1951 Rudge Pathfinder

[Barney155]

Just picked up from a flea market for another winter project. Managed to find a catalogue from the 1950's with the Pathfinder model (Pathfinder on the seat tube). SA hub stamped with AW/51/1 so I would assume model/year/month. Tires are still holding air with the rims reasonably true. Colour as listed in one catalogue as Polychromatic Gold, decals are in a very bad state - anyone know of a supplier?

 

[raleighnut]

Try cleaning up the original paint/decals with car polish and those bits of orange paint should come off using 'thinners', if you do go the respray route then H Lloyd will possibly have decals.

 

[biggs682]

@Barney155 that is very nice indeed and a good clean might change your mind

 

[Drago]

Get some oxalic acid on those wheels, they'll come up like new.

 

[raleighnut]

Get some oxalic acid on those wheels, they'll come up like new.

Now that's one thing I would change, I had my original hub gear laced into a 700c aluminium rim and a dynohub laced into a matching rim for the front. That also allowed me to fit aluminium brakes although the original pressed/bent steel one would still fit.

 

[raleighnut]

BTW it originally had 26x1 3/8 steel rims and tyre choice is very limited

Now that's one thing I would change, I had my original hub gear laced into a 700c aluminium rim and a dynohub laced into a matching rim for the front. That also allowed me to fit aluminium brakes although the original pressed/bent steel one would still fit.

View attachment 370479