1950 R O Harrison ‘project’

[Chdot]

(As mentioned elsewhere, I ‘discovered’ 50’s bikes this year. Not quite an obsession…)

Bought Frame and Forks on eBay

Photos below are sellers’, so I was under no illusion about ‘wok required’.



Obviously I was concerned about whether the rust was more than just on the surface. Also wondering about how much paint and decals could be saved.

One day I will get a frame and have it painted/powdercoated, but I’m still on ‘preserve rhe patina’

Frame arrived today

The fun begins.

 

[Chdot]

Close inspection shows no signs of rust digging deep. Gentle taps on tubes return that reassuring sound of lightweight tubing - maybe 531.

F&F weighs slightly less than 6lb - not bad for 24”.

No trace of a 531 decal. ROH frames on record have them (as is common) at the top the seat tube.

Internally this is 27.0 which is sometimes the size for 531 plain gauge, also A&P (no sign of Kromo decal either) which some framebuilders used at the time.

Some builders used tubing from both manufacturers, though ROH catalogues suggest 531 was normal.

ROH built to order as well as ‘stock’ frames/bikes so anything is possible!



Frame numbering is clear. This is from the steerer and matches with the stampings underneath the BB.

So built April 1950 - now my oldest frame.

Always reassuring when there is proof of matching parts - not all manufacturers/builders mark forks. Obviously important for a custom build.

Don’t know if ROH did it for all frames.

Rear fork measures 124, so may have been sprung from 120.