What is this, any ideas ?

[RE CYCLE]

Sturmey archer 3 speed, fork thimbles make it look raleigh as do the RSW 16 tyres

 

[Punkawallah]

Dunno. The ‘star’ on the crankset reminds me of early Stronglight. The cotter pins say 60’s, but they were used on Dawes folding bikes in the 70’s, and the lights dynamo design might give a clue?
Anyway, a Google on ‘history folding bicycle’ lead to a similar one designed for Clive Sinclair:

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:X-Bike_Exact_Model_-_folding_bicycle.jpg

Thence to Mark Saunders, the designer:

https://www.dezeen.com/2008/02/03/interview-strida-bike-designer-mark-sanders/

Who worked with Strida, and had a design for something similar.

You might have a ‘rara avis’, there.

 

[biggs682]

Absolutely no idea what it is @RE CYCLE have you ridden it?
Oh and welcome

 

[biggs682]

You might have a ‘rara avis’, there.

Guess what numpty googled that to compare pictures 😂

 

[Drago]

Im Stumped, as is Google lens.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Looks like an old version of a Korean folding bike that a friend has

 

[Punkawallah]

Guess what numpty googled that to compare pictures 😂

‘I’m cursed with a Classical education!

 

[Big John]

No idea but it's an ugly brute. You've been magnet fishing down the canal, haven't you?

 

[MichaelW2]

Any other branding or lettering anywhere ?

 

[Gwylan]

Looks like something made for a 60's sci-fi type film.

 

[Once a Wheeler]

It seems to me that if one raised the saddle the rear wheel would fit in under the front wheel and then, using that hand-nut operated expander bolt, the handlebars could be turned sideways to make a folded bike that would more or less fit into a golf bag or similar.

The handlebar shape looks French to me, chainwheel perhaps Williams, pedals perhaps Allez! from France; but other people's guesses are likely to be just as good.

So, a fascinating find. Definitely do not sell except to a Japanese collector at an astronomical price. Keep, and hunt around: maybe a candidate for the bicycle museum. Thanks for showing it to us.

 

[RE CYCLE]

Any other branding or lettering anywhere ?

Nothing I can see on the frame, 16" cast alloy wheels with drum brakes are sturmey archer, the brake levers look very much like chopper grifter levers but without clamp (welded direct to bars) . Still non the wiser as yet

 

[RE CYCLE]

No idea but it's an ugly brute. You've been magnet fishing down the canal, haven't you?

Bit rude , would have to be a good magnet, built like a Lada

 

[Illaveago]

Painful if that front upright was to come out!

 

[tinywheels]

there's a guy on here who would love to restore it