Can anyone help me ID this bike?

[shadaboot27]

I found this bike on eBay, it looks like it has been badly painted in the past and the mudguards, saddle, pedals and grips are not original, but would I be right in thinking that this is a Rudge Path Finder?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231254702224?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

[shadaboot27]

It's the rear hub, chain wheel and frame that make me think it is.

 

[Ern1e]

It looks quite simular to the one my brother in law had,but whilst the Rudge badge surely looks original I am not sure about the looks of the rivets holding it on,I also freely admit to be no expert on these bicycles but at the £70 bid it may well be worth a chance on it.

 

[shadaboot27]

Yes, but it would need a lot of work and money to get it looking how it did originally, it would need repainting but I cant find the correct decals for it anywhere. I think £70 is too much to pay for the condition that it is in at the moment.

 

[Ern1e]

Yes, but it would need a lot of work and money to get it looking how it did originally, it would need repainting but I cant find the correct decals for it anywhere. I think £70 is too much to pay for the condition that it is in at the moment.

You may well be quite right I had not really looked at it with restoration in mind ! when the in law sold his which was in a better condition than the one on the bay the guy whohad been pestering him for years to own it paid him £200 which I thought was not quite enough for it seeing that he was only it's third owner from new in the same family it being firstbought by his uncle mid fiftys !!

 

[Cycleops]

I would go for it it's your size. Bikes like these an only increase in value. It would need a lot spending on it but only you know if it's worth it. Looks in reasonable condition. Can't imagine anyone would take the trouble to stick a badge on it, must be genuine. Should be easy enough to reproduce the decals from an image of the original from somewhere.

 

[shadaboot27]

I think any Rudge Path Finder in good condition would be worth at least £200, as it is the Rudge equivalent of a Raleigh Lenton. But this particular one is in very unoriginal condition, I would be happy to pay about £30 for it, then spend quite a lot more on restoring it. If I can find the correct decals for this bike I will try and make the seller an offer. I would very much like a pathfinder for my collection.

 

[shadaboot27]

Is there a way to tell what bike it is from the frame number? I could ask the seller to tell me what it is.

 

[shadaboot27]

Perhaps there is a way to remove the top layer of paint and the original paint underneath might not be too bad.

 

[Cycleops]

Don't know if you are aware but H Lloyd do a huge range of decals including some for the Rudge here: http://www.hlloydcycles.com/pdflistlatest.pdf
You might find this interesting too: http://oldroads.com/arch/RST2000_11_312_15_28_PM.html

 

[shadaboot27]

Yes I have looked on that site but I could not find any decals for a Rudge Path Finder. Thanks for the links though!