R.O. Harrison identification

Hello
This was the first proper bike my Dad built up for me. It was originally pale blue and had R.O. Harrison decals. This was first resprayed in the 80's in metallic brown, as photos. I have since had it resprayed in blue. I'm interested to try and find out more about it, as I've not seen rear drop outs like that on a bike before. It was certainly a fantastic bike to ride, light and responsive, but too small for me now! The lugs and bb lube port may help the informed out there to help with establishing the model and approximate year. BB shell stamped British Made GR 23V and 592313. Hopefully pictures come out ok.
Cheers
Tom

boatboy72":hwah9f23 said:

Hello
This was the first proper bike my Dad built up for me. It was originally pale blue and had R.O. Harrison decals. This was first resprayed in the 80's in metallic brown, as photos. I have since had it resprayed in blue. I'm interested to try and find out more about it, as I've not seen rear drop outs like that on a bike before. It was certainly a fantastic bike to ride, light and responsive, but too small for me now! The lugs and bb lube port may help the informed out there to help with establishing the model and approximate year. BB shell stamped British Made GR 23V and 592313. Hopefully pictures come out ok.
Cheers
Tom

Click to expand...

according to Classic Lightweights the frame number 592313 was made in May 1949 (if their theory of decipher is correct!) first digit is the month the second digit the year the remaining four digits being the serial number......but pictures would certainly help

Griff

Thanks for information, I tried to post pictures but file size too big and wouldn't accept zipped image. I'll try externally hosted pics.
All the best
Tom

[imghttp://s464.photobucket.com/user/coruisk72/library/][/img]
Here's photo.

Re:

Harrison used Chater Lea lugs and bottom brackets. Can't see pictures but try an image compressor.
I have a 1935 frame and forks. Beautiful work went into building them.

Simon

Re:

Here's the link to your images...

http://s464.photobucket.com/user/coruisk72/library/



I can't help much with ID-ing your frame, but those dropouts are for a Super Champion Osgear. Some info here:

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/de ... ar-hs.html

It is great to hear about another RO Harrison frame and to see the photos.

Finding out the exact model can be difficult, as RO Harrison fitted a variety of designs of hand-cut lugs to each model, depending on what the purchaser wanted. But I think that the head and seat angles give a clearer idea as to what model a Harrison frame is. I finally concluded that my RO Harrison is a Meteor by the frame angles. According to ROH Catalogues and adverts, in 1949-55 the Super Circuit had 74˚ head and 72˚ seat angle, The Club had 72˚ head and 70˚ seat, and the Meteor 73˚ head 72˚ seat, and The Continental had 72˚ parallel. But here again, different purchasers could order different angles as indicated in a 1955 advert for the Omnium track frame, which was available in 73˚ parallel, or in 74˚ 72˚

I have found other examples of ROH numbers on line, as follows:
1949 Shortwin 1192578 Nov 1949 2578
1951 Lyta 113266 Jan 1951 3266
1951 Madison 213337 Feb 1951 3337

And mine, a Meteor TT frame, is
502964 May 1950 2964

The last 4 numbers are some sort of sequential numbering, and your frame number fits neatly into this time line, with May 1949 2313

Some info on RO Harrison can be found at http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/harrison.html

Also, some ROH catalogues can be found here http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/l ... action.y=0

I have had a few more thoughts.......
At http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bi ... it-rb.html is info on the Super Circuit. I have concluded from pics that I have seen online of the Super Circuit that they were fitted with a distinctive fork crown. Another example can be seen at http://sadabonne.cocolog-nifty.com/blog ... _4703.html This helped me rule out my frame as being a Super Circuit.

Your pic of the ROH fork was a bit dark, but lightened up in an image editor. Your fork crown looks identical to mine, and is very different to those of the Super Circuit, so that perhaps that is one model that could be ruled out.

....is it me or are there some numbers stamped under the paint on the drive side rear dropout 6981? preceded by what look to be the letters RI ?

Griff

Re:

Thanks for all the help. There's a few details that I can see are similar with other Harrison models, particularly the lugwork that seems to have a more blunt radius to the curves at the ends. However there are some differences, notably the very thin seat stays on my frame. I'll take some shots of the resprayed frame for your expert perusal.
All the best
Tom