Took a ride on my new bike today....
Actually I've been riding it for a week. It has even had its first smack from another bike.
There are a couple kinks to work out, and a rear fender to now repair and repaint, but all-together it is finished. The riding position is not bad, even with my one bad arm but I couldn't maintain it for more than a few miles. If Im going to ride this at all, it will have to have the bars flipped as a minimum. It will also need toe clips to keep my toes off the front fender.
Highlights of the build included finding out a lot about English bicycle histories, building techniques, features and parts.
I have conferred with the Veteran Cycle Club Armstrong marque' enthusiast and the model and year is not conclusive. There are no records for Armstrong bikes other than ownership and word of mouth.
I have settled on it most likely being a 1938 model and what was called a Moth Sport in the 1936 catalog, or, what may have been called a Moth Super Club as designated in the 1939 price update sheet that is available. The 39' price sheet no longer shows a Moth Sport.
The repro head badge and other transfers are close but not the same as the originals. That may also be a pre/post war thing.
Armstrong was a mid level handbuilt bike company from 1920 to the early 40's when they were bought by a company that also owned Phillips. They stagnated throughout the forties and were then used as trading fodder in the 50's as the English bike industry was integrated into fewer bicycle companies.
Interesting to me was that Phillips was a parts and bike kits only company until 1939
Anyway here's the rundown.....
22" frame of chrome Moly Steel (not 531). The Fork is a Phillips "Super Club" model. Lugs are what is called chamfered fish tail lugs. This is the first rear facing dropout seen on an Armstrong, but of course there aren't many pre-war survivors. Actually none that Ive been able to glean from the internet. But then again, the owners of these are fairly old and not many are on the internet. More may show up in the future as they change hands to a younger crowd.
It started off as a flip flop 18/16t rear hub and that is the way I returned it. I was even able to find a period Bayliss Wiley Freewheel but it is one of the kinks to work out as it is growly in reverse movement. Almost no pawl sound as it freewheels, but something is not right in there.
The saddle bag came from England and contains a period Tecalemut hand grease gun as was supplied new. Also a link and a half for the flip/flop chain and a teeny crescent wrench named "weenie"
Period trends and fads are things like the clip style headset and stem (not recommended). The brake levers have a "mans' position hanging way out, and a black stripe in the middle of the rims was a fashion statement of the times.
Club riding was a big deal in England and these are the bikes that it circled around.
Quite a difference from last June, don't you think?
thecabe.com
I've got a Hercules Kestrel with another decal, but I'm pretty sure it's post-war.
