Raleigh 3 speed help

[stezell]

Just picked up this Raleigh today and not up on English road bikes. Tried to see if I could find the year on the rear hub and I'm sure the handlebars are wrong. So any help would be appreciated. Thanks, Sean

 

[bulldog1935]

can you find a serial number?

http://www.kurtkaminer.com/TH_raleigh_serials.html

check seat lug and bottom bracket shell

 

[stezell]

can you find a serial number?

http://www.kurtkaminer.com/TH_raleigh_serials.html

check seat lug and bottom bracket shell

Thanks bulldog1935, will do. I'll have to wait until tomorrow. Sean

 

[Lawrence Ruskin]

looks like a Rudge head badge

 

[bulldog1935]

it absolutely is, Rudge Whitworth. - good eye. The fenders have the Raleigh heron.

 

[SirMike1983]

Looks late 1940s to me, Raleigh-made Rudge seems right. That would be a relatively early Raleigh-made Rudge after they merged those brands. Some parts have been changed.

 

[sam]

Sturmey archer hubs are date coded.

 

[stezell]

That's why I enclosed the pic of the Rudge decal. I wasn't sure if it was put on by someone or it was original, since the Raleigh was on it as well. I didn't get to the bike serial number today, sorry.

 

[SirMike1983]

Raleigh and Rudge merged in the early 1940s. Rudge was produced in Nottingham alongside Raleigh after that, with Rudge being a premium bike line. There was indeed a Rudge fender decal as well, with the red hand of Ulster on it, and these went on the Rudge bikes. I'm inclined to say the fenders might be Raleigh replacements rather than original, but there is always the chance they had Raleigh fenders on hand in these years and used those on this particular bike. As soon as you think you know a rule for sure with these bikes, an exception suddenly appears.

 

[stezell]

Well here's what I got for the serial # on the seat lug and I'll have to wait another day when it's not raining to clean the rear hub for the year stamp. Looks like C1826AJ