Bob Jackson restoration
Re: Bob Jackson restoration
I was just looking at the serial number on my '94 B J, it's in the mid 21000's, I see from a look round the web the lowest number I've come up with was in the 9000's, this was a 1973 machine. This would seem to put your bike in the mid to late 60's ? All the numbers I've seen quoted seem pretty sequential year wise.
Regarding your sloping fork crowns ,I see that Jackson's were listing them in their catalogue in the mid to late '60's.
My serial number is repeated on the fork steerer tube as mentioned above. I found these catalogue copies on line which may be of some help. http://threespeedhub.com-category/bobjackson-jrj-cycles.
All the best with your project.
Regarding your sloping fork crowns ,I see that Jackson's were listing them in their catalogue in the mid to late '60's.
My serial number is repeated on the fork steerer tube as mentioned above. I found these catalogue copies on line which may be of some help. http://threespeedhub.com-category/bobjackson-jrj-cycles.
All the best with your project.
Nu-Fogey
Re: Bob Jackson restoration
That last link didn't seem to load, try this one http://threespeedhub.comcatalogues.
There are seven sales brochures here from 1945 through to 1972 with pictures spec's etc.
There are seven sales brochures here from 1945 through to 1972 with pictures spec's etc.
Nu-Fogey
Re: Bob Jackson restoration
The friend I mentioned with the welding gear absolutely knows what he's doing. The trouble is, most of his work is on vintage military vehicles. Last time I saw him, he was working on a WW2 USSR Tiger tank! He's not a cyclist, and I fear the delicacy of touch required of a good framebuilder might be unnecessary in the type of work he does. I might be doing him a total injustice. Anyway, I wasn't of course advocating joining the two halves of the dropout together with brazing or silver soldering. They would need to be welded, and I was worried that the high temperature entailed in this process would conduct to the chainstay/dropout interface and compromise it. Now that I know that's not necessarily the case, it may be worth considering just so I can evaluate it. I'm glad to hear of good experiences with Steve Goff, as he is indeed quite close to here. His web site suggests that he can build in the traditional manner as well as with more modern techniques and materials. Their adherence to tradition was what commended the firm of Bob Jackson to me originally, apart from it being one of their machines. Also, their prices as stated on the website don't seem too bad. Certainly more palatable than the gas and electricity bill I've just opened! Makes money spent on cycling seem worthwhile by comparison. I've taken the Campagnolo chainset off this morning, but I'm going to need a bottom bracket tool I don't have to remove that. Probably need to invest in some indecently expensive headset spanners as well.
Colin54, I was typing while your posts appeared. Many thanks for that information. I can't get the links to work, but got into the site by Googling it. I'll study those catalogues properly this evening, when I've put all my tools away. However, a quick glance showed me a set of forks identical to mine with the sloping crown. I had no idea forks like that went so far back.
Colin54, I was typing while your posts appeared. Many thanks for that information. I can't get the links to work, but got into the site by Googling it. I'll study those catalogues properly this evening, when I've put all my tools away. However, a quick glance showed me a set of forks identical to mine with the sloping crown. I had no idea forks like that went so far back.
Re: Bob Jackson restoration
BTW careful use of the wet rag is required to preserve the paint finish etc. if you are welding.
I would likewise be a little concerned about the necessary delicacy of touch required; military vehicles are a world apart from bike frames. You can but try.
good luck
cheers
I would likewise be a little concerned about the necessary delicacy of touch required; military vehicles are a world apart from bike frames. You can but try.
good luck
cheers
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Re: Bob Jackson restoration
Progress so far. Removed everything except bottom bracket (for which I'll need a tool with splines), and the headset is still in place. May remove that in the vice, but I'll need spanners for reassembly, so might as well get them now if I can find some suitable. Stripped of all parts, the frame and forks are amazingly light. I was dreading either the seatpost or the stem being seized, with aluminium in contact with steel, but thankfully neither was. I don't think anybody's had it down for a routine service for a while. I'm pleased at the prospect of its dating from the sixties. That was when I first got into cycling, and I feel comfortable with the cycling ethos of that era, before TIG welding and carbon fibre. No nasty surprises yet either. Thanks for the comments and the messages of encouragement. Do please keep them coming.
Last edited by Pat Dwyer on 5 Jun 2014, 4:45pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Bob Jackson restoration
I wouldn't hesitate in sending you in Steve Goffs direction for a frame repair.
I can vouch for the quality of his work having as he has built a custom frame for me and repaired and renovated another.
Steve's workshop is a frame building alladins cave and I'm sure that he will have something that resembles the original dropout, if you're having the frame refinished as well he uses the excellent C&G finishes in Liverpool.
I can vouch for the quality of his work having as he has built a custom frame for me and repaired and renovated another.
Steve's workshop is a frame building alladins cave and I'm sure that he will have something that resembles the original dropout, if you're having the frame refinished as well he uses the excellent C&G finishes in Liverpool.
Remember folks 'A pessimist is just an optimist with experience!'
Re: Bob Jackson restoration
Thanks, duly noted. I'm leaning somewhat in the direction of Skelmersdale. Does anybody know whether frame repairers other than Bob Jackson would be able to apply new Bob Jackson transfers to preserve the identity of the frame? Not that that's a great issue really. I always refuse to buy garments with visible makers' labels, so why would I wish to be a mobile advertising board for a frame builder? Might have me own name on it instead.
Re: Bob Jackson restoration
another vote for mr goff. the frame he built me in '97 is as sweet as ever today. the forks are still in one piece too
Re: Bob Jackson restoration
The Bob Jackson decals shouldn't present too much of a problem.
If you get the frame refinished by Steve he will take it to C&G finishes for painting, they will be able to supply & fit (or replicate) most original decals. Most of the north wests best frame builders use C&G, Harry Quinn & Longstaff being a couple of them.
If you get the frame refinished by Steve he will take it to C&G finishes for painting, they will be able to supply & fit (or replicate) most original decals. Most of the north wests best frame builders use C&G, Harry Quinn & Longstaff being a couple of them.
Remember folks 'A pessimist is just an optimist with experience!'
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Re: Bob Jackson restoration
I don't know how keen you are to have the correct transfers on your bike. When Jacksons resprayed mine, I saved £££ by having Henry Ford black and no transfers of any sort. I've not checked any of the history links, but if your frame dates from the 1960's, IIRC it will have been badged JRJ.
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Re: Bob Jackson restoration
I would not worry about the dropout failing, it was going to with a mech thrust into the spokes. I saw a Gios titanium frame last week, in for repair with a trashed dropout, very expensive repair at that and no adjuster hole. The dropout itself is adjustable and slides on a plate at the stay ends, it was also mangled.
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Re: Bob Jackson restoration
If you don`t mind a trip to the other end of the East Lancs road then I recommend Neil Orrell. He has done various mods and tube replacements for me and is a stickler for a good job. You could have him do the job and send it to C&G and you could pick it up from C&G yourself. Neil is a metallurgist by profession and the heat affected zone is his to own.
Re: Bob Jackson restoration
thirdcrank wrote:I don't know how keen you are to have the correct transfers on your bike. When Jacksons resprayed mine, I saved £££ by having Henry Ford black and no transfers of any sort. I've not checked any of the history links, but if your frame dates from the 1960's, IIRC it will have been badged JRJ.
Originally, maybe, but it has had a respray, as testified by the "531 respray" transfer. If the firm was identified as Bob Jackson by that time (whenever it was), I assume those are the transfers they would have used. The then owner would probably have preferred the more up to date ones if there had been a choice. The present metallic blue paint job looks quite old, so I think the respray was a long time ago.
Thanks for the other comments, gentlemen.
Re: Bob Jackson restoration
I just received an email from Bob Jackson in response to my inquiry about the serial number. They tell me the bike was built in 1971. Unfortunately, they say they can supply only two types of rear dropouts - road horizontal, which have those screws at the back, and track ones, where the wheel enters and leaves vertically, which have no screws. Bad news, because I certainly don't want any with screws which are an obvious cause of weakness (or, more accurately, maybe, less than optimum strength), but I do want horizontal ones which allow for adjustment in case I decide to run it as a fixed wheel. Actually, I'll probably do that while assessing it, because it came with a nice pair of Mavic MA40 wheels, and the rear has a flip-flop hub. It would be simpler just to fit a front brake and not bother with any gears. Once I know if I like the ride, I can go ahead with a respray and then equip it properly. That was a question I have. If I fit a track sprocket to the flip side of the hub, will I need to acquire a one-eighth-inch wide chain, or can you get track sprockets for the narrower derailleur chain? Anyhow, top marks to Bob Jackson for a very prompt and helpful reply, but it looks like my search for a frame repairer won't be taking me across the Pennines after all. Need to decide between Steve Goff and Neil Orrell so far, so maybe I'll call on both with the frame for a chat.
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Re: Bob Jackson restoration
I don't think vertical dropouts are for track use. On the contrary, they now seem to be the norm for road bikes. Track ends - which SB is adamant should not be referred to as "drop-outs" - are horizontal but opening from the rear.
http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_dr-z.html#dropout
http://sheldonbrown.com/gloss_dr-z.html#dropout