We all take on pretty desperate cases (you only have to look at some of my "bikes" to see that I don't mind), but John Rettig has served himself a good one by accepting these remains from a friend. The machine is - or perhaps was! - a single cylinder, shaft-drive FN. The frame number (32943) dates the machine as 1910-11, the second year of production for the model. In addition to the bits shown here, John also has the tank. Missing of course is the motor and ancillaries, the clutch, 2-speed gear, pedalling gear, front fork, handlebars...Oh yes, and the back forks. At least what's there is in very nice order. Funnily enough, at about the same time John was collecting his, I was given a similar frame. The good news is that mine is sufficiently ravaged by rust and hacksaw that I have no fantasies of building up a machine myself. Anyone who can help with bits can email me and I will forward messages on to John. Copyright © Leon Mitchell 1999
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