Beachcomber's TR1 - now "Cafe-Creme" Boardtracker 'ish

Hoosier Daddy said:
Go Man GO!!!
Hope you don't get "sniped" at the last minute. That always pisses me off.
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HD, I'm the one with a last second snipe ! I've set my budget ......well, way above what I can really afford - sometime you just have do it !! 4 seconds to go and then my final bid goes in, if necessary. There's only myself and 1 other bidder at the moment and my bid [ + automatics ] will take me right up to $200 - we'll see.
 
$165 and it's all mine !!!!!!!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D.

In the end I put in a snipe bid of $280 ....that would have caused financial problems in the Beachcomber household. Wasn't needed as the other bidder dropped out after just one bid.

Now then - what do we think the compartment with the two filler holes is for ?

Initially I assumed for gauges [ oil, amps ? ], but now I'm thinking oil reservoir filler and maybe the other hole for a pump ? Looking underneath there does appear to be an oil connection at the front. Might just make that a kinky reserve fuel tank !

Nearly forgot - I think the tank begs a hand change on the right, via a gate of some sort ..........

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A great buy BC!

Oil reservoir certainly sounds likely. Looks in good condition for its age - I take it the rust is mostly just surface?

Congratulations,

Crazy


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stroker crazy said:
A great buy BC!

Oil reservoir certainly sounds likely. Looks in good condition for its age - I take it the rust is mostly just surface?

Congratulations,

Crazy


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Yes the rust is only surface - not bad after nearly 90 years ! The seller is guaranteeing it's not holed anywhere - or even thinned out. Actually, check out the bright steel on the inside bottom. I've got 20 year old Japanese tanks in worse nick than that !

I've researched the original La Francais Diamant marque, but info. is a bit thin. The company logo is a real gem - I might try to incorporate that into the overall "French" theme.

I'm thinking a light Beadblast / Walnuts whatever and get it in paint asap. Part of me is saying keep it as it is...............

I found a superb Brass pressure gauge today - 4" diameter and excellent condition.
 
Don't go overboard and end up with a non functional Steam punk work of art. Just a gentle reminder from one who suffers from creeping perfectionism. Enough is enough and too much is never good. You're a Brit. You understand what I'm saying. Right?
 
teazer said:
Don't go overboard and end up with a non functional Steam punk work of art. Just a gentle reminder from one who suffers from creeping perfectionism. Enough is enough and too much is never good. You're a Brit. You understand what I'm saying. Right?
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Hey Teazer - I identified that trend a page or two back !!!!

I decided to collect all the parts I KNOW I want, and some that just interested me - and then when the time comes just use those that fit in.

Apart from the obvious parts from the donor TR1 - I'll be using the XS500 / 650 steel rimmed spoke wheels [ blasted and painted ], TT100 tyres, The siamese exhaust / MAC.

I've finalised how I want the bars to be, together with the reverse brass levers. 5" speedo [ a la Vincent ] MAYBE in a brass housing.

The final design will effectively be built around the power train and tank ! The period Brass parts will double up where the original style would have had a hand oil pump, etc., etc. I'm fixed on the colourways now and have identified a couple of potential shades of Cream and Coffee Brown.

The other part I'm not certain about yet [ until it arrives ] is the part I've bought to house the Battery / electrics - again, might be a step too far - we'll see. Looks good in my mind !!

I've almost convinced myself to have a hand gear change on the right side - so I'm busy looking for a nice Brass quadrant to attach to the tank.

One point to mention - the feedback from everyone concerned is most welcome - thanx.

You're quite right though, I don't want it to look like a mobile antique shop !
 
HD - yep sure is. I'm bidding on two - each slightly different. Both 15 Euros, £11 , $ 24 [??]

This one is identical to the picture [ 2 posts up ] - I never expected to actually find one. Courtesy French E-Bay. If there is any counter bidding I'll go for this one, the other one is a little plain.
 
You do realize that you just started the build thread for a la Francaise Diamant. That will be a cool build. I'm not sure I ever saw a picture of one, but over the next few years I expect that we'll all come to know what they look like... All very Triplets of Bellville if you ask me....

Looks like they were more successful with pushies/treadlies (bicycles).
 
teazer said:
Don't go overboard and end up with a non functional Steam punk work of art. Just a gentle reminder from one who suffers from creeping perfectionism. Enough is enough and too much is never good. You're a Brit. You understand what I'm saying. Right?
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amen...
 
Louie - already given myself a severe talking to. ;)

As soon as the frame / powerplant / tank is mocked up I'll take a look at which parts will make the cut and which ones will end up back on E-Bay !

The "battery cover" arrives next week - I'm surprised nobody has taken a punt at what the "mystery object" might be......... come on guys, get a few brews down you and let the imagination run wild. Well that's how I came to it !! ::)

I am open to taking a few pointers on the right hand tank gearchange ???

Teazer, I'm doing some research, but as you say everything seems to point to their success with pushbikes. I HAVE found an instruction manual - in Argentina ! We'll see.

The plan is to use one of those metal badges on the headstock - as with a bicycle
 
Tank arrived - wow, what a feeling to hold something nearly 100 years old - the history.

The amazing part is the condition of the metal. Apart from light surface rust, there is no damage at all, and most of the interior of the tank is still shiny metal !
 
The "cover" for the battery / electrics arrived today [ all 4 of them !] I've got a choice, but narrowed it down to "Shell Aviation Spirit", "Shell-Mex", and the "Pratts" [ attached ].

I'll chop them down by about 1/3rd [ from bottom] and secure it with a large leather strap.

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Man, you've got so many cool bits for this thing. I can't wait to see it start getting assembled.
 
yep John.....I have virtually all the parts I want / need now. Like I said - they won't ALL make the cut and some would be too OTT even by my standards !

I went down to check progress on the stainless siamese exhaust for the Cafe Racer today [ story over on Vindicator thread ]. The guy had my Cafe Creme donor rolling chassis / engine down there to do the mock up on. NO progress, so I've given him a week to get under way. If that fails I'll bring the donor bike back and strip the power plant out so I can get it on the bench to start mocking up the frame. That's all that's stalling the build now. I've really firmed up ideas for the frame and the rolling chassis, so hopefully the frame will come together very soon.

That'll still leave the problem of the exhaust - assuming the guy doesn't come through !

Not so much a problem - as expense. But I saved a bunch on the tank - I expected that to cost me around £400 [ $850 ??] to have one made.
 
1920's style bike demands a 1920's style helmet - yes ?

Even Cafe-Creme! Parades / showgrounds only - the other one's for riding. Just got to get the White centre dyed Cream.

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