BSA Ladies Sports Model Circa 1965
I will ever know how she showed up in Singapore. A mid '60s Raleigh-made BSA, she was purchased from a fellow collector who had to clear space at home following the dreadful choice given by his wife - either they go, or I do.
Looking carefully for any signs of her origin, the
only certainty was that she is a genuine BSA, and a Raleigh product. The frame serial number is BSA0105, and the faint remnants of the original Original Raleigh Product transfer can be seen on the top tube.
Curiously, this one isn't registered. All bicycles sold in Singapore up till December 1981 had to be registered with the Registrar of Vehicles. In most cases, the serial number, which matches another on a licence plate, was stamped on the front lug, thats missing here.
It is likely that his one could've been used on a British military base, which probably awas exempt from this ruling. Could she have been left behind when the British closed their bases? Or perhaps stolen? We'll never know.
A singlespeed, the freewheel on this graceful bike was manufactured by T.D. Cross and Sons Ltd. from Birmingham, England. The original North Road handlebar was so grimy and rusty, it was replaced by a more recent type. A rear rack was so rusty and beat up I had it removed.
I removed a beautiful, but incorrect and uncomfortable sprung hard plastic saddle (Made in India) and a more correct Raleigh B66 (made by Brooks for Raleigh Industries) was sourced for and installed.
When I first laid eyes on her, I immediately recognised her rarity and wanted her badly - even though she was quite possibly one of the grimiest bikes I've come across. After a partial renovation - involving straightening the rear stays and a dozen coats of wax, she looked much more presentable. A NOS dynamo lamp set and an Apex pump was installed as a finishing touch.
