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RE:ENGLISH ROADSTERS: looking for info on 1930s-50s Phillips serial numbers
Posted by Corey K
on 11/8/2009 at 9:50:33 AM
Hi Matthew,
Yes, I know about the TI-India bikes, though they only list BSA and Hercules as brands they still make on their current website. Thanks for the suggestion. For the asking price, it wouldn't be a bad deal even if it were an Indian bike.
This bike, from the pictures at least, looks like a double top-tube variant on a C. 1939 Roadmaster model, but with a more modern Sturmey shifter. It has the older Phillips script pedals and the bright metal on the rod brake stirrups has been blacked out, and the rear fender is all black, as I have mentioned.
I am looking at it today, anyway. Wish me luck!
by: 76.102.6.124
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RE:ENGLISH ROADSTERS: looking for info on 1930s-50s Phillips serial numbers
posted by Corey K on 11/11/2009 at 2:53:42 PM
| Hi JS- firstly, I want to tell you how cool I think your blog is. I really enjoy going through it and I get lost , so have to take in just a couple of entries per reading session!
This particular bike seems to be a real-deal 1957 or 58 Phillips. Rims, Sturmey-Archer SW hub(9 57 date), cranks, pedals, fork, and handlebars all point to it, as well as the original John Bull brake pads and tires.
The owner's other roadster is a 1960s Phoenix she picked up in Los Angeles in the early 80s; she loves it, but it sadly needs new rims and most chrome work due to the damp climate here. The chrome is not only flaking, but also sharp-edged.
She'll probably spring for new Flying Pigeon wheels and handlebars, since they're built to virtually the same specs.
I know of no US dealers for the Phoenix brand bikes.
My comment about roadsters was simply that the Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturers can build with the best, and it would be fun to see them make a product that can challenge the Dutch and German city bike makers, now that those bikes are becoming popular here in the US.
I have some questions about obtaining Phoenix decals for you, but I'll contact you through your blog.
Best to all of you,
Corey
by: 76.102.6.124 |
RE:ENGLISH ROADSTERS: looking for info on 1930s-50s Phillips serial numbers
posted by JS on 11/11/2009 at 3:57:04 PM
| Corey-
I'd have to agree. If your bike has all the British details like John bull parts, than it probably is a Made in England Phillips. A really nice find.
Thanks for the kind words on the blog. Let me know what your interests are... And good luck on the bike!! :-D
by: 64.237.45.68 |
RE:ENGLISH ROADSTERS: looking for info on 1930s-50s Phillips serial numbers
posted by Matthew on 11/8/2009 at 12:45:54 PM
| I found one picture of a new Phillips after some searching.
Matthew - using my magnifying glass.
by: 86.31.42.143
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RE:ENGLISH ROADSTERS: looking for info on 1930s-50s Phillips serial numbers
posted by Corey K on 11/8/2009 at 5:33:53 PM
| We grabbed it. It's been rattle-canned all over, but has very good bones. Serial is N623879, and it's Phillips marked all over. Hub is a 1957 Sturmey SW with a 50s era plastic-faced Sturmey three speed shifter.
Lots of work to do.
Corey
by: 76.102.6.124 |
RE:ENGLISH ROADSTERS: looking for info on 1930s-50s Phillips serial numbers
posted by Corey K on 11/9/2009 at 3:06:05 PM
| Here is a pic. It's practically complete except for saddle, pump and rear reflector. One cotter has been replaced with a mismatch. Otherwise good and straight.
Corey
by: 76.102.6.124
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RE:ENGLISH ROADSTERS: looking for info on 1930s-50s Phillips serial numbers
posted by Matthew on 11/9/2009 at 3:36:02 PM
| Nice find, looks like the real deal. Enjoy what you have.
Matthew - nearly mended, less rattle can now.
by: 82.13.16.253 |
RE:RE:ENGLISH ROADSTERS: looking for info on 1930s-50s Phillips serial numbers
posted by Chris on 11/9/2009 at 7:13:11 PM
| Very nice find Corey, it has the "Dunelt" fork crown (but without the chrome inserts) that apparently has found it's way onto your bike as well I believe your fork is original to your bike the tooling for the Dunelt fork found it's way to where your bike was made. Nice find!
by: 69.153.86.42 |
RE:ENGLISH ROADSTERS: looking for info on 1930s-50s Phillips serial numbers
posted by JS on 11/10/2009 at 5:43:02 AM
| Phillips and BSA are both also made and sold in China. I guess the global rights to the name didn't all go to TI in India but are probably split up around the world into diffeent regions. Similar to the use of the Norton name or Budweiser (Budvar) and Budweiser (A-B)
by: 64.237.45.68 |
RE:ENGLISH ROADSTERS: looking for info on 1930s-50s Phillips serial numbers
posted by Corey K on 11/10/2009 at 9:43:39 AM
| Hm. I did not know that there were any Chinese makers using Phillips/BSA as a brand. Interesting.
It makes me wonder what it would be like if the better Chinese Mfgs took up the roadster torch.
This bike is definitely UK-made, though. The patina and the high quality chrome are the giveaways.
by: 76.102.6.124
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RE:ENGLISH ROADSTERS: looking for info on 1930s-50s Phillips serial numbers
posted by JS on 11/11/2009 at 5:36:06 AM
| Corey-
There are plenty of Roadsters in China already. Many with patina. Ditto for India. Difficult to tell if your bike is from India or not, but usually on the headbadge it would probably say "Made in India" They are quite proud of that.
If you go to my blog and hit the" Bicyclopedia Indica" in the left hand column there are pics of about 20 Indian roadster brands. No Phillips though because all of my pics were taken first hand, and I didn't run into one of those.
http://www.flyingpigeonproject.org
by: 64.237.34.130 |
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