1947 Raleigh ex RAF?

[Phil may]

I picked up this old gal today. I was going to strip her but I decided to look a little closer. She dates from 1947 and is probably a superb.
What's puzzling me is the paint. There are 3 shades of blue, not a hint of green. I've even looked inside the head tube.
A theory has been suggested that it is ex RAF and would have been supplied painted RAF blue.
Is this bunkum?
I'm tempted to keep it but if anyone wants it message me please.

 

[Drago]

I'm guessing bunkum. That close to WWII there's a gazillion gallons of olive drab paint sat in warehouses all over the UK. The Army were still painting vehicles with WWII manufactured paint into the eighties. If it were supplied to the RAF my guess is it would have been black like most other bikes of the time, and either left black or painted with olive drab paint. But that's a guess.

Check the paint on the rear muggaurd immediately above the white section. If it were vintage RAF the squadron details would be painted there and might still be traces of it.

 

[raleighnut]

Nice.

 

[Phil may]

I found this after a quick google

 

[Cycleops]

I found this after a quick google View attachment 413486

That looks like repaint. Hopefully like for like. I can imagine that the RAF would have used blue.

 

[Drago]

They would have done, just (I think) not so close to the war.

 

[midlife]

Just out of curiosity how did you get the year? P ran from 1947 to about 1955.

 

[Phil may]

Just out of curiosity how did you get the year? P ran from 1947 to about 1955.

I could be wrong but I found data on a website showing frame numbers and the suffix. The an suggested for the end of 47 was after the an on this bike.

 

[Phil may]

Just out of curiosity how did you get the year? P ran from 1947 to about 1955.

I could be wrong but I found data on a website showing frame numbers and the suffix. The an suggested for the end of 47 was after the an on this bike.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

If original, a SA hub gear is often useful for determining the age of an old bike.
RAF vehicle paint is a distinctive shade, not just any old blue. It even has it's own BS code number; BS633 RAF Blue/Grey.

 

[Phil may]

The hub is from a later bike 78 I think. Thanks for the paint code. U should be able to find a search to check it with

 

[DCBassman]

Yes, it's actually more grey than blue.

 

[Cycleops]

Didn't realise we had so many interior decorators on here .

 

[Drago]

Phil, can you confirm if the rear end of the front mudguard looks as if it's been painted white at any time?

 

[DCBassman]

Didn't realise we had so many interior decorators on here .

12 years dressed in the same colour...