Help Dating Recent Ebay Catch

[pjforthewin]

Hi All,
When I saw this the other day (and saw it was pretty local) I had to have it,.,
I know it's a rayliegh and realise it has some age to it but would love to know more about its age.
He seemed to think it was 1930/32 due to the shape of drop out and the tubular seat stays but I'm not too sure it's quite that old.
Any how's, what you think?

 

[Daddybus]

Very cool ...is it one of these....

 

[pjforthewin]

Looks Very similar, Except the mudguard loops on the rear dropouts are at the back and the seat tubes go into the frame at the seat clamp,
https://www.flickr.com/photos/niniferrose/3084685885

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Can't help you date it, but it's a cracking bike, I'd love to have one like it.

 

[OskarTennisChampion]

Whatever it turns out to be,it's a beautiful bike and a great find

 

[raleighnut]

Nice , not a Scooby about its age though.

 

[Daddybus]

Any serial numbers on the frame? If its pre war it should have a prefix letter denoting year ...not sure but possibly at the top of the seat tube

 

[pjforthewin]

There's a serial number on the rear drop out, will tell you what it is shorty,
I made the mistake of showing my boss... she's determined to buy it even tho I was banking on keeping and using it myself...

 

[shadaboot27]

I saw this on ebay. It's definitely a 1930's Raleigh Sports model. But he has ruined it by removing the original paint and clear coating it. It would of originally been black, with a golden head tube and black tyres. Hes customized it a lot and it's originality is all gone. Still cool though. Any chance you'd sell the tyres?

 

[shadaboot27]

This is what it should look like

 

[shadaboot27]

Here's one I had a while ago.

 

[shadaboot27]

But the guy is right, it's almost definitely 1930 -32. I've had a dozen of them.

 

[pjforthewin]

In fairness to him when he got the bike it had been sprayed gold all over and was in pretty bad nick,
There's a serial number on the drop outs: AT N 372981
And on the top of the seat tube: S11497
Unfortunately iv just noticed a small split in the rear tire

 

[User42423]

Hi All,
When I saw this the other day (and saw it was pretty local) I had to have it,.,
I know it's a rayliegh and realise it has some age to it but would love to know more about its age.
He seemed to think it was 1930/32 due to the shape of drop out and the tubular seat stays but I'm not too sure it's quite that old.
Any how's, what you think?

I think the date of 1930/32 is good. The distinctive feature on this machine is the fixing point for the front mudguard stay. It's just above the axle nut. I think Raleigh only used this method for a couple of years.

 

[User42423]

After closely looking at your images, I enclose a copied page from 1930 Raleigh catalogue. The bike is a Popular Sport.