Bob Jackson?

My interest in this bike started when I spotted it on craigslist over a year ago and recommended it to my friend Joe who was in the market... turns out the guy he bought it from is also a fellow volunteer at Velocity Bike Co-Op.  Small world.  Anyway, Joe builds it up as a fixie but really only uses it sparingly on the trainer indoors last winter and when he moved back in the fall I ended up taking custody of it... whether to sell for him, or to purchase myself hadn't been worked out.  

I figured I should really build it up before making any rash decisions, and fixie wasn't going to work for me so here is the build I've managed to date.  I'm not positive this bike is in fact a Bob Jackson but I can tell you that it is quick, light and rearing to go...  This is probably the most 'lively' bike I've ridden that was close to my size.  

This build is not polished as you'll see, and the photography isn't great (when I don't wrap till after 10PM somethings gotta give)  but I think this build will give me a chance to get a good impression of the bike overall.

Joe was attracted to the plain, single color, no decal look of the frame. It looks massive becuase of a tall headtube but it's about a 61-62cm BB-ST top.  The saddle is a sweet 'Wright' leather unit courtesy of my good friend Erl.

A vintage build deserves vintage Dura-Ace... I'm really pumped about the DT shifters which I've never tried before.  I've never liked the idea of the reach down to the down tube but given the large frame size the distance from saddle to DT shifter bosses seems doable.  I LOVE the simplicity of DT shifter setup...  note the sweet deep-peaked lugwork!

The TA Zephyr rides again, OEM on my 64cm Atlantis, I held onto the crank and it's TA Axix sealed bearing BB... replaced the sealed bearings and it seems to be spinning nicely.  I stripped out the crank puller threads in an unfortunate series of events surrounding my sale and disassembly of the Atlantis but I've grown fairly adept at the hammer method.  The inner ring of the triple is un usable right now.

Seat tube cluster... sweet lugs showing some beausage/rust.  My rear cable hanger is pretty ghetto.

I know all my cables are a mess...  the Mafac 'Racer'' brakes are courtesy of the Velocity Parts bin and I have to say I'm pretty impressed w/ the centerpulls.  I will be replacing the pads w/ some modern salmon compound ones soonish.

6 speed freewheel from the co-op, much improved when paired w/ 6 speed chain!  big range in the horizontal drop outs as you can see.  No braze ons for anything on this frame.

The Pasela 32mm's courtesy of David from the Riv list were clutch in getting me rolling on this frame.  700x32 fits fine, and if I stay w/ 700c wheels on this bike I'll definitely look into some Grand Bois or Compass 700c tires.

This Phil Wood wheel set is 40T front, 48T rear intende for a tandem, but it also happens to have the now rare 120mm rear spacing.  I've never had Phil hubs before so this makes me happy.

Very old Phil rear FW hub, 120mm spacing w/ a 6 speed FW.  I can't reach the highest gear due to the frame interference so I just adjusted the rear derailleur accordingly.  Phil Wood tech guys responded to my question that for $137 (shipping not included) they can respace my hub out as far as 135mm and re-lube everything.  Might happen...