Box arriving next week !

[ozboz]

And inside ......
One very welcome
Hill Special frame

Circa 1950
Model. Masses Start
Built in Padium, Lancs

Originally it was cream with red lug work, no idea of drive train yet , but Hill bikes have a dedicated web site so good info available ,

 

[Sharky]

Nice.
My first real bike was a Hill Special. Got it for my 10th birthday! Rode it for several years until it got nicked when I innocently left it outside a shop.

Can't remember much about it except is was green and I got red mudguards for it and it was a fixed gear bike. Can you believe that that was what my dad chose for me as my first "adult" bike.

Like to see it when it's all done up.
Cheers

 

[biggs682]

I have looked at several Hill's but never owned one yet , they can be very elusive indeed , pictures please once it arrives @ozboz

 

[ozboz]

I have looked at several Hill's but never owned one yet , they can be very elusive indeed , pictures please once it arrives @ozboz

Yep no problem ,

 

[Nibor]

It is Padiham by the way

 

[ozboz]

It is Padiham by the way

Oops !!
Anyway , I was having a natter with @Nick Saddlesore on Sunday about this frame , I was not to sure what if any gearing it may have had , at best I thought maybe a SA 3 speed , so I have found the 50's catalogue on the net and it shows this ,
Any ideas what the derailleur maybe , it isn't specc ed as far as I could see

 

[nonowt]

My guess would be something like Simplex "Tour de France" or Benelux.

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/simplex.html

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/cyclobenelux.html

my '53 Ellis Briggs was fitted with Simplex (and will be again once it's back from EB with a new paint job). From what I've learned from other forum users; most lightweights would be bought as framesets rather than complete bikes to due to the high purchase tax on the latter. They'd also most likely be fitted out with a mix of new and second hand kit.

 

[ozboz]

My guess would be something like Simplex "Tour de France" or Benelux.

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/simplex.html

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/cyclobenelux.html

my '53 Ellis Briggs was fitted with Simplex (and will be again once it's back from EB with a new paint job). From what I've learned from other forum users; most lightweights would be bought as framesets rather than complete bikes to due to the high purchase tax on the latter. They'd also most likely be fitted out with a mix of new and second hand kit.

You are on the button there @nonowt , simplex I'd say,
Apparently the Massed Start came with all mechs fitted, here is catalogue for 1950 models

http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/ncl/pics/Hill Bros catalogue 1950 (V-CC Library).pdf

Edit , you could well be right and was bought as a frame

 

[Drago]

Another willfully rude thread title?