*help* Rival frame built in Norwich

[lukAs98]

I recently acquired this old rival frame. It's really different and I'd like to restore it to original however I can find literally no info about it.

Can anyone tell me any information about the company?

Does anyone know what colour it was supposed to be?

Does anyone have photos of a rival which isn't rod like mine?(only found 2 photos and they were both rod braked rivals)

Where these bikes high end?

Literally any info you can give me would be highly appreciated, thanks

 

[biggs682]

new one on me

 

[lukAs98]

It was to me too. I literally can't find any info about it, it's a bit of a pain. It's nice to have a rare bike but when you can't find anything on it it can be annoying haha @biggs682

 

[biggs682]

@lukAs98 whats your plans for it ?

 

[Tony Raynor]

Only info I've found us here. They say they used Philips components

http://oldroads.com/arch/ENG2007_9_237_25_44_AM.html

 

[lukAs98]

I want to build it up as original as possible as an eroica bike. However, I don't know now as at the moment it seems impossible as I have no idea what it would be like originally haha @biggs682

 

[stevevw]

I want to build it up as original as possible as an eroica bike@biggs682

Your cutting it a bit fine even by my standards of doing a resto in less than 3 weeks. Good luck and hope to see you at L'Eroica.

 

[uphillstruggler]

No info on the frame but best of luck

 

[lukAs98]

No, I believe that would be called an impossible challenge haha. I've got another bike I'm using at this years l'eroica. But yes, hopefully will see you then:-) @stevevw

 

[classic33]

From http://oldroads.com/arch/ENG2007_9_237_25_44_AM.html
Hi Mark (we now need Luke & John),
I have a Rival, built in an old shoe factory, the Johnson & Theobald building ,in Heigham street (H'am Street), Norwich by a firm of motor factors . They were basically Phillips components put together in Norwich. They were built from post WW1 to the 1950's and there are a few about in collectors hands. Mine is a 1939 ladies, rod brakes, mixte frame and pleasant round profile mudguards, bought for a fiver at a local sale.

I have post war sales brochure. They are lovely to own, mine started the whole collection off.

The name? a RIVAL to the Raleigh company in the rival city of Nottingham!

 

[Evie the dog]

Sorry to reopen this elderly thread, but I have just bought a loop frame Rival ladies cycle. The frame number is 18378. Is it possible to date the manufacture.

It is in pieces and slowly being returned to running condition. If interested, I will post pictures once it is a bit more complete.

 

[Cycleops]

I don't think you'll have much hands luck with frame numbering but may be able to date it by the components on there. If its got a SA hub that will carry a date.

By the way welcome to the forum.

 

[classic33]

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Johnson,_Burton_and_Theobald

Seems they also tried their hands in motorbikes.

 

[Evie the dog]

Thank you very much for the responses and the interesting photograph.

Unfortunately the cycle is single speed.

Would any of the earlier contributors care to share frame numbers.

 

[classic33]

It seems they were stopped by the outbreak of WWII, in 1939. after just three years(37, 38 & 39) where they produced the bikes.