(Ray Miller)

My mother racing – at the time of this photograph she was Miss Peggy Barton. She and my father Donald both rode for Surrey Road CC. He used to do massed start round Brands Hatch. I too was a member of the Surrey Road C.C.

This bike was ordered new from Carpenter’s in 1950 with special angles 73/75. Frame 4487, stamped underneath bottom bracket and on steerer tube. Originally painted white with lugs detailed in red. It had Constrictor Boalloy “Conloy” rims, and Chater-Lea equipment apart from GB Hiduminium brakes. Was raced with a Brooks cut-away saddle. Had white, cloth, bar tape.

It was repainted in c.1967 and at this time the rear wheel was replaced with a 36 spoke hub and chrome rim. The pedals were also replaced with SR SP-100. The saddle was changed to a Mansfield Eclipse and red bar tape was applied.

Full restoration started 4 April 2016 Pre-restoration assessment

• 24” frame with headset and forks weighs just under 6lb.;
• rust showing through paint and chrome;
• original front Conloy rim on 32 spoke Letour hub;
• replacement rear unidentified chrome rim on 36 Maillard hub;
• 18 tooth fixed sprocket fitted;
• ⅛ in. chain;
• original GB Hiduminium brakes;
• original Reynolds stem, Maes ‘Stratalite’ bars;
• Mansfield Eclipse saddle;
• SR SP-100 pedals;
• Christophe toe clips (rusty);
• original Chater-Lea chainset with 46 tooth ring, 6½ in. cranks.

In discussion it was considered that white cloth bar tape was original. Toe-straps could have been red but might have been black originally. Apart from that everything returned to original specification.