This is where I write the crap I’d otherwise bore my family and friends with. Also a useful repository of information about things I’ve worked out, and links to other people who know stuff I don’t.
It’s also becoming a catalogue of my stuff-ups due to lack of knowledge. I seem to be someone who learns best by making mistakes first. It’s a sometimes expensive technique…
The picture above was taken on my mobile phone on Boxing Day 2009, in the hills behind Ripley, North Yorkshire when I foolishly asked to join my brother in law on a cross country MTB ride. In snow. It was awesome but we fell off lots. Next time studded tyres would be nice.
I’m an expat Aussie living and working in London. I have ridden bikes most of my life and I tend to bore my friends talking about them after a few beers, so I’m doing the anorak thing online and hopefully being a more rounded, normal human being at home. Time will tell…
I did call this blog Wingnut but that seems to have political connotations (I just thought it was a funny word to use). Spannerhead was tried but just sounded stoopid. Torque Wrench has a nice ring to it so I’ll try that for a while.
Talk Wrench - Bikes and Bits 
Great site! I’ve designed a few logos myself and I reckon the “D” in the Dayton logo is an engineers micrometer like this one
http://ca.photos.com/search/royaltyfree/92418929
best, chris
I have a Dayton Elite dated around 1946 with a Brooks B17 saddle – do you have any idea of the value of this kind of bike?
Hi, Sorry about my delayed response to your question. I would say if the bike is in good original condition (not repainted and with original parts) it is probably pretty special. But Dayton is a fairly obscure brand so it is really hard to guess what it could be worth. I am not an expert in buying and selling bikes, I just fix them up. I would be interested in seeing some photos.
cheers
Al
Hi
Do you know how to date a Dayton from the stamped letters and numbers on the underside of the bottom bracket? I have two Daytons – one is stamped AM7035 (with a smaller upside down 2 beneath and between the 3 and the 5). It also has wrap-around rear strays.
Vince
Hi Vince,
Sorry, no I don’t know anything about Dayton serial numbers. I dated mine based on the years of the components, specifically the rear derailleur which was a 1957 model.
If yours has original components I’d suggest a similar approach. Disraeli Gears is a very useful source of this information. Bear in mind Dayton Cycles went bust in 1960.
Thank you – it’s very kind of you to reply so quickly.
Sadly it is a bit of a dog’s breakfast as far as parts are concerned.
The front brake looks like a GB Synchron caliper with an Arret lever while the rear are Weinmann. Both front and rear derailleurs are later additions.
I was relying on the frame number!
I’d guessed it might be 1950s through the demise of Dayton and by the fact that the frame at the bottom bracket is about 65 or 66mm wide and the handlebar clamp area is the obsolete 23.8mm diameter. Quite a challenge these old English bikes!!
As I say, it has wrap-around rear stays which seem rare for a Dayton (?) and the rear brake cable runs along the side of the top tube – do those features help to identify it?
Vince