Pashley mail star

[jester1971]

Hi I have purchased what I believe to be a pashley mail star from a retired post man
And all details for drum brakes , the stand the lights the basket etc
He retrieved it from skip before they started cutting the frame etc
He hand painted it black some thing I will try and render
I’m trying to age it but unlike most it has twin bars in the middle , can any one help me age this ??

 

[Cycleops]

Doesn’t seem to be much on the net regarding dating these bikes. Might be worthwhile contacting Pashley direct but from other comments on here they don’t seem to be very helpful. Any numbers on the frame?

To the forum.

 

[Chris S]

It wasn't unusual for bikes with large frames to have a double top-tube, they're still used on some bikes produced in the Indian sub-continent.
A quick Google search suggests that around 5,000 Mailstars were built, production seems to have ran from about 2001-2010.
https://www.bikeradar.com/news/the-elephant-bike-is-250-of-ex-royal-mail-pashley-and-we-love-it/

 

[classic33]

Doubt it's a Mailstar. More likely it's the predecessor, the Pashley RM92/Millennium.

 

[IaninSheffield]

Are you able to take a clearer photo? It's difficult to make out much detail in this image.
You might want to have a wander around the Online Trade Bike Museum
https://tradesmansbike.wordpress.com/ and see if there are any matches.

 

[jester1971]

Doesn’t seem to be much on the net regarding dating these bikes. Might be worthwhile contacting Pashley direct but from other comments on here they don’t seem to be very helpful. Any numbers on the frame?

To the forum.

I will have a look got all signs ie post office red under black paint , post office lights , post office rear wheel lock built in quite rare item , post office bracket / frame , post office drums and the man I know was post man I brought it from as I’ve seen others he sold also proper stand below but trying to age as the double bar at top any one help out there ??

 

[DRM]

It’s even got a box on the front for Jess the black and white cat to ride in!

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&u...ved=0CAkQjRxqFwoTCPiM89ubnvcCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE

 

[tyred]

A clearer photo would be good but I think that is a twin top tube version of mine. I think my dates from the early '80s. They are deceptively good to ride.

Does it have Sachs or Sturmey-Archer hubs? Mine are Sachs which I was told dated it to the early to mid' 80s when there were supply issues with SA but I haven't been able to verify that. Mine needed full renovation. It had been dumped on a building site.

 

[tyred]

The story of mine is here if the OP or anyone else is interested - https://theoldbikeshome.wordpress.com/2016/02/20/return-to-sender-pashley-post-office-bike/

And after the re-furb https://theoldbikeshome.wordpress.com/2016/06/18/pashley-back-from-the-dead/

 

[classic33]

I will have a look got all signs ie post office red under black paint , post office lights , post office rear wheel lock built in quite rare item , post office bracket / frame , post office drums and the man I know was post man I brought it from as I’ve seen others he sold also proper stand below but trying to age as the double bar at top any one help out there ??

Does it have PO/P.O. on the seat tube clamp?
If not, it's doubtful it was a Post Office bike.

 

[Chris S]

I will have a look got all signs ie post office red under black paint , post office lights , post office rear wheel lock built in quite rare item , post office bracket / frame , post office drums and the man I know was post man I brought it from as I’ve seen others he sold also proper stand below but trying to age as the double bar at top any one help out there ??

A 2022 Sohrab with a double top tube. They've been used for at least a 100 years and still are.
http://sohrab-cycles.com/roadsterdoublebar24_details.php

 

[Cycleops]

Forgot about that @tyred . If it’s a SA it’ll have a date.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

The old postie bikes I can remember had a distinctive kink in the top tube, and didn't resemble the OP's photo. It's possible of course that it could be a former postie bike that started life in another country, where double crossbar frames are more popular.
That frame conffiguration has always been extremely rare in the UK, even in the heyday of 3-speed utilty bikes.

 

[classic33]

A clearer photo would be good but I think that is a twin top tube version of mine. I think my dates from the early '80s. They are deceptively good to ride.

Does it have Sachs or Sturmey-Archer hubs? Mine are Sachs which I was told dated it to the early to mid' 80s when there were supply issues with SA but I haven't been able to verify that. Mine needed full renovation. It had been dumped on a building site.

Was yours an An Post bike?
They had a few different suppliers, the Post Office had only Pashley for the last 50 years.

 

[tyred]

Was yours an An Post bike?
They had a few different suppliers, the Post Office had only Pashley for the last 50 years.

No Royal Mail. It originated in Limavady.