Hi to all.
Been reading here a lot, and got the itch to get an Raleigh bike. Hard to find one to rework, I've noticed.
I did find a huffy sportsman Sturmey-Archer AW-64-1. Dunlop lightweight steel rims, blah, blah.
I took it completely apart. Those nice little bearings in the head found their freedom after forty years and ran away. No matter, 5/32 bearings replace them fine.
To make a long story short, everything, and I mean everything on the 64 Huffy Sportsman is English. Of course its stamped with made in England, Genuine English lightweight. John bull brake pads, the whole nine yards. The bell is marked, made in West Germany, and I haven't found out about the headlight as yet. The seat is a Wright, made in England. The calipers are stamped made in England, and on and on.
Anyway, tore it apart and put it back together. Everything cleaned up great, and its a fine riding bike.
I guess that I'm miffed at what others have said about these bikes. They seem to be shunned as something less than a regular Raleigh made bike.
The only thing on this bike that isn't Raleigh, is the Huffy sticker and front plate.
Take it from me, if you can find one,get it. Its totally British, and totally Raleigh, all of it. If anyone would like to see a pic of it, let me know and I'll e-mail it. Don't know how else to do it.
Ken