"Shed find" Raleigh Royale

[Rhythm Thief]

Just had this wonderful machine donated to Enviroability in Ross on Wye. This one might be going home with me for a proper restoration. I love the Benelux derailleurs and brakes! My guess is maybe 1950s? The chap who donated it said he bought it secondhand when he was a teenager and I'd guess he was mid 70s now. I've just put some air in the tyres and ridden it around the car park, and it's lovely.

 

[Paulus]

Just had this wonderful machine donated to Enviroability in Ross on Wye. This one might be going home with me for a proper restoration. I love the Benelux derailleurs and brakes! My guess is maybe 1950s? The chap who donated it said he bought it secondhand when he was a teenager and I'd guess he was mid 70s now. I've just put some air in the tyres and ridden it around the car park, and it's lovely.

Have you found the frame number yet?
It could well be late 50's or early 60's .
There are some people on here far more knowledgeable than me though.
Calling @raleighnut

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Frame number looks like 12456ED, but it's hard to read.

 

[biggs682]

@Rhythm Thief that deserves to be saved and ridden BUT not refinished .

 

[Rhythm Thief]

@Rhythm Thief that deserves to be saved and ridden BUT not refinished .

Agreed. Funnily enough, I've come into work on my 1977 Mercian today, which is also still in its original and rather tatty paint. They make a lovely couple!

 

[Dan Lotus]

Is there anyway (if you have the chaps details) that you can contact him to see it, or send pictures of it once it is resurrected?
I expect it might make his day to see it back up and running is all.

 

[Paulus]

Just had this wonderful machine donated to Enviroability in Ross on Wye. This one might be going home with me for a proper restoration. I love the Benelux derailleurs and brakes! My guess is maybe 1950s? The chap who donated it said he bought it secondhand when he was a teenager and I'd guess he was mid 70s now. I've just put some air in the tyres and ridden it around the car park, and it's lovely.

I'm looking forward to seeing photos of this lovely machine cleaned up and looking as good as it can be.

 

[raleighnut]

Have you found the frame number yet?
It could well be late 50's or early 60's .
There are some people on here far more knowledgeable than me though.
Calling @raleighnut

Before my time but a lovely bike

 

[Dogtrousers]

I feel a smidge of empathy with the seller. As a teenager I too bought a second hand bike with a Benelux front mech. It's the only thing I still have from that bike, as it's such a nice object.

Some pictures of Benelux gears here might help you date it: https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_components/benelux-gears/
https://www.classiclightweights.co....enelux-early-derailleur-mechanisms-1949-1953/

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Sold! I'm a sucker for a good story, so when a chap came in looking for an old road bike in order to do a tribute ride to the house of an elderly cyclist who had died earlier this year at 95, I resisted showing him this at first. Unfortunately, the other old road bikes we had were either too big or too new, so I finally and begrudgingly showed him this one. He was so immediately taken with it that I let him have it for thirty quid, which I know is probably too cheap but as I say, I liked the story and the idea it would be carefully refurbished and taken on a long ride. I've asked him to bring it back to show me it when it's done. I'd have liked it for myself, but to be honest, I have more than enough already!