Gay 90s Sentinel Rust Jackpot

[mrbirddog]

I have this old frame, maybe from the 1890s from what I have been able to determine. It needs to be ridden again. Just need skip tooth chain, pedals which not sure of the size, might be hard to source. Post, stem, wheels and it will be good as new! Not sure what direction I will go with this.

 

[kingfish254]

That is so cool!!! Tall frame too.
It should definitely be the oldest build in BO17
Welcome to the fun

 

[OddJob]

Welcome to the build off, @mrbirddog ! And, you brought an awesome frame with you.

Just fyi on posting photos. After you click Attach files, click on the word Insert on each photo. The select Full image,and your images will appear full sized. Like this one...

Your wheel size is probably 28", but a modern 700c or 27" wheel set will prob work. Just do some test wheels before you decide, and check your hub width between the dropouts and the forks too.
RaT oN~!

 

[OddJob]

Hey @mrbirddog , what's the latest on this late 1800's build?

 

[us56456712]

Sentinel was one of about a dozen early Mead Cycle Company brands. They used a lot of head badges. Your bike was manufactured either 1897 or 1898. The American Wheelman site has it listed for only those two years. It takes 1/2 inch pedals. It looks like a collet seat post binder. If it is, your collet adjusting bolt is missing. You can’t get the seat post to stay adjusted on a collet post binder without that large bolt. If it’s a two piece crank then it will be extremely difficult to get it apart for grease and adjustment. More photos of the other side and closeups of the crank arm and seat post area will help. Nice bicycle. It needs to be ridden again for sure. A lot of these old American bikes had rear hub spacing of 120 mm or close to it. Check the rear spacing before ordering wheels. The axles probably won’t fit the rear drops so those will have to be filed wider. If you use a vintage front hub that will probably fit the holes in the front fork, modern axles are too big. Modern front hubs are also too wide to fit the fork so vintage 96 mm wide hubs are what you need. For the front fork, since there are just holes and the wheel won’t drop out, adjust the front hub axle off center, put the long side in first and reef like crazy on the front fork to get it to spread enough so the short part of the offset can be forced in.

 

[SwissGuy]

Sentinel was one of about a dozen early Mead Cycle Company brands. They used a lot of head badges. Your bike was manufactured either 1897 or 1898. The American Wheelman site has it listed for only those two years. It takes 1/2 inch pedals. It looks like a collet seat post binder. If it is, your collet adjusting bolt is missing. You can’t get the seat post to stay adjusted on a collet post binder without that large bolt. If it’s a two piece crank then it will be extremely difficult to get it apart for grease and adjustment. More photos of the other side and closeups of the crank arm and seat post area will help. Nice bicycle. It needs to be ridden again for sure. A lot of these old American bikes had rear hub spacing of 120 mm or close to it. Check the rear spacing before ordering wheels. The axles probably won’t fit the rear drops so those will have to be filed wider. If you use a vintage front hub that will probably fit the holes in the front fork, modern axles are too big. Modern front hubs are also too wide to fit the fork so vintage 96 mm wide hubs are what you need. For the front fork, since there are just holes and the wheel won’t drop out, adjust the front hub axle off center, put the long side in first and reef like crazy on the front fork to get it to spread enough so the short part of the offset can be forced in.

I'm always amazed by the detailed knowledge that floats around on this site!