1948 Raleigh Record Ace

1948 Raleigh Record Ace
model no. 26
serial no.599283P

Purchased from Paul Raley in March 2004 who beautifully restored this himself, winning the Best of British Award at the 2002 Cirque du Cyclisme

A late 1948-built frame for the 1949 model year.

Fitted with the Dunlop L.A. (light alloy) HP wire on rims introduced in 1949, the second version of the RRA chainset with stronger, beefier cranks and the new Brooks B37 saddle with alloy cantle plate

Frame/Fork
Material: Reynolds 531 butted tubing, thin taper backstays and chainstays.
Braze ons: Sturmey Archer gear pulley boss, pump pegs on bottom, rear brake cable stops on top tube, fixing bosses for RRA pattern saddle bag support, mudguard eyelets on rear stays and forks, tail lamp fitting and chainrest. Tecalemit lubricators for bottom bracket races and bottom headrace.
Fork: round to round section blades of Reynolds 531.
Finish: repaint (by Paul Raley) polychromatic electric blue. Gold lug lining. 8” chromium plating on front fork ends and 6” on rear triangle ends.
Size: seat tube 23½” (c to t), top tube 22½” (c to c)
Angles: 73 (head) 71 (seat)
Fork rake: 2½”
Wheelbase: 41 9/16”
Bottom bracket height: 11 ⅛”
Chainstay length: 17 ¼ “
Rear spacing: 118 mm
Lugs: RRA pattern cutaway lugs
Weight: 24.8 lbs. complete machine less bag support

Components
Wheels: 27 x 1¼” Dunlop LA (light alloy) 32/40-hole rims. Airlite Continental high-flange alloy front hub with Tecalemit lubricator and Raleigh pattern wingnuts
Chainset: RRA 2nd generation special pattern detachable chromed steel 48t chain ring with 6 ¾” fluted section Nickel Chrome Steel cranks
Pedals: RRA special pattern steel and alloy quill road racing with nickel chromed steel spindles. GB “Professional” stainless toe-clips and Popular straps
Bottom bracket: special RRA hollow nickel steel spindle
Gears: Sturmey-Archer AM medium-ratio three-speed hub gear, alloy shell, date code 4.52
Freewheel: Sturmey-Archer 18-tooth
Gear lever: Sturmey-Archer GC2 alloy face three/four-speed trigger control
Chain: Renold Elite 3/32”
Brakes: GB Hiduminium side-pull calipers with Super Hood alloy levers, silver gray brake cable housing.
Headset: RRA special headclip fixing, chromed steel, Tecalemit lubricator for top and bottom headraces
Stem & handlebars: RRA special stem, chromium-plated Reynolds 531, headclip fixing, 2" extension with GB Hiduminium 17" c-c Bailey bend 'bars, shellaced white cotton tape and white Velox plugs
Saddle: Brooks B37 Lightweight Champion. Alloy cantle plate and stainless steel undercarriage. 1 lbs 3 ozs.
Seat pin: Reynolds domed top alloy 10”
Mudguards: Bluemels Noweight celluloid with alloy quick release stays
Pump: 19” Bluemels Tour de France celluloid
Lamp bracket: Raleigh RRA left fork-mounted
Accessories: Brooks Leabrook saddle bag