent Sports I have) but I was outbid on the very second the auction ended. The second was a ladies Raleigh Trent Tourist which actually went for a whole £1, but I’d decided it was too far for me so that one bid wasn’t mine. The third was this bike. All the listing described was that the bike had no chain and was labelled “the all steel bicycle”. The pictures showed what looked to be a fairly good condition bike. Sturmey Archer dyno rear hub. All the guards. Both lamps in tact. It got my senses tingling. I knew it was old because of the “all steel” reference and had a guess at late 1940s. A bit of research later and I was sure it was the Raleigh “Superbe Sports Tourist”. The only problem was the bike was located a good 60 miles away from me but I decided to take the chance. The auction had started at £15 and before I bid had attracted two others who had bid it up a whole £1. I placed my bid, the maximum I wanted to chance, expecting to be outbid and to my suprise, I won. I only paid £17 for this bike.
I went to pick it up today. A good hours drive in the sun and I was there. The seller had a few others in their garage and explained her father (or actually it could have been grandfather…) liked to collect things related to transport. This was part of the clear out from his collection. They had a few nice bikes there, a couple of which were being held back as they’d been in the family for a long time. One of the others was of the 1930’s era but I don’t think they knew this bike was just as early.
Another hours drive and I was home and checking over the bike. The frame still has the original green paint, all be it showing signs of corrosion. The model labels are long gone but someone had tried to rescue two by covering them in, I’m guessing, a clear nail varnish. Unfortunately the gold pin striping has also not fared well with the time and only a faint shadow remains.
Considering the bike is nearly 70 years old the chrome is in pretty good condition. The front rim looks like a good, careful polish will get it gleaming but the rear will take some more work. The crankset seems to fit in between the two rims on the scale of corrosion, where as the handelbars and stem have suffered at the hands of some silver paint. Touch wood, once that silver paint is removed I’ll have enough good chrome left to polish up.
The great thing about this bike, for me anyway, is how original it is. The original lamps finish the bike off nicely and the best bit is the lenses are completely in tact. They haven’t fired into life yet but I’ll have a play and see if I can get them working.
Cork grips and patent stamps are a couple of the details I really love about this period bike. The Sturmey Archer trigger and the hub both have their Patent numbers stamped, pride of place.
Well here’s a few pictures:
My research came from the 1947 Raleigh Brochure. The pages in their describe perfectly this model. Prior to the 1947 Catalogue, the Superbe Sports Tourist does appear but it has black paint.
So back in 1947 this bike cost £20, 12s, 3d, which, in todays money is roughly worth £550! Bargain ?
I’m thinking this will be a strip down and rebuild, trying to get it as close to original as possible but we’ll see what a good clean throws up first!
Edit: One thing I have noticed after looking at the brochure again is the bike is missing the lower rear gear cover ? One small thing that could really effect the value.