1967 Claud Butler Sapphire

[biggs682]

couldnt resist this one and went to collect it last night , a very genuine 1967 Claud Buttler Sapphire in original condition apart from being fixed gearing very early on in its life .

not really sure whats going to happen to her yet as to early , but will make it rideable so i can do an assesment then go from there , even the dynamo powered lights work

 

[Murgs]

Very nice. And is that another Brooks to add to your collection!?

 

[biggs682]

murgs you are right another B5N to my collection. well actually had 3 spins up and down cul de sac this morning and all things considered rides very nice considering 3 chain links are almost seized along with very stiff cables , so nice and slow did it . Just needs cleaning etc etc then some maintanence

some more pics at http://www.flickr.com/photos/68734341@N04/

 

[biggs682]

if chance arrives this week going to try and clean the chainset up a bit and get some lube onto the chain , so i can try a bit further road test and start making decisions over Sapphires future in the Biggs garage .

 

[wisdom]

Where did you find that gem?

 

[biggs682]

on fleabay TBH

 

[Murgs]

There's a joke here somewhere about Sapphire and Steel, but I can't quite work it out! Always was a Joanna Lumley fan.

 

[biggs682]

i always prefered The Avengers to be honest .

picked up a bike that i can use as donor to fit some gears back on this one soon

 

[Murgs]

Admittedly, Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg are real classics to Lumley's repro.

How many gears for the Sapphire? Funny how five seemed quite adequate in 1967, and now so many more is standard. Simplex or Suntour, or do we have top of the range Campagnolo?

 

[biggs682]

sapphire will either get a 5 or 6 speed rear wheel and either a choice of a simple simplex or a rather old Campag gran sport , my fave is the old campag as its more in keeping with age & style .

 

[Drago]

Another beauty.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Lovely!

 

[Murgs]

Great choice. Hmm, you'll be finding it difficult to part with this one when it's finished.

 

[Ed no-more-lemons]

Hi
What a cracker.
Have you dated this bike from the hubs? I ask as Holdsworth serial numbering does not seem all that helpful and any date stamped on the centrepull brakes does not appear to stand out as it would on sidepull Weinmanns.
I'm also curious about any ideas you've had about the bottombracket or do you intend to stick with the original crankset?
I've gone with same TDC cups, new spindle on my Electron and it could go better, I am trying another spindle today, but think ithe whole gubbins will probably need replacing. Wierdly the shell is closer to 67mm than 68.

 

[biggs682]

bike is dated via the fact that the Sapphire model was only available in 1967 so makes it easier .

the hubs are large flanged Normandy items but need a bit more cleaning for any date info reading as the whole bike had a good 20yrs worth of dirt and dust on it

going to try and keep original crankset at moment , but until i try a rear mech and wheel in it i wont know for sure .