Howdy Chuck,
It's always hard to correctly Identify old bikes. The Moulton's of the area like the ones of today were unique machines often (as today) coveted by enthusiasts. The bikes when properly serviced are a delight to ride. They can have their various steel parts updated with alloy (we do quite a bit of this) and the weight drops many pounds and the performance becomes very nice. I'll have to get you a copy of the Moulton Video that mentions you bike if you can send me your address. If you were at The Great British Bike Weekend in Philly last spring (There was a lot of folks from the Boston area and I thought you were among them) you know that internally geared hub bikes are enjoying a resurgence in interest as people strive to understand nuances of bicycle technology and lore.
The Sturmey Archer rear hub is a gem and 4 speeds on small wheels can supply lots of good low gears if properly configured (even for hilly Boston but there are limitations). The AW parts and driver I refer to are as follows. The "AW" is Sturmey Archer's most popular wide (not by my standard) range 3 speed hub ever produced. It was introduced in 1935 or so and remains the gold standard for durability (with few changes to this day) and smooth operation. Most common parts are likely to be available world wide for decades to come even though it appears Sturmey is sadly demised. Your 4 speed while rare shares some parts but has a sensitive a non intuitive adjustment. I would advice not riding the hub until it is lubricated (from the outside with Sturmey -non 3 in 1 -Oil) and adjusted by someone with 4 speed experience or from the Technical info from the S.A. website. Sheldon Brown in your area at Harris Cyclery will be of some help. I understand the Sturmey Archer website and The Sheldon Brown website have Technical info on S.A. Hubs. A driver is the part you seemed to describe as missing (I could be very wrong) and it is the large part that is on the hub's right hand side that the cog, dustcap and lockring attach to. The chain wraps around the cog and pedaling drives the cog forward; thus the name. The external parts to this hub are as I remember (comments anyone) the same as on most other S.A. hubs and should be readily available from our shop or Sheldon Brown's Harris Cyclery.
I'm posting this for comment. Send me your address off line for the New Moulton Video. Anyone else curious?
Incidentally the Moulton Bike club has well over a thousand members worldwide and is the largest bicycle owners club in the world. There is also a similar size club in Japan for this machine. At rally's for the machine the early ("F" frame for those in the know) out number the modern space frame models 2 or 3 to one. In there day the held many speed and hill climb records and posted several race victory's till officially banned.
Yours in Cycling,
Gilbert Anderson & Susan Merritt Bicycle Outfitter 519 W. North St. Raleigh, NC 27603 voice:919/828-8999 toll free: 800/321-5511 email: cyclestore@aol.com
In a message dated 11/1/00 1:17:26 PM, Chuck_Taylor@gmo.com writes:
<<
> Chuck,
>
>
you wrote:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> If the blue paint is
> original it may be another Moulton 4 speed which I have a copy of myself
> and
> would not have bottle mounts on the headtube. Still it could be a fine
> machine.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This suggests my find is not a safari, blue paint looks original
(old), no bottle mounts on headtube.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> The 4 speed hub you have is easy to find a cog as I have 15-24 tooth ones
> in
> stock but if other parts are needed you may have a good hunt. If the
> driver
> may be the same as the AW (I'd have to check) you are in luck. I have
> several 4 speeds but I am not sure of the parts you need.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
What's a driver? Whats an AW?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> If you have any real technical questions or need suspension parts or
> guidance
> the Moulton Bicycle Club has an easy to find website (Find Alex Moulton's
> site) with tips. Parts are exchangeable with Moulton Preservation, a non
> profit organization. He even wants to catalog your serial number for the
> future too.
>
> Michael Wolfe at Moulton Preservation
> 21 Cremore Rd.
> World's End
> Chelsea
> London
> SW10 ONB
> Enclose SAE when writing.
> He has a phone somewhere also. It may be on the clubs web site.
> Find the club's link by going to:
>
> http://www.alexmoulton.co.uk/
Thanks again Gilbert for this information!
Regards,
-Chuck Taylor
Boston MA
>>