WHY SOME CYCLE DEALERS DO NOT RECOMMEND SUNBEAMS:
During the time I have had the Sunbeam Cycle Agency I have been very well satisfied, and so have all my customers. I have only one complaint to make, and that is, when you have sold a Sunbeam it is like selling a coffin – the possessor never wants another; and if you do not get a profit when you sell one, you never get a chance of making anything after, because it never wants any repairs. I do not know what it is to repair a Sunbeam. I always feel that when I have sold a Sunbeam I have done my customer a good turn, and he always finds it so.
Yours truly,
John Henry Law
Cycle Dealer,
Ashton-under-Lyne
July 24th 1905
1905 Royal Sunbeam for Gentlemen ‘Six-Speed’ Roadster
24″ Frame
28″ Wheels
Frame No 70691
Fitted with Restored Brooks B10 Special Issue Sunbeam Saddle
(Now sold)
Sunbeam ‘six-speeds’ were the fashion for a while.
When first introduced, the ‘six-speed’ didn’t take off, and Sunbeam discontinued it.
But people subsequently created their own ‘six-speeds’ by combining the built-in two speed epicyclic gear with a three-speed rear hub.
(Actually, two of the gears co-incide, so it’s really a five speed)
This 1905 machine was upgraded with the addition of a 1914 Model A Sturmey-Archer three-speed hub.
The Sunbeam was recently restored by my friend Tony. You can see the restoration log further down the page. It rides well.
1905 SUNBEAM CATALOGUE
1905 SUNBEAM TESTIMONIALS
THE 1905 SUNBEAM BEFORE & DURING RESTORATION
Above, you can see the bike when purchased. Both the 1914 Sturmey-Archer three speed hub and Sunbeam epicyclic gears were in good working order, but everything else needed work.
Grinding off the rusty frame and handlebars was a mammoth task. You can see the restoration process in the photos below.
The mudguards were replaced, and the hubs were cleaned up, serviced and built into different wheel rims.
Finally, I installed new-0ld-stock period handlebar grips and a special Sunbeam commissioned Brooks B10 saddle, which has been rebuilt by Tony Colegrave with a new leather top.
