Pre-WW2 BSA, something of a diamond in the rough I believe

[Scott-S]

I don't think they were ever chromed but had been powder coated at some point, the stem and seat post are also steel.

The forks, rear dropouts are chromed and the original buyer also paid the extra 10 bob to have the head tube lugs chromed.

I have stripped back the paint on the BB, top of the seat post tube and rear dropout and no sign of a frame number or one having been removed.

I see tweed in my future.

View attachment 985332

I saw the distinguished gents oversized tweed safety helmet and it made me remember the Goodies and their Ecky Thump sketch

 

[Woz]

Signing up. Nice find. Looks in great shape and 1.7 kg

 

[Frankenorange]

I have just clocked something in that BSA poster upthread. The seatpost is drillium!

 

[Frankenorange]

I have been searching but i can't find a drilled seatpost from the black and white days.

@Guinessisgoodforyou @Woz

Is the only component not listed in the spec. Must've been used on the lighter version, i guess, and must be as rare as rocking horse doodoo.

 

[Woz]

Sure is a novelty that.

Saddle may be an Ideale with Dural rails, but the dates don't line up either by about a decade.

 

[bikeworkshop]

That Drillium post...
I think there's evidence of the photo being touched up
Early Fake News?

 

[Woz]

...it's good to be wrong.

This is from a bike part supplier, their 1939 catalogue. Two versions - 54 and 57, both with light metal rails (but too early for Dural I think).

 

[PhillB]

...it's good to be wrong.

This is from a bike part supplier, their 1939 catalogue. Two versions - 54 and 57, both with light metal rails (but too early for Dural I think).

View attachment 985493

What is going on in that cartoon?

 

[Frankenorange]

Sure is a novelty that.

Saddle may be an Ideale with Dural rails, but the dates don't line up either by about a decade.

I think it looks very much like the Mansfield Ormond as spec'd going by the front part of the rail

 

[Frankenorange]

I have officially given up trying to find the seatpost.

It really is a bizarre thing and would love to know the story behind it. Was it even a real item? Was it put in for laughs like a dig at someone/a rival, or an inside joke? or slipped in under the noses of management who don't check things enough?

It is just so odd to see it in an official advert. Quite bizarre.