70 years of collecting.

[Halla]

Good Morning.

I am sure many may face this one.

A friend has asked me to help clear his accumulation of bikes and bike parts.

Most parts are older from 50's to 90's Single speed to 7 speed.

The bikes are steel framed but nothing exotic except one old Claud Butler.

Does anyone know how this could be moved on quickly and easily.

Are there any trade or club contacts who might be interested.

I have found only one trade contact and my friend did have links with the VCC

Any ideas welcome, I am sure others could be in a similar position.

We are in South East England.


Many thanks.

Andy

[willcee]

Like you say many will be in the same scenario.. I would major on the VCC,or local small museums... the issue is to many of that vaulted club only good lightweights are worth the trouble , despite the fact that there are sections who ride what I term old black utility machines.. I suggest decent pictures of everything and a list of some sort of all the parts, I appreciate it will take time and understand that the assistance will be in the beginning a few days , whatever the mans collection is to end up as will depend totally on the interest and efforts of those involved ,either in scrap metal or dissolving into those items worth a second look or worth rebuilding without much outlay.. how do I know?? been there and have a very dirty T shirt..didn't even get thanks..so unless there's compensation involved these days I avoid the hassle.. that and I have my own stuff to think about... will

[PT1029]

Do you know your bike parts/old bike parts? If not, get someone who knows their old bike parts to have a look. Some of the "old tat" milght be quite desirable if they are rare or a good source of spare parts.
May be try Retrobike? Has a forum and sales pages. https://www.retrobike.co.uk/
If the steel frames are nothing special, selling for conversion to single speed/fixies (there is a "scene" out there building up nothing special old tell frames as city fixies) may be a way forward (and probably get a better price?)
There is always e bay/other sales forums. I find photographing/describing/advertising on this forum is barely worth it, but is way to avoid taking the bits to the metal yard/ensuring they find a good home.
I have a friend who does cycle jumbles (and on a few occasions I have gone along), he for me has been a good way to dispose of stuff. I was tasked with disposing of the final (very dusty) bits from my partner's grand fathers bike shop (closed in the 1970's), I would periodically give my friend a box or 2 of stuff, he would take a random commission (I wasn't too fussed about the money aspect) and they ended up in an appreciated home.
A few random results from googling "cyclejumbles": -
http://www.campyoldy.co.uk/bike-jumble-diary/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1925764514413445/
https://en-gb.facebook.com/thebigonecyclejumbles/

[Halla]

Thank you for your replies.

I did start photographing the bikes yesterday and everywhere you look there are bike parts hanging very tidily around the workshop.

It is a very emotional experience for someone who's life has been repairing and building bikes for himself and others, keeping many of his club mates going with the the bits stored in the workshop. As such we have to make slow progress.

My friend is a brilliant engineer and has made many parts for his bikes, adapting them for comfortable riding as he has become older.

Time has moved on and many of his clubs mates are now in that bike shop in the sky.

There does seem little demand to use many of the older parts because modern people demand the latest technology.

I am sure we will make progress with a little help.

Thank you again.

Regards Andy

[peetee]

Condition is everything.
There is no end of rusty and/or used parts available for that era of bikes and they are worth little more than scrap. New or lightly used parts would have to be for lightweight or collectable bikes (Such as a Raleigh Chopper) for them to have any interest or value.

[9494arnold]

Difficult if you don't know what you are looking at.
There are a lot of people (me included) who collect ride and restore older machines.
(I am a Trustee of the National Cycle Museum too)
As has already been mentioned, something that looks like rusty old tat might be more valuable than you think.
Or it might just be rusty old tat.
You might be able to contact the VCC and see if someone Local can help.
Or an easy way out might be to photo the lot and stick it on e Bay as a job lot to be collected.
Get it done in one hit.
I am afraid ads for old bike bits can invite silly questions from folk who have no intention to buy.
And 'browsers ' too.

[fastpedaller]

It's certainly a difficult and emotional scenario. A dear friend of mine had many parts and some very collectable bikes (lightweight Italian and British). I had been selling my own nos/used parts for about a year and gently mentioned that maybe he could sell some of his and have a good holiday or two. He didn't want to so I didn't mention it again. A year or two later he asked if I could help me sell them. So sad to see his (once very fit and strong) health going so quickly. I sold a lot for him via Ebay, and got what I (and he) considered to be good money, and good homes, all except one stem which a trader then sold on for double
The bikes were more difficult to shift, and fortunately most went to a collector local to me, and a couple local to my pal. There were still (I think) 3 bikes left when he went to the great road in the sky, and I don't know what the outcome was. I know the collector local to me was mildly interested, and i gave the executor the contact details. He was never contacted. They may have gone to 'house clearance' which would have been a terrible end, as they could have ended up beiong scrapped. Who knows? What I would urge is to try and get it all sold before the person passes, so the owner is happy with a good outcome, and for your own peace of mind. Good Luck.

[millimole]

This is useful and interesting information.
I have only 40+ years worth of accumulated junk/treasure and I know I've got to do something about it, but have been putting off the evil day partly because of not knowing how best to dispose of it.

[willcee]

Perhaps I'm touching a nerve but the comment about a 'trader' doubling his outlay is whats its about.. Some rare stuff has a value ..its not their job or mine to educate or skill up those that cannot be bothered to find out about the items they're offering for sale on any 'AUCTION' site. Manys the time I have bought bargains at a cycle jumble when surrounded by so called 'experts' and they had walked past the goods on offer ,so clearly visible..
Its sad when someone is hanging up wheels, it will come to all of us, I can remember well while I was a member and contributor of Classic Lightweights which as you know is the USA side mainly but covers cycle knowledge and skills worldwide there were many monthly contris about what to do with extensive collections in barns and lofts and basements with aging owners and family who didn't know or care as long as the space they inhabited could be reutilised until values were mentioned...no disrespect intended.. will

[fastpedaller]

Perhaps I'm touching a nerve but the comment about a 'trader' doubling his outlay is whats its about..

My displeasure was no so much because a trader had realised double the sale price, more because it hadn't gone (from my sale) to an enthusiast who was using it. I was just unlucky that the person willing to pay more hadn't seen my sale, but the subsequent one.
I don't know how probate works, but my pal had expected me to be able sell any bikes (and other items not bike related) after his death with proceeds to his estate, but I wasn't given the opportunity. Maybe that's the way it works, but if the executor (solicitor) is only empowered to sell to a 'house clearance guy' for whatever he can get, the proceeds could be reduced substantially.

[fastpedaller]

This is useful and interesting information.
I have only 40+ years worth of accumulated junk/treasure and I know I've got to do something about it, but have been putting off the evil day partly because of not knowing how best to dispose of it.

Maybe time to sell? I had lots of my own nos and used parts (from 40 years) which I started selling in 2014, spurred on by my Wife commenting (very correctly) "you haven't used that bike in 10 years, why not sell it?" I realised over £3000 from the bike and all the parts..... of which I promptly spent some on newer bike parts
It was an interesting exercise, it cleared some space in the garage, and gave me some cash. A win-win really. Quite satisfying to get good sums on parts I'd (in some cases) forgotten I had in the bottom of a drawer. At least it didn't go to someone for £50 the lot!

[Halla]

Perhaps there are lessons here as with many things in life.

My friend has done well out of his self funding hobby, while being very supportive to many in the cycling world.

He is very knowledgeable about the bikes and parts which have passed through his hands.

Perhaps he has left it rather too long to have this clear out, as at 89 years of age, failing health and less energy than he used to have, the keen interest has also diminished.

I believe that it is also very easy to ignore the market and not obtain good value from a sale, which is the danger here.

In the cycling world as with other hobbies, there are many fewer people taking the interest in the older aspects, preferring to buy the latest kit which is discarded when it wears, rather than being repaired as in previous times.

I have noticed that a lot of people join this forum to ask about buying new and do not seem to appreciate the real pleasure that can be had from owning a decent second hand bike.


Andy

[soapbox]

For a couple of years now I've been keeping an eye on the 'wanted' thread on here and if anyone posts asking for stuff that I've got lying around I'm happy to offload for free. I haven't shifted much to date, but for anyone who realises that they aren't going to live forever and haven't got anyone to pass it on to, this approach might be a start.

[mumbojumbo]

I have given about ten bikes to a local charity which prepares bikes for refugees -it is a way of giving the newcomers mobility and a chance to exercise ,in addition to savouring the sites and sights of S Yorks.

[geomannie]

If getting value if important to your friend, then I have nothing to suggest. If however, he wants to see some or all of his collection go to furthering cycling, then perhaps he could consider donation to one of the many cycling refurbishment charities? Where I volunteer we are always seeking old parts in good condition, of all qualities, to keep old bikes going.

It's great when we can get someone of limited means back on the road for very little outlay on their part.

Just a thought.