juanitasmith13
Wore out three sets of tires already!
This bike project started me @ theCABE. Although I had 'roamed' @ the site for years; been messing with bikes since the 1950s; I did not join the site until I bought this bike: 06 Oct 2015. My first post was 09 Oct 2015; and, I had lots of things I needed to know... I was retired, and I wanted to play... Here's that post. http://thecabe.com/forum/threads/help-understanding-shelby-serial-no.80036/
Many THANKS to: @rollfaster @rickyd @cds2323 these three guys helped me much, and right away!
In case you didn't want to do the link, here's what the project looked like @ the beginning.
OK! So, this bike was bought @ a local locksmith establishment... I had returned, after two days, to the shop to pick up a lock I had left to have keys made. This small shop is FULL of [always has been] vintage advertising items. Seems a local man who cleans houses, basements, attics, garages; stops there when his truck is loaded with things for which he thinks he can get cash. He had sold this to the locksmith. I didn't pay much, but I know I doubled the shop owners investment, and was a bit set off; as, I had broken my own rule: a step-thru is only worth $20.00. But, this was a Shelby [I didn't know anything about Shelby's] with rear drop-outs. [Didn't take long to find out Shelby never had front drop-outs for the rear axle... all the way to 1953 when AMF purchased Shelby].
This project post has as it's #1 priority, the recording of this bike's history... up to this date [ca. November 2015]. Just look at it! Patina @ it's finest! And I did try try to clean the two different red paint jobs off. Much of the original paint was gone; especially, from the frame and fork. The bike was worthless to me, as it was found; an example of neglect and abuse. 2 different rim styles; 2 different tire brands; 2 different pedals; a boys seat with no pad or cover; Chain-guard AWOL; wrong grips; and, did it ever have a tank? I found a spot, early on that told me what this girl had once proudly worn... and that's the shove I needed. In fact: the paint shop used this sample to mix the new paint.
This is the spot; 'Red and Creme' [Shelby had a 'Blue and Creme' and a 'Green and Creme']. It seemed to be a real common offering; these three color schemes; but finding photo examples is difficult. Green or Blue please me much, compared to red; however, when coupled with the tan, the Red and Creme scheme seems to 'pop' much more. I did, as I cleaned the house-paint, expose necessary pin-strips, darts, chevrons, and decals... I have my needed tracings and measures.
Other projects needed attention; and, I was having only small spots of success @ find missing parts. All chrome was cleaned, and it had protected the iron, tho most all of it needs re-chrome. [Going to chrome in January]. All metal was prepped for paint; is primed, and then summer temps fled and my painter left for Florida; be back in May. Here's where we're at and where we're headed:
Now: You saw my little faux tank @Howard Gordon THANK YOU! Howard. Notice I've got a proper Chain-guard... that's from e-bay, and it did NOT, when I bought it, look like THAT! The IRON in those fenders is un-believable! Think 1936 Packard Car! So... we are set up for 2017 May to work out the finish and trim.
Other items have been found. I have a pair of Torrington 8 pedals being re-built; I have NOS Hunt-Wilde grips; and, a fantastically repaired/preserved leather saddle! @rustjunkie THANKS! Scott.
More to come........
Many THANKS to: @rollfaster @rickyd @cds2323 these three guys helped me much, and right away!
In case you didn't want to do the link, here's what the project looked like @ the beginning.
OK! So, this bike was bought @ a local locksmith establishment... I had returned, after two days, to the shop to pick up a lock I had left to have keys made. This small shop is FULL of [always has been] vintage advertising items. Seems a local man who cleans houses, basements, attics, garages; stops there when his truck is loaded with things for which he thinks he can get cash. He had sold this to the locksmith. I didn't pay much, but I know I doubled the shop owners investment, and was a bit set off; as, I had broken my own rule: a step-thru is only worth $20.00. But, this was a Shelby [I didn't know anything about Shelby's] with rear drop-outs. [Didn't take long to find out Shelby never had front drop-outs for the rear axle... all the way to 1953 when AMF purchased Shelby].
This project post has as it's #1 priority, the recording of this bike's history... up to this date [ca. November 2015]. Just look at it! Patina @ it's finest! And I did try try to clean the two different red paint jobs off. Much of the original paint was gone; especially, from the frame and fork. The bike was worthless to me, as it was found; an example of neglect and abuse. 2 different rim styles; 2 different tire brands; 2 different pedals; a boys seat with no pad or cover; Chain-guard AWOL; wrong grips; and, did it ever have a tank? I found a spot, early on that told me what this girl had once proudly worn... and that's the shove I needed. In fact: the paint shop used this sample to mix the new paint.
This is the spot; 'Red and Creme' [Shelby had a 'Blue and Creme' and a 'Green and Creme']. It seemed to be a real common offering; these three color schemes; but finding photo examples is difficult. Green or Blue please me much, compared to red; however, when coupled with the tan, the Red and Creme scheme seems to 'pop' much more. I did, as I cleaned the house-paint, expose necessary pin-strips, darts, chevrons, and decals... I have my needed tracings and measures.
Other projects needed attention; and, I was having only small spots of success @ find missing parts. All chrome was cleaned, and it had protected the iron, tho most all of it needs re-chrome. [Going to chrome in January]. All metal was prepped for paint; is primed, and then summer temps fled and my painter left for Florida; be back in May. Here's where we're at and where we're headed:
Now: You saw my little faux tank @Howard Gordon THANK YOU! Howard. Notice I've got a proper Chain-guard... that's from e-bay, and it did NOT, when I bought it, look like THAT! The IRON in those fenders is un-believable! Think 1936 Packard Car! So... we are set up for 2017 May to work out the finish and trim.
Other items have been found. I have a pair of Torrington 8 pedals being re-built; I have NOS Hunt-Wilde grips; and, a fantastically repaired/preserved leather saddle! @rustjunkie THANKS! Scott.
More to come........
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