98cc Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Well i have been wanting to build one of these wonderful machines for a few years now, i have just finished my engineering project at school (steam engine and boiler) and i needed something to fill in the rest of the year and this seemed like a good idea! About a month ago i got in touch with the guy in Oamaru who builds them down there and he kindly sent me his plans to use. Since then i have made a few parts for it but on friday he was up in Auckland and brought me the saddle, fork tubes and cranks with peddles so now i have enough pictures to start a build thread. Check out the Oamaru Ordinary Cycle club on facebook if you want to have a look at pictures to do with Penny Farthings. Each year the club does a four day long ride around the back roads of the south island on penny farthings , i will of missed out for this year as it is in november but hopefully it will be on for next year. Anyway here are some pictures This is the pile of goodies I got, leather saddle handmade by the local Oamaru saddler, seat spring, and the 1850s replica peddles and cranks, notice the 3 speed gears! Here are two of the parts i have made so far, they are welded up into the bottom of the fork tubes which are round tubes that have been squashed flat and the front axle bearing carriers are bolted to them. They took awhile to make because i could only take light cuts with the worlds bluntest endmill (high school abuse hahaha) I am planning to make the front hub at school and them go down to Oamaru to make the rim,spokes and assemble the front wheel and also bring back a backbone. This is exactly what i am building, taken off the oamaru ordinary cycle club website 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Very very cool. Looks like you have done well so far! I see you sandblasted those parts its a good trick when things aren't perfect as it hides all sorts. Stopping from speed must be scary. I bet after some practice you could lift up the rear wheel and ride it like a unicycle! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Value Buddy Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Super cool indeed. I look forward to seeing your progress on this. Your parts look good so far. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valiant Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 Good work. How tall are you planning on making the front wheel? do you think you'll go to the street race this year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98cc Posted September 10, 2014 Author Share Posted September 10, 2014 Thanks flyingbrick and BigValveBuddy, yeah the sandblasting does make the parts look a whole lot better. I dont know about riding it like a unicycle though, it feels dodgy enough riding them normally although you can give it a go sometime if you want to! My wheel is going to be a 52 inch i think valiant, is that the street race in oamaru? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98cc Posted September 10, 2014 Author Share Posted September 10, 2014 I have been making some more parts, I am making 2 bikes now so double everything. I made these today, they are the handle bar clamps, just mocked up with a bit of 5/8th tube at the moment Here we have the neck and neck to back bone adapter and the bottom half of the fork pivot assembly. The tapered holes are where the pivot runs, i need to get the holes case hardened if anyone can help me with that or else i will have to send them down to oamaru for the guy to do. In the bottom left are just blocks for head tube adjustment And these bits are parts for the seat mounts, they still need the holes drilled in them but after that i can assemble up the seat 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valiant Posted December 21, 2014 Share Posted December 21, 2014 Any updates on this? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98cc Posted December 23, 2014 Author Share Posted December 23, 2014 Na no progress since i left school, i have just got an engineering apprenticeship so hopefully i will be getting back into it next year 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyingbrick Posted December 23, 2014 Share Posted December 23, 2014 Good on ya bro, you'll enjoy the trade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98cc Posted December 23, 2014 Author Share Posted December 23, 2014 Thanks for that, yeah I'm pretty excited about it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98cc Posted February 14, 2015 Author Share Posted February 14, 2015 I have started making the rear forks, they are made out of 51mm dia steel tube that is cut out and bent to shape. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris.QCR Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Looking sharp! Just watched a cool bicycle doco and it had David and the Oamaru Ordinary cycle club featured including the penny farthing race . If like to build one some day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seedy Al Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 is that the program on tv1 that the moonshiners are going to be on? or something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris.QCR Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 Same program . Going around the country looking at bicycle history and wacky inventions and crazy cars who ride Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seedy Al Posted February 14, 2015 Share Posted February 14, 2015 oh rad good shit Looking forward to seeing said program Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98cc Posted February 15, 2015 Author Share Posted February 15, 2015 Thanks Born Loser and Seedy Al, the oamaru ordinary cycle club do a penny farthing and vintage bicycle ride in october, its 4 days long and this year it is going from mt Sommers to Akaroa 180km so the goal it to get the bikes finished before then. Do you know what that program/doco is called? Would love to watch it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raizer Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 Along for the ride, and if you have no objections to torrents it was uploaded last night. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullitt Posted February 15, 2015 Share Posted February 15, 2015 http://tvnz.co.nz/along-for-the-ride/s1-ep1-video-6225665 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98cc Posted February 26, 2015 Author Share Posted February 26, 2015 I got some steel ordered for my front hubs the other day And i have now made the axles, the next job is making the flanges an welding them on. I am also planning on getting the hubs nickel plated when they finished. And assembled up with the bearing carriers and cranks. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris.QCR Posted February 26, 2015 Share Posted February 26, 2015 Nice work !!! I'd be keen to tag along on that ride to Akaroa on my 1912 speedy cycle race bike . Will try get Andy Gal & Peter King in on it too as they got vintage safety cycles too 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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