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I usually take "before" pics but in this case I did not. It was super dirty but otherwise in almost untouched condition. Must have been stored indoors in low humidity. Barely a speck of rust on it.

You were correct. When I went to pull the wheels it was immediately clear the axel nuts were stripped beyond recognition and the dropouts had been forced apart to fit these wheels. The frame also had some damage that wasn't obvious on initial inspection. The bike sadly ended its life as an organ...

For you Nottingham steel fans, here is a 23 inch LTD-3 with a Brooks B-72 and original frame pump I picked up for $100 at the local "fix a bike" nonprofit. The kids don't want these old three speeds. It was in the best shape I have ever seen for a 50 year old bike. I stripped it down and cleaned...

I need to take one or both of these bikes home and get all the way into them I think. The hub was filthy so didn't inspect it closely. I wasn't dressed for bike grease.

Fair! Although there was also a partially rubbed out Made in D---mark sticker that felt persuasive. I buried the lede on that.....that's on me.

Update: on closer inspection the rear fender contained a stamp "Dansk Patent" so the bikes are Danish. The red bike on the floor is a Peugeot road frame.

Thank you - good thoughts. No idea about the red bike. There were hundreds there (mostly box store bikes but a few good vintage ones) and I only had a few minutes. But I will be back.

At a community bike organization today I came across a "his and hers" set of unfamiliar cruiser bikes. Anyone know this marque? It doesn't appear to be Nottingham ...wondering if it's from the continent though. Has that cruiser style. Not a Sturmey Hub.

I respect what you are saying. If I were working on valuable bikes I would take the extra care but I mostly work on $25 shed bikes that get donated to a campus bike shop. All about trade offs.

Washers, bolts, screws - I find the corrosion and gunk comes off better with a little light sanding. Block is easiest for the purpose.

Welcome to the hobby and cool first bike. I don't think this bike needs OA, which I understand to be more of an extreme rust tactic. The small bits can go in a tub with some CLR. I often just run them over a sanding block for a bit. Good luck!

I have a set of very clean Nottingham wheels of similar age with a recently rebuilt Sturmey Hub. I might swap them in.

Hub details. Looks like zinc up front to me.

I wouldn't doubt it. Head badge is Birmingham but it's super similar to Nottingham bikes I have seem under the Phillips label. 333 hub though. That surprised me. For $25 I can't really lose.

Today's acquisition was a Birmingham-built Phillips cruiser in that cool orange-gold color. Gonna stick with white saddle, white pedals, white cables for the clean up. And I'll put the shift cable in the right place....🙄

There are good step by step YouTube tutorials. That's all I did and it's always been fine. Just gotta keep the magnet unit in one piece when it comes out.

I'll second the suggestions for penetrating oil and time. I'll usually cinch down the clamp very tight and walk away for a day or two. Often enough when I come back the pin has moved a bit. Once it moves, it's as good as done. When all else fails you can drill the pin out but it's better to use...

I think @SirMike1983 has it correct. For comparison, this picture is of a confirmed 1974 Raleigh Sports.

The dates can sometimes be stamped in there lightly. But the mid70s is gonna be right for this bike. Best thing going on with it value wise is the Presstube Minor rack.

For sale - a set of immediately postwar Torrington pedals from a 1946 Columbia. They have been de-rusted, cleaned and repacked with fresh grease. Spin nice and smooth. Moderate wear to the blocks. Now...which Torrington? The pedals came off a ladies frame but don't seem to be #9s due to...

Nice looking B-D USA skiptooth chain, removed from a 1946 Columbia ladies ballooner and cleaned up with CLR and wire brush. Like the ad says, 56" and 112 links with master link. Tried each link, no sticky/balky ones. Will apply a coat of new, light oil prior to shipment.

I'll be there....with whatever random stuff I pull outta the shed.

...and companies figured out to sell us things that don't last 100 years with only minimal maintenance.

She's done - and looking pretty alright.

Finished up the overhaul of my 1970 Rudge Sports DynoHub - now spinning easy and generating current to front and rear lamps. All she needs now is a chain and a shift cable and a little final tweaking.

Classic case of getting what you pay for.

Reassembly has begun.

The serial says it's a 1946. The rear hub is blackout but the front isn't -- speculating it was a matter of using up wartime inventory. I probably will part this bike out because I don't want to keep it and the market for ladies ballooners seems nonexistent but haven't fully decided yet.

It was a Lawrence MA plate, but the owner informs me it won't be coming with the bike. Imagine he wised up and sold it separately. Crimps the value proposition a little but I still think there is plenty to like here.

Looks like a great candidate for a rehabilitation. The chrome should clean up fine with 0000 steel wool, CLR or Evaporust and brass wire brushes. With frames like this I usually do a progression of clean (dish soap and rag or simple green and rag), then polishing compound, then wax, then Pedro's...

This.

I'll report back when I get a look at the serial.

I was riding in central Maine and a guy with a truck and open trailer was parked with his hazards on. He was chasing two escaped emus around a field. It was hilarious. They were way faster than him. Another time I was riding near Ipswich, Mass. and a bird flew right into a guys front wheel on a...

There is a pennyfarthing for sale on the Boston Craigslist right now. https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/bik/d/brockton-1900s-penny-farthing-bike/7469535434.html

And I realize this prob belongs in the balloon tires section - perhaps a mod can reclassify for me? Sorry 😐

This old Columbia step through has been on the Boston Craigslist one town over from me for months. Seller finally made it clear any offer would be considered so I threw the price of two frozen pizzas at him to keep it off the scrap heap and he said deal. I don't know its age or anything about...

What a great result - well done

Polishing the new/old Rudge

Thank you for the front hub reminder. I've done a few Raleigh-made bikes since taking up the hobby and that part confused me to no end on the first couple! Did you see my thread on the Pride Ride? My most dramatic before/after.

Both lights were wired to the Dynohub up front.

Crank arms measure to 170mm.

This might be the angle you wanted. @juvela

Finally got into it a little. Paint is going to clean up really well. Fender as found. Chain guard after a polish.

Like the title says - looking for a reflector/mount that would fit a rear fender on a mid60s ladies Schwinn Breeze. Overhauling a bike for a friend. Thanks.

I know some Heron-heads are ever on the hunt for one of the elusive all-chrome Raleigh 3 speeds. One just popped up for sale near Boston, ladies frame. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/309951054400300. Listed at $220

Wrapped up this 1963 Firestone Flight 880 today. Sat in a basement 40+ years in very good condition. Rehabbing for a friend, so left the bars where she had them. Added the streamers though....