Posting mostly as a reference for others looking for information on this largely lost era of bicycle history.
Frame: 24” frame, 33”ish stand over.
Front Hub: Sturmey- Archer G12, still produces current. The first ever dynohub invented. 12v/6watts. It’s a notorious bulb burner.
Rear Hub : Sturmey-Archer AW. No date stamp, common during the War. I did replace/update the cog to a 22 or 24 tooth, for better peddling.
Shifter – Sturmey-Archer top tube quadrant shifter.
Wheels : rims original Dunlap 590iso, 26”x 1 3/8. Tires obviously Kendra not original. 40 spokes rear, 32 front.
Bottom Bracket: 10 1/4” from center to ground. Typical of Dawns. This helps compensate for a tall seat tube sizing wise (it fits more like a 21” or 22” inch frame than traditional sizing) and was done so you could put both feet on the ground at a stop without leaving the saddle, or in my experience on big hills to drag feet for a bit more stopping power.
Saddle – not original, Brooks B 72 from a 60s Raleigh Superbe parts bike.
Everything is Black out except spokes, rims and handlebars. Even the shift cable wheel.
Missing frame pump whose mounting stays on the downt tube, and lights and wiring. Possibly a kick stand (unsure).
Oil ports for lubrication on both hubs as well as bottom bracket (love this feature with older bikes).
I’m 90% sure it’s a Dawn Safety model 13, though it could be a Popular (forgot its model number) as well.
No wear marks indicating a chain guard was ever installed, so not likely a Tourist or Sports.
Hard to give a date of manufacture, what little information is available is often conflicting. Having a difficult narrowing down. The date 36- 45 is pretty much the range.
Special thanks to the folks at kool stop for continuing the manufacture of replacement pads for these bikes. Almost went with the black ones to stay on theme, but you need every bit of help possible for the rod brake systems.
Anyway, if you got an additional information please share, but I’ve been researching this bike off and on for a years, so I’ve seen most if not all the catalog scans offered online currently.
My interest is mostly in light historical restoration, with period correct parts. Though I got a modern Sturmey-Archer 3speed and dyno hubs with drum brakes I’m considering using to make it a better everyday rider, which I’m pretty sure I can incorporate with most the rod brake system components, while making it more viable commuter.
Though I want to go with period correct lights for the Dynohub, curious if anyone’s ran the same hub with modern LED lights that can take the watts, without adding resisters and such. Possibly considering getting one of the accompanying back up battery packs, but switching it up with D sized lithium batteries, if anyone’s done similar I’d love to hear from you.
by Darnocpdx