What was once an old rusty 1929 Raleigh Model 15 de Luxe, this motorcycle was treated to a sympathetic restoration and now shines like gold
Roger Brown spent almost two years looking over the machine and spraying nuts and bolts with penetrating fluid before tackling the restoration.
PHOTOS BY ROGER BROWN & STEPHEN BUTT
FAST FACTS
1929 RALEIGH MODEL 15 DE LUXE
Introduced in 1925, Raleigh’s Model 15 was powered by a 248-cc single-cylinder sidevalve engine, which drove a three-speed Sturmey-Archer gearbox. The de Luxe version of the Model 15 received a new saddle-style fuel tank for 1928, while the standard version Model 15 continued with the old flat tank style. Company literature of the day said of the 2.48-hp machine, “This is the generally all-round popular Raleigh, powerful enough to take a passenger or a decent amount of luggage.”
CADMIUM
Cadmium plating tends to be the original metal finishing on older mechanical equipment, so matching that finish is required for most restoration projects. Cadmium plating is desirable as it offers a high resistance to saltwater corrosion and will break down before the underlying metal, thereby adding a layer of protection to the material below.
TRIUMPH 3T
With the need for economical transportation after the Second World War, Triumph and chief designer Edward Turner developed the 3T, which was based on the 500 cc 5T Speed Twin. The 349 cc single-cylinder engine produced 19 hp at 6,500 rpm and was capable of 74 mph. Ridden normally, the 3T would return a fuel economy of about 80 miles per gallon.