Head tube flanged

Submitted by FreeLander on Wed, 08/25/2021 - 10:40

Hi,

i have this bike that does not have press fitted head set cups but tateher what looks like a flanged head tube. It looks like it was lined with another metal. It has a Raleigh crank and Perry hub. The head badge is a Challenger. It completely disassembled now. The steer tube has been welded and doesn't look "restorable". 
 

Im interested in the history of the bike, but more so in the design of the headset, since it's the first one of this design I have seen. 

Take care and all the best!

5 Comments

Submitted by FreeLander on Wed, 08/25/2021 - 10:42.

I don't think the other pictures came through...

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Submitted by T-Mar on Wed, 08/25/2021 - 15:54.

Generically, they're referred to as "internal" headsets, as the races do not protrude beyond the head lugs, unlike traditional cups. The Italians called them "Tipo B" (type B). Some people refer to them as "integrated" headsets, but there is a slightly difference in that "internal" has separate races that fit into the frames, while "integrated" is a relatively modern style whereby cartridge style bearings with an integrated race are fitted directly into the frame. 

There were different styles even within the "internal" headset category. Sometimes the race seat in the headlugs were chamfered for self-alignment, while other times it was a traditional, straight sided counter-bore. 

My experience with internal headsets is primarily on lower end British bicycles from the inter-war through 1950s era. However, I know they survived into the late 1960s and were used on some high end bicycles, such as the Bianchi racing models. I've also seen some Japanese internal headsets.

The prime advantage over a traditonal cup style headset is weight savings and lower cost, however this is somewhat mitigated by the special head lugs. 

Submitted by FreeLander on Wed, 08/25/2021 - 20:03.

Thank you T-Mar! All very interest and informative. I appreciate it. So the internal sets were bearing-less with the a race set into the cup. Do I have that correct?

Thanks again!

Submitted by T-Mar on Fri, 08/27/2021 - 10:02.

Internal headsets also use ball bearings. The salient difference is the location of the race portion of the cups that fit into the frame. In a traditional headset, the race portion of these cups sits outside the frame. In an internal headset, the race portion of these cups sits entirely within the frame.

Submitted by FreeLander on Sun, 08/29/2021 - 05:38.

Thanks for clarifying!

All the best,

Dar