S
Suzy Jackson
Guest
Hi Guys,
On the way down to the shops the other day, I came across a rusty old bike that had been left on
the side of the road for council rubbish pickup. Being a bit of a bike junkie, I grabbed it.
It's a Malvern Star, and seems to be a track bike (though some of the details don't gell with
track racing).
Anyway, the frame is dark green, fillet welded steel, with what look to be hand painted "Malvern
Star" logos and lots of pinstriping and detail. It's an enormous frame (61cm seat tube and 58cm top
tube) with track forkends, and no provision for brakes or gears. The fork has rather more rake
(about 50mm I think) than I'd expect of a track frame though, and also has oval blades.
The wheels use aluminium 27" high pressure (not single) rims, marked "Dunlop - made in England". I
can't find a makers mark on the hubs, which use aluminium flanges pressed on to a chromed steel hub
body. The rear hub spacing is 110mm, and it has a 16 tooth fixed cog.
The wheels confuse me more than anything else about the bike. I'd guess the bike was made in the
'50s or '60s, except I'd have thought a racing bike of this period would have had singles, not
HPs... Could the wheels be a more recent addition?
The cranks are steel cottered ones, and have "Utility something" stamped on them.
The seat is a Brooks leather one, and is very narrow. Handlebars and stem are chromed steel, with no
discernible makers marks.
In any case, I've posted a few pictures on the web. If anyone can help me with further details on
the bike, such as when it was made, what it was originally supposed to be used for, etc., I'd be
really grateful.
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Suzy.Jackson/Malvern_Star_Side.jpg
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Suzy.Jackson/Malvern_Star_Quarter.jpg
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Suzy.Jackson/Malvern_Star_Head.jpg
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Suzy.Jackson/Malvern_Star_Down.jpg
I plan on restoring it to as close to original condition as I can, though I anticipate getting the
paint to even vaguelly resemble it's original state will be an enormous challenge.
Regards,
Suzy
On the way down to the shops the other day, I came across a rusty old bike that had been left on
the side of the road for council rubbish pickup. Being a bit of a bike junkie, I grabbed it.
It's a Malvern Star, and seems to be a track bike (though some of the details don't gell with
track racing).
Anyway, the frame is dark green, fillet welded steel, with what look to be hand painted "Malvern
Star" logos and lots of pinstriping and detail. It's an enormous frame (61cm seat tube and 58cm top
tube) with track forkends, and no provision for brakes or gears. The fork has rather more rake
(about 50mm I think) than I'd expect of a track frame though, and also has oval blades.
The wheels use aluminium 27" high pressure (not single) rims, marked "Dunlop - made in England". I
can't find a makers mark on the hubs, which use aluminium flanges pressed on to a chromed steel hub
body. The rear hub spacing is 110mm, and it has a 16 tooth fixed cog.
The wheels confuse me more than anything else about the bike. I'd guess the bike was made in the
'50s or '60s, except I'd have thought a racing bike of this period would have had singles, not
HPs... Could the wheels be a more recent addition?
The cranks are steel cottered ones, and have "Utility something" stamped on them.
The seat is a Brooks leather one, and is very narrow. Handlebars and stem are chromed steel, with no
discernible makers marks.
In any case, I've posted a few pictures on the web. If anyone can help me with further details on
the bike, such as when it was made, what it was originally supposed to be used for, etc., I'd be
really grateful.
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Suzy.Jackson/Malvern_Star_Side.jpg
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Suzy.Jackson/Malvern_Star_Quarter.jpg
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Suzy.Jackson/Malvern_Star_Head.jpg
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/Suzy.Jackson/Malvern_Star_Down.jpg
I plan on restoring it to as close to original condition as I can, though I anticipate getting the
paint to even vaguelly resemble it's original state will be an enormous challenge.
Regards,
Suzy