Alan Oakley - archive, drawing board and original Chopper sketch up for sale

[Specialeyes]

So, I was going to link this into the 'for sale elsewhere' thread (mods - feel free to do so if you prefer) but thought it's a bit special and warranted some more attention.

The widow of Alan Oakley, head of design at Raleigh, has put up an archive of blueprints, documents and some rather nice looking bikes up for auction in Nottingham. Read more about it and the auction here. (Lots 483 - 496 in the Fine Art auction)

Included in the auction is the disputed original concept sketch for the Chopper, drawn on a flight back from the USA in 1967, with an estimate of £200-£300 - which seems a bit light to me. You can read all about the Alan Oakley (Raleigh) / Tom Karen (Ogle Design) dispute over who designed the Chopper online.

If you're not into Choppers, once you've had a long, hard word with yourself, there's some very tasty bikes in the subsequent lots and Alan Oakley's drawing board.

 

[nonowt]

Interesting stuff, thanks for posting. I like these two a lot:

 

[Specialeyes]

I spotted those too - really glad they're too big for my little legs or I'd be so so tempted!

 

[midlife]

Any links to the two bikes above?

 

[Specialeyes]

https://www.mellorsandkirk.com/sales/sale-catalogues/fs281118/lot/492 for the SBDU

https://www.mellorsandkirk.com/sales/sale-catalogues/fs281118/lot/494 for the Carlton

or, via TheSaleroom:
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0140/lot-af7e9533-56d3-4abc-9c07-a99800ea1c70

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0140/lot-1201620d-1ab6-493b-8782-a99800ea1c70

The auctioneer's estimate on the SBDU (it has an Ilkeston label) is £100 - £200 and the Carlton is estimated at £60. Bearing in mind these belonged to the Head of Design for Raleigh I think they may be pleasantly surprised!

 

[midlife]

The SBDU is interesting in that it appears to have Campag SR black chainrings. They pitched up on the 1974 USA catalogue bike but campag actually never brought them out despite people like me waiting.......

Here's the USA bike from 1974

 

[biggs682]

Some very nice bike's there indeed might just have a bid or two

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

I'm really hoping when I wake up the morning that my drunken bidding is only a dream...

 

[Specialeyes]

...or that everyone else's is

 

[swee'pea99]

the Carlton is estimated at £60

Are they nuts? That's gorgeous.

 

[Poacher]

https://www.mellorsandkirk.com/sales/sale-catalogues/fs281118/lot/492 for the SBDU

https://www.mellorsandkirk.com/sales/sale-catalogues/fs281118/lot/494 for the Carlton

or, via TheSaleroom:
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0140/lot-af7e9533-56d3-4abc-9c07-a99800ea1c70

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0140/lot-1201620d-1ab6-493b-8782-a99800ea1c70

The auctioneer's estimate on the SBDU (it has an Ilkeston label) is £100 - £200 and the Carlton is estimated at £60. Bearing in mind these belonged to the Head of Design for Raleigh I think they may be pleasantly surprised!

Thanks for the heads-up! Those are certainly "come and buy me" estimates, but I might register just in case. Alan Oakley was born in Netherfield, within a mile of my house, so I feel a certain duty....but little expectation. The auction premises are next to the canal, unfortunately on the opposite side to the Big Track, but still easily reachable via a pleasant towpath ride, so I'll probably attend the auction for the buzz anyway.
If anyone makes a successful bid and wants to authorise me to collect and "store" their purchase, please PM me, ditto if you want free overnight accommodation and bike loan.

 

[oldfatfool]

30% commish on top and no doubt the seller pays a wack, im in the wrong business.

 

[rogerzilla]

Allegedly the Chopper frame is a hack of the RSW16. You can sort of see it. It's very much a UK Schwinn Stingray.

 

[Poacher]

Update on hammer prices realised (NB plus 24% commission; nearer 30% if bidding online).
I had a little chat with Nigel Kirk, the auctioneer, during the lunch break, and suggested that lots 483, 484, 492 and 494 would go for well over estimate but others might struggle, especially 496, the odd wheels and parts. He told me he'd put the gavel down at £10 if need be, as there was no reserve.
Did I miss something?

Lot 483 Chopper sketch (est £200-£300) £850 - wouldn't have been surprised to see this go for more.
Lot 484 Factory reports (est £200-£300) £850 - ditto.
Lot 485 Drawing board (est £100-£150) £220.
Lot 486 Trade brochures (est £40-£60) £200.
Lot 487 Raleigh sign (est £50-£70) £200 - would have gone for this if within or slightly over estimate; not a chance!
Lot 488 Rudge sign (est £40-£60) £130 - ditto.
Lot 489 Chopper posters (est £50-£70) £80.
Lot 490 Chopper posters (est £50-£70) £80.
Lot 491 RSW16 (est £100-£150) £250.
Lot 492 24" 753 SBDU (est £100-£200) £900 - knew I couldn't get near this. Told myself it's slightly too big for me!
Lot 493 23" rather nondescript fixie (est £40-£60) £250 - sure Alan Oakley wouldn't have ridden it with the front flint-catcher mounted wrong way round and on a knobbly tyre!
Lot 494 23 1/4" Carlton Professional, 531DB throughout (est £40-£60) £320 - really fancied this!
Lot 495 23" fixie looking like a barn find (est £40-£60) £120
Lot 496 various wheels and spare parts (est £40-£60) £300

Didn't even get to wave my paddle as the auction cracked on at a high rate of lots. Walked out after 496, commiserating with a bloke who'd been sitting in front of me and dropped out at £600 on the SBDU. I don't think he was too disappointed, as he already had a couple of them!

 

[EltonFrog]

Update on hammer prices realised (NB plus 24% commission; nearer 30% if bidding online).
I had a little chat with Nigel Kirk, the auctioneer, during the lunch break, and suggested that lots 483, 484, 492 and 494 would go for well over estimate but others might struggle, especially 496, the odd wheels and parts. He told me he'd put the gavel down at £10 if need be, as there was no reserve.
Did I miss something?

Lot 483 Chopper sketch (est £200-£300) £850 - wouldn't have been surprised to see this go for more.
Lot 484 Factory reports (est £200-£300) £850 - ditto.
Lot 485 Drawing board (est £100-£150) £220.
Lot 486 Trade brochures (est £40-£60) £200.
Lot 487 Raleigh sign (est £50-£70) £200 - would have gone for this if within or slightly over estimate; not a chance!
Lot 488 Rudge sign (est £40-£60) £130 - ditto.
Lot 489 Chopper posters (est £50-£70) £80.
Lot 490 Chopper posters (est £50-£70) £80.
Lot 491 RSW16 (est £100-£150) £250.
Lot 492 24" 753 SBDU (est £100-£200) £900 - knew I couldn't get near this. Told myself it's slightly too big for me!
Lot 493 23" rather nondescript fixie (est £40-£60) £250 - sure Alan Oakley wouldn't have ridden it with the front flint-catcher mounted wrong way round and on a knobbly tyre!
Lot 494 23 1/4" Carlton Professional, 531DB throughout (est £40-£60) £320 - really fancied this!
Lot 495 23" fixie looking like a barn find (est £40-£60) £120
Lot 496 various wheels and spare parts (est £40-£60) £300

Didn't even get to wave my paddle as the auction cracked on at a high rate of lots. Walked out after 496, commiserating with a bloke who'd been sitting in front of me and dropped out at £600 on the SBDU. I don't think he was too disappointed, as he already had a couple of them!

Cripes! I'd forgotten that I'd put bids on a couple of them!