Hi
Thanks - the 39/40 date is only my opinion, I know a bit about the post war RRAs (I have three) but not much about the pre-wars other than what I've found on the net. I wasn't aware that the pre war ones had slotted rear mudguard stays, the post war definitely has the style in the pics.
The puzzle is, in favour of it being a pre war Model 45:-
The frame size is 22" - post war they went to ½" sizes.
There is no grease nipple in the headset clip or at the bottom of the head tube - post war had both.
The bottom bracket grease nipple is on the right (chainwheel) side of the bottom bracket - post war is on the left hand side.
There are no saddle bag support braze ons on the seat stays and no rear brake cable braze ons on the cross bar - these were normally fitted on post war frames unless specifically opted out.
The puzzle against it being pre war:-
The frame geometry is 71/73 - pre war RRA was 71/71 except the Charles Holland Continental from 1939 which introduced 71/73.
The frame number is stamped on the bottom bracket, which I thought was something Raleigh started doing when 531 frames were introduced post war, pre war would have been at the top of the seat tube.
The frame number is 27165 if I remember correctly but this doesn't fit in with either pre or post war numbering systems I can find so that's a puzzle in itself!
I was told that Cliff Smith had many friends within Raleigh and his frames were repainted there, I believe this has been restoved and transfers (not decals) fitted many decades ago but no 531 frame transfer was fitted which might indicate it's not 531 (like the pre war bikes).
Could be a pre production post war frame? Apparently work started on the post war Model 26 in 1944, Cliffs friends at Raleigh could have donated it?
I don't think I'll ever quite get to the bottom of it and similarly I think there were lots of things going on at Raleigh that were not recorded and are now lost in the depths of time.
For instance, none of my three post war RRA frame numbers fit in with any of the published numbering systems.
Any one is welcome to chime in - I'll still love the bike!
Regards
Tony.