Identifying this 1950s Viking

[straightpullspoke3]

I shall delve into my archives and see if I can find out which model it was.
This may take me a while .

Thank you! I am thinking maybe it is some sort of transition between the Severn Valley of 1951 used in that years ToB and the frames that would eventually be branded Tour of Britains in 52. Other useful information might be that the head badge holes are 53 mm apart.

I’ve spent a lot of time on classic Viking cycles. It’s the serial number on the dropout that has me confused but apparently these serial numbers were quite haphazard before 1954. Once I start disassembly I will look for the frame number on the steerer tube. He was so adamant it was a Tour of Britain and that he purchased it in Feb 1952. He has written about the bike in some regional cycling publications and always described it as such.

I will also likely come across more original parts when clearing out the garage and maybe some more photos of the bike from that time, which may shed better light on the matter.

Some photos here of (what I believe to be) the frame in 1952-56, but I wasn’t able to discern much from them, maybe your expertise can.

 

[bagpuss]

Could Viking of done a special build ?

 

[juvela]

-----


pedals -





cycle's present pedal set something other than Campag

note how cage attaches to body with rectangular tabs whilst Campag employs round

note how barrels be three-piece steel whilst Campg are forged alloy

the deeply counterbored medial spindle ends are a positive sign of quality

readers should be able to identify subject pedals with further image(s)

---

gear mech -

if you are able to locate Grandad's Campag Gran Sport gear mech it would be period correct to fit as product launch date was 1952

it enjoyed a relatively long production life within which there are differing periods/generations

these are illustrated with appropriate dates at velobase -

http://velobase.com/Pages/ListComponents.aspx?Category=108

the machine's present Chater Lea chainwheel appears to have 3/32" dentition which would be compatible with a derailleur drive train

[edited earlier message with a few additions]

-----

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

What a history, love the pictures of your Grandfather racing and in uniform for his (I assume) national service. The chain driven mileometer is fantastic, check this out @27motorhead @grantoury @Imlach @Frankenorange @Woz @bikeworkshop

 

[jim haseltine]

I think that there could well be two (or even three) frames here. In two of the b&w pics, the bike has brazed pump pegs on the seat tube and a cable operated front derailleur with what appears to be brazed levers, whilst in the last (with the guys in uniform) it has a lever operated mech. In the coloured pic the frame has the remains of what appear to have been brazed pump pegs under the top tube and the centre tang of the fork crown appears to be much shorter than the one visible in the first b&w pic.

 

[grantoury]

I am certain it is a Hosteller model .

https://flic.kr/p/2iNnk6P

How many gears does this have @bagpuss ? Does it indeed have front, rear derailleurs and a Sturmey three?

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Looks like a 4 speed with twin Cyclo sprockets and a double clanger.

 

[straightpullspoke3]

So Steve from classic Viking cycles has confirmed what I think I had already deduced: This is a 1959 Ian Steel model. Which raises a mystery as to why he believed it to be a 52 ToB, of course during our discussions of the bike I never questioned it. I can only presume he maybe had a ToB also and at some point the frames were confused (resprays etc).

The headset seems to agree with the brochure and I have found what I suspect were the original campy gran sport derailleurs. Steve kindly supplied some brochures from 1959.

Thank you all for your knowledge, hopefully I can find the original livery and get it back to its best!

 

[straightpullspoke3]

I think that there could well be two (or even three) frames here. In two of the b&w pics, the bike has brazed pump pegs on the seat tube and a cable operated front derailleur with what appears to be brazed levers, whilst in the last (with the guys in uniform) it has a lever operated mech. In the coloured pic the frame has the remains of what appear to have been brazed pump pegs under the top tube and the centre tang of the fork crown appears to be much shorter than the one visible in the first b&w pic.

I agree there seems to be multiple frames here and now I have it confirmed this one is a 59 Ian Steel, none of them can be it (since these photos date 51-54). Would be interesting if anyone could identify the frames in the photos as these would have been the peak of his racing career.

 

[straightpullspoke3]

I agree there seems to be multiple frames here and now I have it confirmed this one is a 59 Ian Steel, none of them can be it (since these photos date 51-54). Would be interesting if anyone could identify the frames in the photos as these would have been the peak of his racing career.

The photo of him in RAF uniform is labelled as “Viking bike” on the back and in his photo album.