Date: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 18:39:27 +0000 From: dgranger@comcast.net To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Hobbs Tandem and what did you ride today? (Duncan Granger)
Well, for those of you who saw my earlier posts about the Hobbs Tandem I bought on Ebay UK (shipping was an adventure), it arrived last night. (see http://www.ebay.co.uk item number 7160477382).
Packing job was fair in that the major tubes were wrapped, and it was zip-tied together, but the lock nuts for BOTH wheels were sticking out the sides of the box when it arrived. The good news? The only damage I can find is a dented fender (which happens to be an original Lytaloy, but I'm pretty sure I can set it straight).
When I bought it, I wasn't sure what model it was (poor Ebay auction pics from seller). I assumed it was a "Club" or "Racelite" model, since those are more common. Imagine my glee when, upon opening the box, I find a "Blue Riband" with most of it's original components! Paint (stove enamel) is fair to good. Transfers are surprisingly very good to excellent.
She is olive drab with yellow pin-striping and yellow head tube, as well as matching wide yellow bands on both seat tubes.
Mostly oversized, various size tubing, all joints lugged (!) with those gorgeous signature Hobbs curly lugs (which are lined in yellow). I'm assuming because of the various size tubes, that all these lugs were cast by Hobbs for their tandems. My understanding is that filet brazing was more common for tandems, because you didn't have to worry about different sized tubing...?
Anyway, with new tires she will be ready for a quick spin around the block. Then it's down to the basement shop for a complete (or should I say compleat) overhaul.
Bruce, pics will be coming your way shortly, and I've already been in touch with Mervyn. The serial number dates the frame to Feb. 1952.
On another topic, I checked national radar today and noticed that the weather was generally excellent for riding in most of the country. I had a very enjoyable short (1-hour) ride on my 1977 Raleigh Competition GS. This is the time of year when many of us pull out and dust off bikes that we haven't ridden since the last nice weather of the previous fall.
Because there are very few vintage riders in my area (hi Roy), I often feel that I'm on my own, so to speak. But I'm sure many of you were or will be out today,
So I want to know, what bike did you (or will you) ride today?
Duncan Granger counting the hours 'til I can go home and work on the Hobbs Tandem in York, PA (where I work, but don't live) Those old OS lugs were likely hand-made one at a time - very unlikely that they were cast..... Way cool, but labor-intensive, to say the least. I finished building up my NOS 61 cm. 1975 Raysport, and took it for a shakedown cruise. It's a copy of a copy of a Cinelli SC (!!!), and in silver with the chrome lugs, fork crown, and dropouts, looks pretty good. Short wheelbase (about 98 cm), very responsive.... Who else has built up and ridden one of the these Raysports? What do you think of yours so far? Thanks, Greg "another knockoff" Parker Ann Arbor, Michigan