[CR] Old Phillips

(Example: Framebuilders:Doug Fattic)

From: "Bob Hillery" <rhillery@hawksi.org>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Sensitivity: Normal
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2009 17:53:37 +0000
Subject: [CR] Old Phillips


At the risk of restarting a flame fest (don't), I've recently finished an old Phillips (is that redundant?) remake. http://www.flickr.com/photos/organize/?start_tab=one_set72157622129854405

So, right up front I admit it's a Phrankenbike. It's also a singlespeed, but relax: it only had 3 to begin with and they're all oldparts. I believe it's early to mid 70s, but wonder if any CR listers have abetter way to check. Sheldon Brown's site (I am grateful that's stilla resource) doesn't have much, CR's Phillips page is a bit sparse, and30 minutes of various search strings aimed at the archives came upempty. It's post-1960 Raleigh-TI takeover frame, and I infer that fromthe Phillips 'Nottingham' head badge, rather than Birmingham, and bothBrown & oldroads suggest they were lower end post takeover, whichhelped temper the urges to find exactly correct parts.

The serial number is on the top-tube portion of the top-seat tube lug. There may be a faint leading letter or number - looks like just asimple vertical line like a one missing the upper 'nose' stroke. Noevidence of an unstamped foot of an 'L' or 'I'. As it's at the 270degree point (looking fwd that is horizontal & on the left side),it may be an indexmark for a jig or machine? The serial continues (orstarts) 475201 ... 1974? 1971? neither?

Any assistance or pointers appreciated.

When I snagged the parts from ebay, it was pretty clear the seller wasparting out a complete - or nearly so - bike. Unfortunately, I didn'tget everything. Partly from timing and partly from the cost run up, itjust didn;t make sense when I was looking for an around town utilitybike.

That's when it became a set of rolling parts - practicality overcamemore base urges. I used spares and generally period parts one mighthave had knocking about if I had been the original owner & needed toget it running to get to work.

Anyway - it's a great ride and loads of fun.

Cheers --
Bob Hillery
Stratham, New Hampshire, US