1966 Dawes Debonair

[biggs682]

Just back from picking this very original Dawes Debonair up.

Previous owner told me a bit about it is owned from new by his best friend who lent it to him a long time ago unfortunately his best friend was killed in an accident and he became the owner.

He told me how he had ridden many a happy mile on it over the years but couldn't recollect the last time it was used .

Looks all original with some nice bits on it ie 32/40 hole wheel set , ideale type 43 record leather saddle , cocordinating blumell guards , milremo stem and a nice set of Dawes engraved bars .

Zs6974 stamped on the r/h rear dropout .

After a quick wet wipe down .

Might need some tyre's

 

[nonowt]

Nice - full of character. Interesting that it has an Ideale saddle rather than a Brooks or one of the other Midlands saddle makes.

 

[classic33]

What's on the badge at the top of the seat tube?

 

[biggs682]

What's on the badge at the top of the seat tube?

Selling shop in Bedford sticker

1962 Model link http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/ncl/pics/Dawes Debonair - May 62 (V-CC Library).pdf

 

[classic33]

Seen a few old bikes where it was the owners name & rough address, on a small copper/brass plate.

Simple and effective security marking.

 

[midlife]

Looking good, £28 quid in 1966 so I wonder what the equivalent would be today .?

 

[classic33]

Looking good, £28 quid in 1966 so I wonder what the equivalent would be today .?

£506·62

 

[biggs682]

Looking good, £28 quid in 1966 so I wonder what the equivalent would be today .?

I think somebody has had there moneys worth out of this one

 

[biggs682]

Just had a message from the gent i picked this up from and he last used it seriously in 1975 so it's been dormant since

 

[Cycleops]

That's a pretty long down time. What are you going to do with it Martin?

 

[biggs682]

That's a pretty long down time. What are you going to do with it Martin?

Thanks @Cycleops At the moment not a lot as too many others require attention , but thoughts are swap wheels & tyres from another 27" wheeled bike strip and clean out bottom bracket and headset bearings and then rebuild with new cables so it's ready for some winter bike action but as always plans can be fluid as its worth more in parts than total bike but against that in general

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Previous owner told me a bit about it is owned from new by his best friend who lent it to him a long time ago unfortunately his best friend was killed in an accident and he became the owner.

Sad that the original owner didn't live to enjoy it. Looks like a nice period machine to me, typically understated and not too flashy. Would be a shame to take it apart and use it as parts, seeing as it has a known history and hasn't been messed around with. There are plenty of horribly mongrelised secondhand bikes out there to cannibalise for parts. I tend to take the view that if you are lucky enough to own something that is 30/40/50+ years old and is still largely how it should be after all that time, it should be looked after and only sympathetic modifications made.

 

[biggs682]

@SkipdiverJohn it certainly was , and when i picked it up it was all getting a bit emotional for the old boy .

Must admit my trail of thought at the moment is to give it a wipe down swap the wheels over for another pr and give it a ride and then do other the other work as i go along and i totally agree re breaking old bikes up for bits

 

[biggs682]

Started pulling this one apart tonight

Tyre's are definitely shot

Frame number on non drive side drop out.

Struggling at mo with the drive side cup but it will be out when I get my big nut and bolt out .

 

[Illaveago]

There's plenty of life left in that tyre !