Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
The discovery of an early Dawes Red Feather came by just sheer chance whilst out on a ride with a friend.
The sight of a discarded table lamp drew my attention as we approached an area which is regularly used for dumping rubbish. I jokingly said to my friend that it might be valuable and went over to have a look at it.
As I got close to the lamp I happened to notice a cycle buried in some brambles, it was quite well hidden but I could make out that it was an old steel framed bike complete with leather saddle, wheels ,cranks and bars. It looked interesting so I clambered over some brambles and fished it out .
It took a while for me to recognise it as the front end had been in a fire. It had a fancy enamelled head badge. I could see an Olympic torch and then it twigged! It was a Dawes!
As we were both on bikes there wasn't much that we could do about it so I put it back and would pop back on our return trip to see if it was still there. It was still there when we returned. I had been wondering if someone might have found it whilst we were away. We cycled home and I returned with my car and toolbox. I unbolted the wheels and loaded the bike into my car. I had been told to place a plastic sheet down by SWMBO so the car wasn't contaminated by the smell of burnt debris.
Once I got the frame home I gave the bike a good wash to try to find a frame number. Once found I the number I searched to see if it was stolen . Nothing !
The cleaning had revealed the Dawes script on the down tube as well as the name Red Feather on the crossbar, the feather transfer was still visible on the seat tube.
The sight of a discarded table lamp drew my attention as we approached an area which is regularly used for dumping rubbish. I jokingly said to my friend that it might be valuable and went over to have a look at it.
As I got close to the lamp I happened to notice a cycle buried in some brambles, it was quite well hidden but I could make out that it was an old steel framed bike complete with leather saddle, wheels ,cranks and bars. It looked interesting so I clambered over some brambles and fished it out .
It took a while for me to recognise it as the front end had been in a fire. It had a fancy enamelled head badge. I could see an Olympic torch and then it twigged! It was a Dawes!
As we were both on bikes there wasn't much that we could do about it so I put it back and would pop back on our return trip to see if it was still there. It was still there when we returned. I had been wondering if someone might have found it whilst we were away. We cycled home and I returned with my car and toolbox. I unbolted the wheels and loaded the bike into my car. I had been told to place a plastic sheet down by SWMBO so the car wasn't contaminated by the smell of burnt debris.
Once I got the frame home I gave the bike a good wash to try to find a frame number. Once found I the number I searched to see if it was stolen . Nothing !
The cleaning had revealed the Dawes script on the down tube as well as the name Red Feather on the crossbar, the feather transfer was still visible on the seat tube.
