Working on this old bike from a client of mine. Anyone got any ideas of what make it could be? Everything kinda lines up to it being a Raleigh from the 20s only thing is it’s 28in wheels and the fork doesn’t quite match. Could be something like Melville Star or a Healing?
by gouldingjulian
2 Comments
If you mean the New Zealand Healing company, I dont believe they manufactured bicycles until the 60s.
Dunno, but I doubt it was Raleigh. But hard to say with so little.
For reference, I got a 29 Ralegh, and it has mechanical brakes (steel rods instead of cables), as did most of their models at the time. Coaster brakes, perhaps? But chainring isn’t Raleigh. The Herons have pretty much been the same since the beginning, looks like a knock-off type of design.
Added : lugs definitely aren’t Raleigh.
The threading could help a little, Whitworth sizes/threads mean it’s at least British.
(Another add) did you sand the paint up? It very likely was a mechanical brakes system originally, but the patina is making it difficult to see where the hardware landed.
Also 28″ wheels are the standard for the Tourist model line, and was popular back then since they’re a comfort ride size. With steel rims, it’ll feel like riding on a cloud.