Classic & Vintage - Columbus tubing question...

This is a picture of the sticker from an old Colnago Sport that I converted into a fixed gear ride. Now that I have bought a true track frame, I am going to sell the frame (regrettably, I don't have a need for it but I wish I did, the lugs are beautiful!) and I would like to give sellers as much information as possible. Can anyone tell me a bit about this tubing? I am guessing it was a bit lower end but I'd like to know for sure, thanks. If you are curious, click on my sig to see how it turned out as a conversion, thanks.


http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/BilderColnago001.jpg

Forgot to add the Columbus chart; I just don't know which Aelle tubing this is and hope someone can clarify it for me, thanks again.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j103/jetsanchEz/columbustubes5zg.jpg

Not sure about exact type of tubing but Tretube means that only the main triangle is Columbus, not the seat/chain stays.

looks like the choice is Regular Aelle or Oversized Aelle...how big a diameter are the tubes? In both cases, seems that the material (Chrome Manganese Steel) is the same, and both show that the sets are heavier weight and thicker wall than the typical (like SL) ChromMoly tubing. "Tretubi" does indeed mean that the three main tubes are...whatever the label says...

I recently sold my Guerciotti frame that was Tretubi Aelle. I liked it a lot..but then it did have a nice red/white/blue paint job on it. I built it three different ways and it rode well in all there configs. It never weighed over 23 lbs in riding trim. Yes it is lower end, but I have my doubts many of us could tell the difference.

My Bianchi has a Tretubi frame, which should make it comparable to my Peugeot PKN-10, with its "3 tubes renforces" frame. These mixed tubeset frames are one of the great values in vintage bicycles, offering great performance and ride quality at a small fraction of the price of a Bianchi Specialissima or a Peugeot PX-10.

The mixed tube set frames are a great value for sure, and that will be the struggle for this frame, its whole will probably be better than the sum of the parts indicate. Everyone wants the full "pedigree"

My personal conjecture is that the heavier tubing is a bit more forgiving against the torch because of the thicker wall throughout and the different alloy type, Alle is more like Reynolds 531 in composition than the typical Columbus tubing which by the textbooks should be silver brazed, not bronze brazed, as was often the case. That was a curious relevation in materials class decades ago...

Maybe that why Columbus placed the "531" look a like on the second tier, see... we are BETTER than them.

My personal conjecture is that the heavier tubing is a bit more forgiving against the torch because of the thicker wall throughout and the different alloy type, Actually, the butted SL is thicker at the ends, where the heat is applied, and thinner in the middle.


Alle is more like Reynolds 531 in composition than the typical Columbus tubing which by the textbooks should be silver brazed, not bronze brazed, as was often the case. That was a curious relevation in materials class decades ago...531 was always brazed until the elite framebuilders got into the act. Silver solder was required for 753 because the higher temperature of brazing could make itbrittle at the lugs.


Maybe that why Columbus placed the "531" look a like on the second tier, see... we are BETTER than them.I'm not gonna touch that one. ;) The battle between Columbus and Reynolds proponents has raged for generations. Usually when a manufacturer just used "name brand" tubing on the 3 main tubes, it was to save a few bucks. Just having the sticker on the seat tube sold the bike.

Actually, the butted SL is thicker at the ends, where the heat is applied, and thinner in the middle.

Yes, but the cheap stuff being a single wall thickness, meant less surprises when heated. I think straight gauge Reynolds is thicker in most instances.

531 was always brazed until the elite framebuilders got into the act. Silver solder was required for 753 because the higher temperature of brazing could make itbrittle at the lugs.

Those darn Americans popularized silver brazing, and later investment cast lugs helped to make it useful, I would not want to ask any silver to fill the large voids of pressed lugs. 753 was supposed to be Vadnium (sp) steel, and unsuitable for Bronze wasn't it?

I'm not gonna touch that one. ;) The battle between Columbus and Reynolds proponents has raged for generations. Usually when a manufacturer just used "name brand" tubing on the 3 main tubes, it was to save a few bucks. Just having the sticker on the seat tube sold the bike.

Don't you love marketing? I had a "753" frame that others rode and claimed rode just like other 753 bikes they had tried... when I removed the paint... the tubes were marked SUPER VITUS, oh, those French. I like the bike anyway, its all in the builder's skill in large measure. From experience I think the French were notorious for this, the Italians often provide no tubing claim.

The power of the placebo.

Don't you love marketing? I had a "753" frame that others rode and claimed rode just like other 753 bikes they had tried... when I removed the paint... the tubes were marked SUPER VITUS, oh, those French. I like the bike anyway, its all in the builder's skill in large measure. From experience I think the French were notorious for this, the Italians often provide no tubing claim.

The power of the placebo.

Depends. If it was Super Vitus 980, I can imagine how it might emulate 753. That stuff is light as heck - makes 531 feel heavy (and this from a genuine 531 nut).

-Kurt

its all in the builder's skill in large measureYes, that's what all the top framebuilders will tell you. 753 was so tricky to silver solder that Reynolds required special certification of builders before they were allowed to purchase it. Now, their top 953 alloy steel tubing can be TIG welded. I just came across the website http://www.reynoldscycles.co.uk/english.html Too bad the market isn't there anymore with Walmart selling Chinese aluminum bikes and all race bikes now being carbon. :(

Probably was the light stuff, with an Ideale 90 saddle and race wheels, tubulars, no stupid light components, it is sub 20 pounds for a 56cm frame.

Thanks for the info, maybe I will keep the frame and build it up for a friend or something, it sounds like it is too nice to let go.

Thanks for the info, maybe I will keep the frame and build it up for a friend or something, it sounds like it is too nice to let go.yeah, i'd just keep it. I doubt you'd get enough to make selling it worthwhile.