actually, it finally happened to me. i
was restocking the bargain books outside
the used bookstore near kenmore square
where i work, and i noticed a bike locked
to the fence next door. at first i just
noticed the fenders, but i got totally
engrossed by it. the steel drop handlebars
(with black rubber handgrips),
the reynolds 531 sticker, 3 speed sturmey
archer, the faint remains of gold
box striping, the soldered brake cables.
it was an armstrong, and had
armstrong spelled out in the chainring.
the customer it belonged to noticed me
staring and peering, and he came over to
talk about it. he didn't know from bikes;
just did a lot of in town riding, and the
old guy at his bike store had dragged it
out of the back and told him he'd probably
like it. we both agreed that although grimy,
it was wonderful. of course i said if you
ever want to sell.... and he said he only
kept bikes for awhile and then sold them,
and if he ever sold this one it would be to me.
sure enogh, a couple of weeks ago he came
back, and i now own a 1952 armstrong club
racer. amazingly, except for tires, everything
on the bike is original and in working order.
i am now dismantling and cleaning 50 years of
accumulated dirt. the beautifully profiled
alloy fenders with made by armstrong stamped
into them are already mirror bright.
yr obdt svt
Stephen Fredette
Hull, Massachusetts
p.s. never try to research your bicycle by
entering "armstrong bicycle" into google.