Moulton wicker basket.

[rjb]

My mate is slowly renovating a mark 1 Moulton. He's now turning his attention to the rack bag and front wicker basket. The front wicker basket in particular is very distorted and rotten and he's asking if it was an original Moulton accessory. It's far worse than the photo implies. Anyone know.
This was how it was from the previous owner who said it was his mum's from new. Bought from Clifton Cycles in Birkenhead.

[LWaB]

A wicker basket was a Moulton accessory back in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

[PT1029]

You could ask a local basket maker to make a replica - you are in Somerset, no doubt plenty of basket makers near the levels!

[pjclinch]

You could ask a local basket maker to make a replica - you are in Somerset, no doubt plenty of basket makers near the levels!

This.
I've seen several custom wicker constructions for bike luggage over the years.

Dutch cycle infra blogger David Hembrow has done some particularly good ones, e.g....


Pete.

[Carlton green]

You could commission someone to either repair or replicate the original basket but I can’t think that you’d get what I call value for money. EBay has many wicker baskets, ones which could give great utility, and they’re not particularly expensive. When it was sold, decades ago, was there anything special about the original basket? Probably not and it was just something that’d fit the rack and help get a sale.

[deeferdonk]

your mate my find this book useful

https://www.theclassicmoulton.co.uk/the ... c-moulton
I believe it has details of the standard accessories as well as a lot of other useful information.

I'm afraid I've not got my copy to hand so can't confirm what info it contains about wicker baskets.

[pjclinch]

You could commission someone to either repair or replicate the original basket but I can’t think that you’d get what I call value for money.

I think typical "value for money" in terms of functional bang per buck doesn't really come into restoring vintage 60s bikes in quite the same way as, say, selecting a bag for a daily commute...

Pete.

[rjb]

He's looking for an original restoration as close to the original as possible. He's even had the rusty rims rechromed. The frame has been resprayed and is stunning. Will post again when it's complete for you all to drool over.

[Carlton green]

You could commission someone to either repair or replicate the original basket but I can’t think that you’d get what I call value for money.

I think typical "value for money" in terms of functional bang per buck doesn't really come into restoring vintage 60s bikes in quite the same way as, say, selecting a bag for a daily commute...

Pete.

Fair enough. It seems like going OTT and throwing money away to me, but if the owner can afford to pay and particularly wants something then that’s their choice. As they tell me: there’s no pockets in shrouds …

He's looking for an original restoration as close to the original as possible. He's even had the rusty rims rechromed. The frame has been resprayed and is stunning. Will post again when it's complete for you all to drool over.

I hope it gives your pal a lot of pleasure. Please tell him about decent brake blocks to work with his steel rims - I assume he’s going to ride the bike.

Please do post some pictures of the restoration. It’ll be interesting to see.

[rjb]

I posted this on Facebook and look what popped up. So the wicker baskets were original accessories. No doubt he will get his restored.

[CliveyT]

I posted this on Facebook and look what popped up. So the wicker baskets were original accessories. No doubt he will get his restored

As the husband of a basketmaker I will warn that repairing old baskets is almost invariably a big NO. Old willow is brittle so will break if you try to weave new sticks into old. Much better to record as much as possible and get a basketmaker to make a replica.

Who? I'm sure my wife could do it, but we're based in Cambridgeshire. He could look at the basket makers association, I think they have a public directory of members. Failing that he could try the willow growers for recommendations- Musgroves near Bridgewater or Coates near Taunton are the 2 big ones I know of

[CliveyT]

Oh just to add/warn, my wife's standard rectangular bike basket is around £70. looking at the picture in the Moulton brochure that looks more complicated so will no doubt cost more

[rjb]

thanks all. Coates is only a mile down the road so he will probably enquire there as a first port of call.
https://www.coatesenglishwillow.co.uk/

[Mike Sales]

I would seize the chance to learn basketry. There will be plenty of advice in print or online.

[rjb]

And this turned up too from the USA.
The description of the trike needs to go into the humourous thread.