1954 Raliegh 6 speed Touring Bicycle

[stingrayjoe]

I cleaned up the pump and removed the overpaint. All is in good condition.

See close ups of chain stay and rear drop out.

 

[stingrayjoe]

Gave it a quick clean up today.

 

[Schwinny]

I think you have a winner there.
The frame and rear right dropout were definitely rearranged to facilitate the set-up.
Those marks on the chain stay is what we were thinking could have been different setup at one time. It does look like a Benelux or similar clamp, but who knows.
This is an early depiction of the system but it went for many years.

 

[Eric Amlie]

I think the bike is very cool.
I've long been fascinated by "hybrid" gearing, though I've never ridden one.
I have the "makings" for one, but haven't put it together yet.
I'm thinking I'll use a Huret Svelto derailleur on it.

 

[sykerocker]

Usually, a period exact derailleur conversion to a Sturmey-archer hubs would be a Benelux derailleur, because the most common multi-freewheels at the time were also Benelux. That's definitely a 70's conversion, I did the same to my commuter Raleigh Twenty back in the day, only using a Huret Allvit derailleur instead. Also, a period exact conversion would be using a downtube shifter instead of a handlebar thumb shifter. Back in the 70's, I have no memories of thumb shifters existing at all. That could possibly be a regional shortcoming.