Classic & Vintage - What year was my Raleigh built?

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Grand Bois
03-11-08, 09:45 PM
It's a black Competition with Capella lugs, a sloping crown half chrome fork, round and uncrimped, unchromed chainstays. There is a stop for band on shifters on the downtube and a cable stop on the chainstay. There are top tube braze ons for the brake cable. The dropouts are Huret and the serial number on the BB shell is A704.

As you can see, the condition is god-awful. I did manage to repair the dents in the toptube. It's completely stripped to bare metal now. I haven't quite figured out what to do with it. It's perfect for a fixie conversion, but I don't want one and I don't flip bikes. I've already built a lightweight 3 speed, so maybe a Nexus 8.

http://inlinethumb28.webshots.com/16603/2349910300068014369S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2349910300068014369bafnQF)

http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/3587/2942590600068014369S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2942590600068014369ZVliHL)

http://inlinethumb10.webshots.com/29321/2464660580068014369S500x500Q85.jpg (http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2464660580068014369AhuepH)

nlerner
03-12-08, 05:20 AM
I read somewhere (how's that for accurate sourcing!) that the Capella lugs were only used in 1974. That serial # doesn't make much sense, but that's not unusual with Raleighs it seems. Here's the '74 catalog image:

http://web.mit.edu/nlerner/Public/Bikes/74RaleighCompetition.jpg

Neal
Bikedued
03-12-08, 05:30 AM
Nice frame! Wish it fit me, I could properly dispose of it for you.;),,,,BD

Grand Bois
03-12-08, 06:57 AM
The picture doesn't show a sloping crown fork, but the text says it had one. I read that some '74 Carlton-built Raleighs had serial numbers beginning with "A", so that must be it.

I see that it had my favorite crank, a T.A. professional 3 pin. There was a triple version, but I've never seen one.

You'd think they'd straighten the valve stem for a catalog picture.
USAZorro
03-12-08, 07:48 AM
... I read that some '74 Carlton-built Raleighs had serial numbers beginning with "A", so that must be it...

Bingo