Do you know how to identify classic Dawes bikes?

[pwa]

Aspects of that bike look strangely modern, like what appear to be welds where lugs would be expected, and is that a monostay at the back? The brakes look like something from the 1960s.

[Graymurphy]

Am struggling how to use this forum is there any other way of contact

[Graymurphy]

My grandad stays it’s been a his shed for over 50 years

[Brucey]

it is a weird one; they look to be about 20" or 24" wheels, the cranks are short, and the chainring small. The bottom bracket is low. The wheels only have 20 spokes each in them. The gearing would be low (the chainring has only 28 teeth, and the sprocket looks like a child-sized freewheel). So far it sounds like a kid's bike, but then you look at the rest of it and suddenly it is much larger than that; the seat tube looks like it would be the right size for a small adult.

I've seen a lot of bikes but I have never seen one like that before. My main thought right now is that it might be a 'learner' bike for adults to learn to ride a bicycle. Or perhaps a bike made for part of a circus act perhaps? However the reason I asked about the wheels was that they don't look strong enough to carry an adult reliably.

All very strange!

Further photos of the bike would be very interesting.

cheers

[PT1029]

Yes, a wierd one.
Wheels and short cranks look like they are from a childs bike (hence lack of spokes), but the frame looks more like an adult size.
Brucey, I don't think it is a mono seat stay at the top, just one of those standard (for the time) ones where there are 2 seat stays that are bolted in place by the seat clamp bolt, rather than brazed in place.
If any more photos are coming, one of the lamp bracket on the headset might (or not) show a makers initial/badge in the stamping. I'd also try for a head badge photo (as mentioned up thread) and one of the seat tube (can I see a badge/sticker about 2/3rds the way up?).
It looks like it has white box lining (unless light reflection? - though it looks like most of the bike is beyond reflecting!).

If not too much rust, the cranks/hub barrels might have a makers name on (which may/may not be the same as the cycle maker). Also tyre make (on side wall, if not too perished) might help date it. Some old rubber pedals have a name on the peral rubbers.

[Brucey]

Brucey, I don't think it is a mono seat stay at the top....

neither do I; I think it was pwa who mentioned that possibility.

cheers

[Graymurphy]

Front picture of bike

[Graymurphy]

Underneath seat

[Brucey]

that is indeed a Dawes badge, probably from the 1950s. Similar vintage to the bike in this thread probably

https://forum.cyclinguk.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=134675

The rest of the bike is somewhat different though!

The decal on the seat tube is from the supplying dealer.

cheers

[Graymurphy]

Picture tyre wall

[Graymurphy]

Thanks for your information and time brucey

[Brucey]

18 x 1-3/8" tyres to British standard ought to be 37-400 size. However there are (apparently, I've never seen any) also tyres which are 37-387 size which can have 18- 1-3/8" marked on them.

You can still (just) get tyres in 37-400 size

https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/tyres-18-x-1-38-to-20-400/

Since the wheels are smaller than I thought, it does seem to be a child's bike; the frame is about 17" size.

cheers

[Graymurphy]

Do you know anyone who might be interested in the bike as it is not my interest to restore this bike thanks

[speedsixdave]

Since the wheels are smaller than I thought, it does seem to be a child's bike; the frame is about 17" size.

I'd agree with that. The bars are ten bricks high, more or less, which is probably about 700mm high, more or less, so about the height of a normal front wheel, So quite a small bike. It's a nice thing though, you should definitely get it restored, Graymurphy!

[Jamesh]

Was it a bike that was produced just post war with a limited supply of parts?
Looks very basic in its design and build.

Perhaps the national bike museum in Llangollen might be interested?

Mick F recently donated a bike to them.

Difficulty would be transporting it to them during these times.

Cheers James