Bitsa from next door

[Dec66]

Just had a chat to the son of the guy next door to us, who sadly passed away a few years ago.

This was lurking in the shed.



Frame is Viking; I'm guessing 1960's vintage going by the badge at the front



I'm also guessing it's Reynolds 531 tubing. It's fair to say that it's not wearing its original paint.

It has some very heavy duty pannier racks by Pletscher of Switzerland.



Brakes are by Weinmann, probably original(?)



The crankset/chainset is Shimano Tourney, 5 speed (well, 10 speed really as it's got a compact 50/34 up front, but the front derailleur is missing). It has a single bar-end shifter, not sure who by. I'm not sure on the rims/hubs either, but they have QR skewers of 70s vintage.

It wears a lovely, patinated Brooks B17, and an absolutely knackered Carradice saddlebag.

It came with another interesting accessory: this lamp, which is powered by paraffin.



Any info as to what I have here would be appreciated. It's a nice old thing and I've half a mind to clean it up and use it, but it's too small for me really and it might be better broken up for bits, as it's a bitsa in any case.

 

[midlife]

Pictures are a bit blurry to see lugs and the like but Vikings of that era were nice. Is that a Carbide lamp?

 

[Dec66]

Pictures are a bit blurry to see lugs and the like but Vikings of that era were nice. Is that a Carbide lamp?

Here's a couple more pics: seems the QR skewers (and presumably the hubs) are Campagnolo;



Chainset/cranks





As for the lamp; no idea. It has this badge on the top:


Edit: looks like it's by Lucas.

 

[classic33]

Head tube badge is 1953, earliest so far known, onwards.
Severn Valley?

 

[midlife]

Lamp is Joseph Lucas yep, looks like it's had a few changes over the years, as most bike do lol

 

[Dec66]

Head tube badge is 1953, earliest so far known, onwards.
Severn Valley?

Sorry... Don't get what you mean by Severn Valley (well, I know where that is but don't know how that relates to the bike )

 

[classic33]

Sorry... Don't get what you mean by Severn Valley (well, I know where that is but don't know how that relates to the bike )

Name of the bike model.
Viking Severn Valley

How the head tube badge should look,

http://classicvikingcycles.com/viking-models/

 

[Dec66]

Name of the bike model.
Viking Severn Valley

How the head tube badge should look,
View attachment 546752


http://classicvikingcycles.com/viking-models/

Ah, I get you... I'm not sure; the shifter's on the bar end and I don't see any holes in the tube for shifters there, which the Severn Valley seems to have.

 

[midlife]

The mileater was more of a touring bike

 

[Dec66]

View attachment 546753 The mileater was more of a touring bike

Looks kind of like that... But... The lugs for the pump are on the top tube.

 

[midlife]

There was a "hosteller" too, just trying to think of their touring models more suited to front and rear racks

 

[classic33]

This one(Mileater) had the pump lugs on the top tube.
https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/viking-mileater-1962-23inch-restored.264196/

 

[classic33]

There was a "hosteller" too, just trying to think of their touring models more suited to front and rear racks

Continental Tourist?

 

[biggs682]

@Dec66 who cares what model it is , it looks like it's had a life and deserves another one

 

[Dec66]

@Dec66 who cares what model it is , it looks like it's had a life and deserves another one

You're right, of course... I'm just trying to get some provenance.

Would it originally have had Campag hubs, do you know?