MargieH 7,603 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 Tompa, you'd better not come to a meet up when I'm there then, cos I like giving hugs and may not be able to stop myself!! Only joking... I try to be sensitive as I know not everyone is like me (Thank Goodness, some may say!) Here's an electronic hug and kiss to be going on with (x) To keep on topic, I once had a pink Raleigh bike when I was about 14 but my Dad sold it without asking me: he told me afterwards that I wasn't using it enough and it was taking up space in the shed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,091 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 Wasn't that a Pink Witch, Margie? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MargieH 7,603 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 I think perhaps it was, Katyjay Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chulla 4,946 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 Regarding the film of the bikes being made, if had not seen it I would not have believed that the frame tubes were made from strip steel, rolled and then welded. Surely it would have been easier and cheaper to buy tubing. I seem to recall a transfer on the frame saying Reynolds 531 tubing. As the film was made in 1945, maybe there was a scarcity of drawn tubing. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
broxtowelad 175 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 I noticed that the completed frames were manually dipped into the enamel. So how did they touch up where the bloke had had a hold of it? Or is that where they stuck the Raleigh transfer? Regarding the flat steel being made into tube, I often wondered how lead tube was made I suppose a similar method would have been used. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
taxi ray 170 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 #30, I suppose it was cheaper to make your own than to buy it. At least then you could control the quality. Was bicycle tubing a standard size? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
taxi ray 170 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 When I worked for McIntyres in the 90s, Raleigh scrapped hundreds if not thousands of aluminium mountain bike frames, that they had had built in the far east, it was supposedly cheaper to scrap loads of faulty ones, than to have better ones made in the uk. Raleigh still have a place at Eastwood, I think it is just to distribute cycles made in the far east Quote Link to post Share on other sites
broxtowelad 175 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 That's progress? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
davep5491 360 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 1886 10 mile road race Beeston George Chilvers was my GGranddad Some contraptions here, I wonder if any were Raleighs. A few look like forerunners of the RSW 16s 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NewBasfordlad 3,599 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 #31 Lead pipe for water was drawn tube. Compo (composition) pipe for gas was flat sheet rolled and sealed. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
banjo48 928 Posted February 26, 2016 Report Share Posted February 26, 2016 Got a photo somewhere showing my mum and dad, her older brother and another lady friend on Raleigh tandem cycles, they were at Skeggy and had ridden there for a weekend break. Just watched the film and cannot believe the amount of labour involved in making a bike in those days, and the quality that was obviously there in the finished product. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
broxtowelad 175 Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 #36 New Basfordlad. Thanks for that information. I'm still not sure though. Would the lead pipe used for carrying gas have been made from flat sheet or would that be drawn? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
loppylugs 8,429 Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 First bike I ever owned was a "Humber" from Reeds bike shop in Netherfield. It was built like a tank and very heavy. Was the Humber built by Raleigh? I suspct it was. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,091 Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Humber was a Nottingham cycle company, but not Raleigh (I do believe) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TBI 2,351 Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Raleigh did take over Humber at some point. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Booth 7,364 Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Here is a photo of me on my one and only bicycle. It's on Grainger Street and behind me is the Railway & General office entrance on Meadow Lane. 6 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TBI 2,351 Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 Took a while to post that pic, Michael. You know you wanted too, lol. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Booth 7,364 Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 I was looking through my 'Meadow Lane Era' collection of photos and noticed it. It was a Christmas present from my parents Santa and I must have been around ten years old. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,470 Posted February 27, 2016 Report Share Posted February 27, 2016 So now we know who to look for when you come to a meet-up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Humber cycle factory was on Humber Rd Beeston, so I was informed many years ago. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Just Googled it. Yes, Thomas Humber started bike production at Beeston round about 1878. They were incorporated into the Raleigh fold in 1932. Great pic Michael, my first 'adult' bike around the early 50's was a big black Rudge Whitworth. Again, like a tank. I later progressed to a Dawes Dominate, then a Bates lightweight racer. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Michael Booth 7,364 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 I'm not bothered if you had all them bikes and I didn't. I didn't want another one anyway, so there. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trevorthegasman 150 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Remember the "pink witch" coming out the girls all went mad for one. My last bicycle was a Dawes "Don Juan" which got pinched from outside the" Peoples College" when I went in to pay a bill circa 1962 it was light blue if you find it....... 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PeverilPeril 3,284 Posted February 29, 2016 Report Share Posted February 29, 2016 Before I had a proper bike I remember riding a 'Fairy cycle' - today's equiv is a junior pavement cycle. Dad bought me a s/h Raleigh for Xmas 1949 It had rod brakes and was single speed. I was so thrilled because it offered me FREEDOM Cycled as far as Farndon on that heavy bike.This was swapped for a 'skidkid' bike when I was 13. Cow horn bars and low saddle - great trick bike for showing off. Sold off a lot of bikes but still have 7, not counting a junior 'ordinary'. Hanging on to my Dolan carbon TT bike in the hope of making a comeback when I'm 80 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
albert smith 803 Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Here's a Raleigh bike that's never been on a road but would have a few thousand miles on the clock if the 'speedo/mileometer had still been on it when it was 'gifted' to me about 30 years ago! I used to do 15-20 mins. every morning until my knees told me they had enough to do carrying me about all day without pressing the pedals as well. I never mastered the 'pull/push and pedal at the same time but it was a very good exersizer 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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