Finding homes for vintage cycle parts, etc

[Tom Gardener]

Hello CycleChat folks,

My father died earlier this year: he used to own a cycle shop (and his father before him) and we have inherited a quantity of vintage cycles, parts, periodicals, catalogues, etc. Not being vintage cycle enthusiasts, we are looking for good homes for some of these things. Not being vintage cycle experts, we would welcome any advice or suggestions. So far we are considering the National Cycle Museum in Wales, as well as specialist dealers or auctions. Who are the trustworthy dealers with a real love for these things?

Any suggestions welcome!

 

[biggs682]

@Tom Gardener Sorry to hear about your loss .

and what a challenge where are you based in the uk ?

would your local museum not be interested ?

do you need to raise max amount or would you rather it was just put to use ?

why not hold your own bike jumble ?

 

[alecstilleyedye]

try retrobike or classic lightweights, or indeed list them on this forum; new old stock is pretty sought after by enthusiasts looking to restore old classics…

 

[biggs682]

try retrobike or classic lightweights, or indeed list them on this forum; new old stock is pretty sought after by enthusiasts looking to restore old classics…

i would 2nd a list on here

 

[Tony Raynor]

Tom,
Condolences for you and your family.

I think giving the bicycles to the museum is a great idea. Listing the parts on here would be nice to see if anyone would want to buy. The thing that interests me and probably a whole load of people is the catalogues and periodicals. Is there anyway we could organise getting them scanned before maybe passing them to the museum. I'm sure there is a wealth of knowledge that would be useful and would definitely fill in some gaps on the info already on the net.
I know it would be a logistical nightmare but the thought of all that knowledge hidden away seems a little sad.

 

[booze and cake]

If you know what the bikes are I guess to can just get guestimates of values by looking on the internet and ebay, or some of the older vintage specialists already mentioned. Maybe a museum if they are really old, but unless they were very old or special I'm not sure a museum would want them.

If you have no idea about what you really have, just take some close up pictures of the kit and post on pretty much any bike forum you could get a idea of what you've got. Some bike folk start frothing at the mouth at these sorts of things and it could spark a feeding frenzy, I already have shed envy, this is the type of story cyclists dreams are made of. Depending on what you have of course, it may be worth a fair bit of money, to the non bike intitiated you'd be amazed how 'Lord of Flies' it may get!.

Sorry about your dad, but I think its nice you want the fruits of one of his passions to be shared by like minded folk, and I commend you for that. I'd rather they were being ridden and used that in a museum, but thats just me. You could maybe approach your local bike club and see if they'd be interested in the stuff, be a nice memory knowing your dad was still making local cyclists smile and keeping them on the road long after he'd gone, that seems pretty fitting.

 

[Tony Smith]

booze&cake + 1.

 

[uphillstruggler]

Hello CycleChat folks,

My father died earlier this year: he used to own a cycle shop (and his father before him) and we have inherited a quantity of vintage cycles, parts, periodicals, catalogues, etc. Not being vintage cycle enthusiasts, we are looking for good homes for some of these things. Not being vintage cycle experts, we would welcome any advice or suggestions. So far we are considering the National Cycle Museum in Wales, as well as specialist dealers or auctions. Who are the trustworthy dealers with a real love for these things?

Any suggestions welcome!

Hello Tom

firstly, condolences to you and your family for your loss.

just a thought about your collection but there is most likely a local CTC branch that may have the sort of expertise that you require. check out their website and look for a branch close by.

if you have the time, images of the bikes and parts would most likely go down quite well round these parts. you may even get some offers from some of the CCers above.

best of luck, UPS

best of luck with your quest.

 

[Tom Gardener]

Thanks very much to everyone who's replied so far: all helpful thoughts. My brother and I are at our father's house this week sorting through all his belongings and we should have a more accurate picture of what we've actually got in the next day or two.

A specific response to Tony Raynor's point about scanning cataloges, etc: is there a central location on the web where people go for cycle documents - an obvious place to post this stuff? The National Cycle Museum's site maybe?

 

[stevevw]

Tom
Sorry about your loss.

I would contact the National Collection to see if they could do the scanning for you. The information on their web pages is massive but always has gaps to be filled. Would be a fantastic legacy of knowledge to leave for future generations.

As for any bikes and spares, please be careful prices are on the up (well all the parts I have been buying have) so get help with valuation before the dealers offer you next to nothing. The CTC is a good call or a local long established CC would be another option.

I hope you keep something, having a Farther and Grand Farther in the bike trade must have had some effect on you. If you are anything like me you will get an interest in classic and then veteran bicycles.

Good luck whatever you decide what to do.

 

[Tom Gardener]

I would contact the National Collection to see if they could do the scanning for you. The information on their web pages is massive but always has gaps to be filled. Would be a fantastic legacy of knowledge to leave for future generations.

As for any bikes and spares, please be careful prices are on the up (well all the parts I have been buying have) so get help with valuation before the dealers offer you next to nothing. The CTC is a good call or a local long established CC would be another option.

Thanks for the warning! Having had a bit of a sort through the garage I think we've got more magazines and other papers than cycle parts.

What do you mean by National Collection: the Nat Cycle Museum?

 

[Owd Fella]

Hi Tom, to echo the above I'm sorry to hear about your Father. I may be able to assist you as I am a member of the Bygone Bykes (Yorkshire) Club who, despite the Yorkshire tag, have members throughout the UK (and abroad!). We specialise in anything old and pedal powered (including Hobbyhorses) and have an extensive library. Depending on where you are I'm sure that a visit could be arranged to view what you have and offer some advice.

You could also try selling parts and spares at Cycle Jumbles where, even if the return may not excessive, they will at least go to appreciative homes.

Please send me a PM if you are interested.

 

[Owd Fella]

Hi Tom, to echo the above I'm sorry to hear about your Father. I may be able to assist you as I am a member of the Bygone Bykes (Yorkshire) Club who, despite the Yorkshire tag, have members throughout the UK (and abroad!). We specialise in anything old and pedal powered (including Hobbyhorses) and have an extensive library. Depending on where you are I'm sure that a visit could be arranged to view what you have and offer some advice.

You could also try selling parts and spares at Cycle Jumbles where, even if the return may not excessive, they will at least go to appreciative homes.

Please send me a PM if you are interested.

Just realised there doesn't seem to be a PM facility on this forum - or am I missing something?

 

[Shaun]

Just realised there doesn't seem to be a PM facility on this forum - or am I missing something?

PMs kick in after your first five posts. (It's in the Intro PM in your Inbox [top right] ).

Cheers,
Shaun

 

[Owd Fella]

PMs kick in after your first five posts. (It's in the Intro PM in your Inbox [top right] ).

Cheers,
Shaun

Thanks for that. Just a different way of approaching PM's to other forums I frequent.