New Carlton build - Catalina or Constellation all chrome.

[Spokesmann]

getting better every post..!

''The hubs have come up a treat,''
may i ask how/what tool to get into the hubs..?

thanks

Albeit slowly!

 

[Spokesmann]

The build sees the light of day for the first time...

 

[Spokesmann]

Bar tape applied. Makes a big difference. Lots of small fiddly jobs still to do. I need also to get the old Carlton decal off in order to fit the new ones. Acrylichrome paint is very,very fragile and pulls off very easily.

The red cloth bar tape fits very much in with a the red themes on the machine.

 

[John the Canuck]

..........

The red cloth bar tape fits very much in with a the red themes on the machine.....................

-------------------------------------------------------
looking good -

......just a thought
winding down from the top, pull the hood forward, then when you reach the brake - take the tape down and behind thus covering the clamp more
then peel back the hood onto top of the tape - should then cover most of the clamp

just done mine - difficult with no stretch to the tape.............................john
.

 

[Spokesmann]

Fitted a new 3/32 chain today and sorted a few more bits of frame graphics. The bike will need a lot of fettling and adjustments, since things like brake blocks and mudguards are rubbing just now.

The frame as you can see has a few scratches! Acrylichrome paint is a nightmare as it comes away so easily once scratched.

 

[Spokesmann]

New chain and reflector fitted, just sorting out a gear lever boss now. Front wheel will ned a little truing at the LBS. You can see it carries a few chips and marks up close. A few revealing close ups!

I love these old Resilion large flange hubs...

I might use white for straps...

Ive used some graphics to cover up the chips and poor transitions from paint to chrome...

Undeniably attractive...

My other Constellation from c1958...

Carlton loved their chrome...

 

[Spokesmann]

I've still got things to do tho the machine like final fix of brakes and gears as well as a few other bits and bobs, but found dome time to add those nice finishing touches. The machine now has a rather lovely chrome ping bell, and some cable clips (I managed to get a red anodised Diacomp version). The front mudguard now sports a mudflap too. Finally got a new old stock Huret band on lever boss, so the hurt Alvit mech now works. The machine is not mint as you can see, but the look of use suits it well to my eye. I hope to have this one on the road in the next week or so of time permits...

Love these old blue C nuts...

New waterside decals, you can see the wear underneath, scraping the old worn decal took time and care...

The lever is a little later, but will do...

The old braze on boss is knackered. Most probably was a Campag unit.

The clips keep those new ribbed white cable tidy and out of the way...

 

[Spokesmann]

Finally 'hit' the road with a test run today, not 100% right yet, but nearly there...

 

[Spokesmann]

Not taken any images of this fella for a while as I have been busy on other projects...

I recently fitted period lamps to the bike complete with the old 800 twin cell battery which came with one of the lamps. It no longer works but is a rare find, as most of these have probably been thrown away of rotted.

Ive not ridden the bike at all since the build as I still have to get the front wheel trued up a little.

 

[biggs682]

lovelly

 

[Spokesmann]

Out for a morning blast...

A few niggles to sort, but nothing too serious. The old Alvit rear mech worked well, Weinmann 730 brakes are acceptable in performance. The bike will never be ridden in the wet, so thats a relief!

The overall position on this old fella is one of a very relaxed ride, the 22 rear block is a little tough on some of the hilly parts of Plymouth, but this old machine is never going to be a high mileage cycle.

The red colour scheme get a few glances thats for sure!

 

[raleighnut]

Very nice.

 

[wisdom]

Looking good keep going and youll soon have it finished.