Classic and Vintage Bicycles: What's it Worth? Appraisals and Inquiries - Stowe frames... info?

Hey, not sure if this belongs here, but here goes.

I'm looking for some info on a road frame I just picked up. It's apparently a Stowe frame. Built like a pursuit frame, it takes a 650c front wheel and a 700c rear, and has Shimano vertical dropouts. The seatstays join into one piece, like a tuning fork, before they connect to the seat tube (not sure what that design is called, but I'm sure you can picture it).

The original paint & decals are long gone, so that's of no help.

Anybody know when this might have been made, or if it's of any particular value? I already have a nice crit frame as my geared road bike, set up with a sexy Campy group, 1x9, so I'd like to find out if I can treat this one like a beater, or if I should give it some more TLC than I'd planned.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

The seatstays join into one piece, like a tuning fork, before they connect to the seat tube (not sure what that design is called, but I'm sure you can picture it).


"wishbone" is what it's called. I read some info on Stowes when one came up for sale in a very small size and one of my co-workers was looking...can't find that info now, but it was generally positive: they are well-made frames. I would not relegate it to "beater" status...but pics would be nice so we can really see what we're dealing with.

I know the builder. If you post some pics I'll let him know and he'll answer all your questions through me.

~kn

Great! I'll take a couple this evening after work. Thanks guys!

Here are some pics.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/bmorealex/stowe%20frame/PictureDump12-07022.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/bmorealex/stowe%20frame/PictureDump12-07021.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/bmorealex/stowe%20frame/PictureDump12-07018.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/bmorealex/stowe%20frame/PictureDump12-07017.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/bmorealex/stowe%20frame/PictureDump12-07012.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/bmorealex/stowe%20frame/PictureDump12-07011.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/bmorealex/stowe%20frame/PictureDump12-07009.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/bmorealex/stowe%20frame/PictureDump12-07007.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/bmorealex/stowe%20frame/PictureDump12-07005.jpg

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee179/bmorealex/stowe%20frame/PictureDump12-07015.jpg

Any more info will be much appreciated....

I've forwarded the images. I'll let you know if he can shed any light on it.

~kn

He said could be either Tange Prestige or Columbus SL. The date can be deciphered if you can find a serial number under that paint on the bottom bracket shell. Simple... first digit will correspond to the year (ie an 8 will mean 1988), the second two digits correspond to the size (seat tube c-t-c), and the remaining digits will be your production number in that year.

As far as turning it into a beater, it doesn't look like you'd be the first for that particular bike. I myself wouldn't. In fact if I came across that bike, I would restore it and treat it better than I do my $6k carbon fiber racer. A custom hand built steel bike made here in the USA by a skilled craftsman in limited numbers deserves it.

Curious as to your history with it? Where did you find it?

~kn

+1, that frame deserves *good* treatment: a good paint job and maybe some replacement decals from the builder.

Sweet! Thanks for that info! I don't know if I'll go as far as stripping the paint just yet, since it'll do its job of protecting the steel just fine, and I want to build it up and see how I like riding it. Once you told me about its hand-built-ness (in your prior post), I immediately dismissed any beater notions.
I picked it up on craigslist the other day for $340, and was actually looking for a pursuit track frame. The guy showed up with this, and I saw the Shimano dropouts and wishbone seatstay and thought it might be worth buying and researching. Good move, I guess.
It's got Sugino cranks on it now, and I'm not sure what bottom bracket... I'm going to have to start amassing parts for a nice drivetrain. As it stands, I'm going to build it up tomorrow with a Campy rear derailleur I already have, and a 9spd rear wheel (Mavic hub & cassette). I just got a 650c front wheel for it, another great deal, a 28h Miche Primato high flange track hub to a Campy rim, 14g straight spokes. Eventually, I guess I'll go Japanese (Shimano, maybe some older Ultegra, I dunno) with the drivetrain, since I have an Italian setup already on another bike, and since the BB will probably get along better with Japanese square taper cranks.
Don't worry, I'm not going to hack it up into a fixie monster. ;)
It will get the love it deserves.
Please tell Robert that I'm very pleased to have a piece of his work.

+1, that frame deserves *good* treatment: a good paint job and maybe some replacement decals from the builder.

When I talked to him he said he may have a few decal sets left but getting them from the decal company he used might be the best bet.


Please tell Robert that I'm very pleased to have a piece of his work.

I'll let him know. If you decide to have it pro painted someday he mentioned that Viscious Cycles (http://www.viciouscycles.com/paint.php3) did some of his paint jobs. It might be worth giving 'em a call at the very least.

Keep me updated on its progress.

~kn

Great, thanks! I'll keep this thread bookmarked and post progress pics as it comes. Repaint is going to be the last order of business, I think, but is certainly in the cards. I'll probably get that done locally, here in Philly, at Bilenky, when the time comes.

Hello I came across this thread tonight and thought i might give you a shout. I recently picked up my first road bike and it is a stowe phase III . I was wondering if you had any info on this bike? Most of the components have been replaced and I would love to know more about it. I would also like to know if some parts of the frame might be jeopardized. There are some cracks in the frame near the fork. Thanks for any info you might be able to shed.
-Bryan in Brooklyn
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/784737-New-Bike-Stowe-Phase-III-NEED-ADVICE

Be nice to see a side view of this bike with wheels in it.

Certainly has appeared to have lived a hard knock life and got attacked by a heavy handed spray can.

Get it repainted. I would even do some referencing as to how these looked originally. And if the paint was sublet, who did it.