Philips Bicycle manufacturing - mid 1950's

[pete75]

Scenes inside the Philips bike factory and other stuff from about 1955. The weomen building the wheels don't seem to hang about....


http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/6001

[Vorpal]

Love it! Thanks for sharing.

[al_yrpal]

My Dad saved all his receipts. I think this was for my brothers Phillips bike in 1948. Inflation!

Al

[JamesE]

Superb. Thanks for that. Here's a 1945 film shot in the Raleigh factory in Nottingham.

[merseymouth]

Hi There, Wow, Great footage, all of it! The X-Crafts, the trade shows, a real time warp. Phillips, Raleigh, Perkins engines all worth viewing. Thanks for letting is view them. TTFN Merry Christmas MM

[mudplugger]

Thanks Pete, that film brought back memories of my first adult bike in 1961,a three speed flat bar "sports tourist" model, my pride n joy then which I did thousands of happy miles on. The Phillips was my introduction to my lifelong pastime and is fondly remembered even now I have modern lightweights.

[reohn2]

Pete
Great film.
Where did we go wrong

[Brucey]

I fixed a 1950's Phillips rod-brake roadster last week; its owner had used it for local transport for several decades, having bought it, used, for about £25. It had an AW 3s hub in the back and front dynohub. The seat tube had separated itself from the rest of the BB shell, via a fatigue failure in the corner radius there.

I duly weld-repaired the frame, and (mainly because I can't stand to see it done any other way) I used a die-grinder fitted with a carbide burr tool to clean the weld bead up. The original corner radius was maybe less than 2mm and my weld repair was more like 3-4mm radius. Once blended in like that, it looked pretty good, even if I do say so myself; you couldn't easily tell that it had been welded. [ I don't expect the repair to last forever BTW, but that isn't the objective in this case; the owner was chuffed to bits to have 'old faithful' back working again for now, and intends to keep it as a spare bike once a replacement is sourced.]

Whilst I was doing all this, I was studiously ignoring the rest of the bike, which had been somewhat neglected; I don't think there was a single part on it that was in good condition, not a single bearing correctly adjusted, rattles and creaks galore. Yet the bike still worked, somehow, and who knows, it might carry on for a few decades yet....

I couldn't help but think that, sometimes, simple is good; I can't see that many modern bikes plugging away that long.

cheers

[pete75]

Pete
Great film.
Where did we go wrong

Some answers here perhaps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAFheyFew3A . Interesting comments from the legendary Wilf Green...


Glad you like the little film folks.

[reohn2]

Pete
Great film.
Where did we go wrong

Some answers here perhaps
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAFheyFew3A . Interesting comments from the legendary Wilf Green...

It's been the same throughout British engineering,non or little RD,resting on laurels,and not moving with the times,whilst other countries,especially Japanese industry ploughed everything back into the business and learned.Fast.
Then produced such gems as the Honda 50 and 90 stepthrough,which I believe is still the best selling motorcycle worldwide.
In less than thirty years British industry plummeted from the best in the world to a joke,sadly.

[Sweep]

Scenes inside the Philips bike factory and other stuff from about 1955. The weomen building the wheels don't seem to hang about....


http://www.eafa.org.uk/catalogue/6001

"Sunshine favours the fairer sex"


I used to lead lots of rides - I'd have been strung up on my next outing if i'd dared put that in a ride report.

Many thanks for posting

[deliquium]

Thanks for sharing. Not seen any of these before. Superb! An enjoyable Chrimbo morning's viewing

What a scandalous life it was before helemetry and hi vis

[squeaker]

What a scandalous life it was before helemetry and hi vis

Not to mention the use of protective clothing in the spray booths
Thanks Pete - Merry Chrismas!

[NATURAL ANKLING]

Hi,
I owned a Philips at school, bought it off a mate I think.
Had a single steel chain wheel and I added a five gear freewheel cluster to the sturmy hub and hey 15 gears
OK so I stretched the chain stays, and it had sturmey twist grip 3 speed...slick.
Mates drooled over it because the best was just a 2 x 5 for the rich kids

http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/J._A._Phillips_and_Co

[Mick F]

Great film, thanks!

Did you see me in uniform?