Sid Mottram - help!

[franket]

Hello!

I am in possession of my late grandfathers Sid Mottram bike, I don't know the first thing about bikes unfortunately and a general Google search isn't providing me much information about the possible date (I can guess 50s or 60s due to my grandfather living in Leicester at the time) of it, it's condition or how much it may be worth to collectors (if anything).

If any enthusiasts are interested in taking a look at the photos and getting involved id be interested to know more! It was dearly loved by my grandfather and then my late father too which is how it's ended up on my possession.

 

[Drago]

Greetings. It's a lovely old thing.

The brake calipers lack the red washers under the pivot bolts, indicating a bike from '65 onwards...or at least brakes from '65 on. We have no way of telling if they are original components.

Hard to see but it looks like the foil decal on the upper arm of the calipers is red, which in turn makes it earlier than the lates 70's.

So, assuming that's original equipment, it falls in the 1966-1978ish date range.

"red dot" Weinmann levers, and licenced Dia-Weinmann copies, were 60s and 70, although the adjusters kind of hint to me late 60's. So, best guess is from the second half of the 1960s, but that really is finger-in-the wind.

You might find a date code on the back of the cranks or brake calipers that would give further clues about the age.

 

[V-CC]

Welcome to CycleChat. Let us help you make a start. Have you seen this Classic Lightweights article on Sid Mottram cycles?

https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_builders/mottram-sid/

As you can see in the article, Mottram frames were made by Mercian from 1955 and your bike is likely to have been made after that year. Mercian frame numbers include the year of manufacture, but its position has varied over time. For at least part of the 1950’s, the first two digits indicated the year, but this pattern was not followed consistently so it could be the last two digits. From 1970 through to 1999, the year is the last two digits of the frame number. Although Mercian continue to this day their frame build records prior to 1970 were destroyed.

If you can locate the frame number that would help. It's a nice bike and fairly rare.

 

[biggs682]

Welcome @franket sorry for your losses.
What a glorious bike and family history it would be a shame to loose it.
As others have said thinks like the frame number will or might help ?
Where are you based ?