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What would be interesting to know is how many of these flash butt welded frame were returned under warranty. This example survived 70+ years of, by the looks of it, comfy life, so yes it probably is one of the good ones. Ridden less than 1200 miles though if that cyclometer was on it from start. Brooks is not yet fully broken in, so it may just be true.
What would be largest cog Cyclo Benelux could take? Would want to keep original chainring at 48t.
Foreigner65-
Benelux
Have you got an 1/8th or 3/32" chain?
If 3/32, all I know is that the Simplex TdF (fairly similar) claims to be able to go up to 24 teeth, but these 'plunger' type mechs always seemed find big sprockets challenging!
If 1/8th, I doubt if you will be able to find much above 21 teeth - three speed blocks 16/19/21 are still around, but I couldn't find anything bigger when I was looking.
It seems riders were tough back in the fifties - I suppose if you started your cycling life on fixed, having a (bottom) gear in the high fifties seemed perfectly reasonable.
clubman
Amalgam
As I understand it 'Amalgam' was Dayton's word for what was more usually called 'flash butt welding'. The main tubes were mitred, pressed together, an electric current passed through the assembly, and.... bingo, it was glued together!
Sometimes it stayed together, but sometimes it didn't. I guess the quality control wasn't great. Dayton certainly sold a lot of bikes in the fifties - many going to children as a reward for passing the eleven plus exam ( subtext - now you can get yourself to school ).
Amost every one I saw was canary yellow - I've got a feeling this may be an early version, since the finish is more elaborate than the ones I remember.
Some other little facts: Dayton were based in Park Royal, London NW10, the cast head badge with the micrometer motif weighed a good two ounces - I know this because I used a Dayton badged frame as a TT bike which served for all my PBs. I replaced the badge with a transfer. My frame wasn't Amalgam - it was a track frame built with conventional lugs and silver soldered, quite probably by an outside builder, nothing to do with Dayton. They once had a pro track team.
Since this nicely finished bike has lasted so long I guess it must be one of the better ones - I suggest reducing the gearing and just enjoying it.