Classic & Vintage - what do I have here

I'm a Raleigh man so therefore dont have much knowledge on other makes.
Today I stripped down an old racer/ tourer and noticed the odd rear brake mount

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b58/pcritcher/sale002.jpg

Anyone have a clue as to who makes these bikes???

Dollar sign shaped brake mounts? Could have been the Bling Bling Bicycle Company. :)

That's obviously a creation of the Super Man Cycle Works.:lol:

I've got the same frame, or at least it has the same brake bridge and the rest looks the same. Mine is pretty low-end but had the original decals "Tensor" head badge from (if I remember correctly), Darlington or Durham in North East England and "Made in West Germany" on the top tube. A strange bottom bracket arrangement - pressed in cups like on an Ashtabula crankset, double chromed chainrings with a trouser protector plate on the outside. The drive side crank is fixed to the BB Axle and the left crank only is cottered. The cups are a different size to the BMX and Schwinn types so the alloy convertor I bought won't fit. the left chainstay has some sort of square bracket fitted to it that might be for a wheel lock or reflector. original finish was metallic red with a black seat tube band and "Wold Champion" finishing bands. As far as I can ascertain, Tensor was an importing company who bought products from the European mainland, assembled them in their warehouse and sold them on. This bike had Huret 10 speed, a Wrights leather saddle, chromed 27 by one and a quarter rims on chromed non QR hubs, alloy bars & stem and Weinmann side-pulls. No cable braze-ons, the white outers were full length. Now it's resprayed I think it's a candidate for SS/FG conversion and selling on to someone who'd appreciate that kind of bike. It's not as bad as it sounds - quite a fun ride but mine's not a "keeper". On one posting someone said they thought there was a problem with the forks, but they seem sound enough. Hope this helps, don't know who actually manufactured it, since Tensor seems to be badge branding, but would like to find out!

Are the seat stays MIG welded? yeesh

I've got the same frame, or at least it has the same brake bridge and the rest looks the same. Mine is pretty low-end but had the original decals "Tensor" head badge from (if I remember correctly), Darlington or Durham in North East England and "Made in West Germany" on the top tube. A strange bottom bracket arrangement - pressed in cups like on an Ashtabula crankset, double chromed chainrings with a trouser protector plate on the outside. The drive side crank is fixed to the BB Axle and the left crank only is cottered. The cups are a different size to the BMX and Schwinn types so the alloy convertor I bought won't fit. the left chainstay has some sort of square bracket fitted to it that might be for a wheel lock or reflector. original finish was metallic red with a black seat tube band and "Wold Champion" finishing bands. As far as I can ascertain, Tensor was an importing company who bought products from the European mainland, assembled them in their warehouse and sold them on. This bike had Huret 10 speed, a Wrights leather saddle, chromed 27 by one and a quarter rims on chromed non QR hubs, alloy bars & stem and Weinmann side-pulls. No cable braze-ons, the white outers were full length. Now it's resprayed I think it's a candidate for SS/FG conversion and selling on to someone who'd appreciate that kind of bike. It's not as bad as it sounds - quite a fun ride but mine's not a "keeper". On one posting someone said they thought there was a problem with the forks, but they seem sound enough. Hope this helps, don't know who actually manufactured it, since Tensor seems to be badge branding, but would like to find out!


Mine had the same BB arrangement but both sides are cottered, I have Sachs gearing and weinmann centre pull brakes.
Mine is a basket case that was badly painted so i have stripped the paint and will be clearcoating the bare metal !
Wheels are badly rusted I have stripped them down snd will be painting the rims matt black.

Its odd you are in Maidstone as I'm just up the road in Tonbridge :thumb:

Are the seat stays MIG welded? yeesh

They're "blob welded" which involves finishing with a BFH instead of a file.

They're "blob welded" which involves finishing with a BFH instead of a file.

I think it may be a repair as the rest of the frame is brazed

Yeah, I think you're right - mine has neatly brazed stays at the seat cluster. Anyone else got any idea who actually made these things? Is there an old West German mass producer with a name beginning with "S" ??? (Guessing from the weird brake bridge we've both got).

that is what you call "booger welds"

The bottom hole is the brake mount. I'd assume the upper holes were for a rear rack,that they likely sold too.Looks ,,maybe pre bike boom. Not as cool as the SE internal bottle opener though. Chris

Mine had the same BB arrangement but both sides are cottered, I have Sachs gearing and weinmann centre pull brakes.
Mine is a basket case that was badly painted so i have stripped the paint and will be clearcoating the bare metal !
Wheels are badly rusted I have stripped them down snd will be painting the rims matt black.

Its odd you are in Maidstone as I'm just up the road in Tonbridge :thumb:


Wow Bomberman, that's close - maybe we'll meet up some time?