1954 Claud Butler 'Coronation'

[Tom D]

I've gone as far as I dare!
Stripped some colour away from the decals on the seat post. Luckily if I wanted to replace them, they're definitely available at hlloydcycles but I won't be doing much more sanding there. It's brought the blue back and doesn't look like a rusty shitheap anymore so I'm pretty happy with it, once it's polished it should look pretty good considering what it was like before I started!

 

[NeilM]

Amazing.

A couple of coats of wax polish to keep the rust from reappearing and you'll be there.

 

[Spokesmann]

Lovin this thread.

 

[Tom D]

Thanks everyone.

Annoyingly progress is going to stop for a few weeks as I've got to go back up to Huddersfield for uni and can't bring the bike with me.

I'll be bringing some bits to sandblast and polish with me though

 

[Tom D]

So after a mega busy last few weeks, I'm finally back home.

The first day back I put my bike back together again. I didn't get all the work done that I wanted to but I just wanted something to ride!

It's so smooth to ride, absolutely solid and screaming out for some dark brown bar tape! The Simplex 3-speed is sooo cool and very smooth when changing gear. Had a stab in the dark at setting it up and I can get all 3 gears though so it must be about right!

 

[Rainbowdave]

Holy wow!
This brought a big old smile to my face, although I doubt as big as yours on that first ride.
Any other plans, or are you just gonna push those pedals for now?

 

[Tom D]

Just push pedals at the moment. It's rapid! Note the smallish front sprocket haha.

It's shredding the brake pads too! Not sure if it's because they're old or quite soft but I've only done about 20 miles riding and they're half worn!

I'd like to mirror polish some of the steel bits like I did with my other bike and wet and dry the forks, got too eager to ride it!

 

[Tom D]

Anyone have any idea how much this bike is worth? Never seen another one for sale, and the only info I've ever found is on nkilgariff..

Need to make room for another steel framed bike!

 

[dirttorpedo]

Re:

Amazing work! Beautiful bike under all that rust.

 

[street]

This really is super cool, you've done a brilliant job of resurrecting it without overdoing it. I think it wears that patina well.
Bet it's a lovely ride too, I'm planning on building myself something like that to do some weekend riding on.
What pedals are they? Leotard? Are you planning on trying to bring them back up? I have some in a similar state.