Hey gang!
So, coming off of my first Cirque, I find myself fired with enthusiasm for some projects. Woo hoo! Maybe I'll finally get that 1951 Lenton Tourist back together and looking good.
Well, as good as it can, given that it still has its original '51 paint job. Pretty scruffy looking, but for the moment, I'm leaving it that way. It's scuffed and faded and ugly, but you can still make out the original decals and the hand-painted box lining, so it stays.
For those of you that don't know the LT, check out the '51 Raleigh catalog at Retro Raleighs:
http://www.retroraleighs.com/
Mine is mostly complete. The missing original pieces are: chainguard, which is apparently supposed to be alloy; fenders, which are supposed to be a white celluloid fender with spearpoint extension; pedals, which are supposed to be rubber block with alloy parts; tires, which are EA-1 size 26 x 1 1/4" (597mm), and grips. I do have a set of the proper style grey Raleigh "torpedo" grips, from a '65 Sports... not original, but they'll do. I also have a set of white Bluemels of some sort, NOS. I don't recall the exact model. No clue on what to do about the chain guard, except perhaps to just use a steel one from a Sports. And I'm not at all sure what to do about the pedals either. Again, I could probably find some old Sports pedals, or maybe I should find a period cage pedal of some sort. As for tires, it currently has some old, dry Cheng Seng tires, and I have a set of Silver Stars from Japan too, NOS. I think the only current, high quality tire in that size is from Schwalbe, and has to be ordered from St. John's Street in England.
I'm open to suggestions, ideas, input on how to approach this. One day perhaps I'll do a full on restoration, including paint, but for the moment I have to settle for making it a rider, as close to period as is reasonable.
Thoughts?
Tim
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Tim Fricker
bikes@vienna, llc
Vienna, VA, USA
Recumbents, folders, tandems, commuters, etc.