Re: [CR]1962 Raleigh Gran Sport

(Example: History:Norris Lockley)

Date: Sat, 01 Jun 2002 06:31:46 +0100
Subject: Re: [CR]1962 Raleigh Gran Sport
From: "Bob Reid" <bob.reid1@virgin.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <v0421012bb91de1a379bd@[64.133.130.174]>


Sheldon,

You need to read my little descripion again - sorry :-(
> No, that can't be the same. The Gran Sport had Campagnolo Grand
> Sport derailers, not Benelux, and aluminium hubs (Racelite?)

That's what I said - it had a mix of all the components from the different models other folks have referred to - but in essence purely Benelux and not Gran Sport. I'm also not sure those hubs on Sarahs m/c are BH Racelites - look like steel to me, but I stand to be corrected.
>
> I don't know what you mean by "metric" stem. The Gran Sport had the
> type that said "Forged Hiduminium" on the side, and the deluxe GB
> bars had a red-anodized reinforcing sleeve at the centre. I've seen
> the stems drilled for brake cable, but never as a factory feature.

In the 60's GB produced stems and advertised them as also available in 'metric' - I assume to mean those to fit the smaller dia. bar. Either way, the Rapide used a factory drilled stem with a flat cast on it for the cable adjuster. This was not the original post war Hiduminium long point stem as seen on sarahs m/c. It also had an anodised red plate fixed to the front with '70' in silver on it, something which appears unique to the 'metric' ones....
>
> Dunlop was _not_ owned by Raleigh, though they had a special
> relationship for many years, and used to be the exclusive tyre
> supplyre to Raleigh. The HPRR was indisputably the finest clincher
> of the day, and was specifically designed to match up with the
> Special Lightweight rim.

Who said Raleigh owned Dunlop ? around 64' when Raleigh fell out big time contract wise with Dunlop and they withdrew from supply leaving them with one major headache (the so-called 'special relationship' was one massive contract that Raleigh wouldn't agree the price for). Raleigh appear to have Sturmey-Archer produce in-house copies of the SL rim............ except for the name stamped on them they outwardly looked identical and actually weighed much the same. Same slim profile
> How do I know all this for sure ? - well I don't as the early 60's are a long time past now, but I've just restored an original equipment one for a customer with all the parts as described, and Raleigh were famous for this badge engineering stuff using all those marques they took over in the post war period.....

One sidenote - the sprite used a braze-on bridge to support the rear brake cable and not a seperate clip affixed to the seat post bolt.

Bob Reid
Stonehaven
Scotland