Light weight with sturmey archer 3 speed??

[dragnusa]

A guy from work told me to stop by his house to see if I was interested in a bike he had in his shed. He said it was a "Firestone" which got a little excited hoping it was a Firestone cruiser well no luck. Never did see anything that said firestone on it but did see it was a light weight 3speed mens bike with a Sturmey Archer hub and shifter. The bike looked like it would clean up easy. Not sure what to offer the guy and still leave myself some on the resale end.

 

[Joe Monstermaker]

Well that's virtually nothing for anyone here to go on...
Pictures?

 

[dragnusa]

No pictures yet, was one of those I want you to look at the bike but its at the back of the shed, so I went crawling over everything and got what little info I could. and was just looking for a general idea what I should offer, If it was a 3 speed shimano bike I know what I would offer. I know sturmey archer 3 speeds tend to be worth more just never had the chance to buy one.

 

[dragnusa]

Got the bike home and will be posting pics soon.

 

[Joe Monstermaker]

That's ok... just send me the bike.

 

[dragnusa]

Posted pics in fresh finds but here is the bike

 

[deorman]

Looks like a 70's AMF. Weird looking steering head angle. Any chance it's bent or rewelded?

 

[Thxcuz]

The chain ring looks amf but I thought they used the shimano 333 hub

 

[dragnusa]

Looks like a 70's AMF. Weird looking steering head angle. Any chance it's bent or rewelded?

Im glad Im not the only one that thought that it doesnt seem to be bent or rewelded

 

[Wildcat]

Definitely AMF. It looks like the forks are straight and the tubes to the head tube are straight also. That looks like original paint so no welding or repair on the head tube either. If the weld pulled loose on the top tube, it's possible that's why the angle is wrong. Or else it was made that way. It's got the Bma sticker, so it's 1971 or later. Usually, AMF used English bikes for 3 speeds, like Hercules. Here's an AMF like yours, the head tube is slanted back more, like most of those frame styles.

 

[SILVERKINGPC]

Man, talk about instant steering input with that 90 degree head tube angle...

 

[dragnusa]

Man, talk about instant steering input with that 90 degree head tube angle...

Have to replace the tubes but, did take it for a quick spin in my alley before the tires lost their air and yeah not sure I could get used to the way it steers

 

[Wildcat]

When AMF started making bikes in Illinois in 71, the quality went way down.

But I looked closer at the pic, the forks have a slight backward bend, so I think it hit something and the frame got bent slightly also, the combination of the 2 is why it's like that. See how close the fender is to the frame? There should be at least another inch of clearance.

I would put an old wheel on the front, turn the forks around, and gently bump it into something solid like a wall to get some of the bend out. Or just get another frame, as these weren't high quality.

 

[dragnusa]

Really thinking of just swapping everything over to this frame

 

[user 15387]

I agree- looks to me like a bent fork with possible bend to the frame as well. There would be no great loss if you transferred the parts over to another bike frame. Just make sure you measure your drop outs and axles for fit.

This Schwinn New World started as a core of a bike, and I built up around it using mostly period parts, but new alloy rims in ISO 590MM size. This included adding a 1954 Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub in the back and a Schwinn script front hub. 3 speeds are not difficult to transfer and build up if you have an axle-dropout combo that fits well enough.

 

[Wildcat]

Really thinking of just swapping everything over to this frame

Now that's a decent AMF frame, late 50's I think. The straightbar gives it away as late 50's, made in Arkansas. The wheels from the 3 speed are 26 x 1 3/8 ths, taller than the 26 x 1.75 that would be what came new on the blue frame. But they will most probably fit in the forks and frame, but the handbrakes won't line up, if there are holes for them to mount. But that problem can worked out.

 

[dragnusa]

Now that's a decent AMF frame, late 50's I think. The straightbar gives it away as late 50's, made in Arkansas. The wheels from the 3 speed are 26 x 1 3/8 ths, taller than the 26 x 1.75 that would be what came new on the blue frame. But they will most probably fit in the forks and frame, but the handbrakes won't line up, if there are holes for them to mount. But that problem can worked out.

Yeah the blue frame already has a 26x 1 3/8 on the front, and had one on the back that I was using to roll it around on, Yeah the brakes may be an issue but I have plenty of hand brakes to go thru.

 

[Wildcat]

On that frame, there isn't a hole for the rear brake, but it's easy to make up a mounting bracket that will let you mount up a brake that you can adjust to get the right contact. I did this with my frame that wouldn't work with most handbrakes. With this, I can use about any hand brake I want. It's adjustable up and down the seat stays.