Classic & Vintage - Newest addition to the stable: Bertrand

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA
engo
08-18-09, 09:19 PM
I think I have something for Quebec-based framebuilders. I've just picked up a c 1984 Bertrand frameset. Don't know what I'm going to do with it yet, but I'm happy I bought it!

Here's a few crappy pics of this lesser known Canadian brand:

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m73/N_Goe/Bertrand/1984BertrandHeadtube.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m73/N_Goe/Bertrand/1984Bertrand2.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m73/N_Goe/Bertrand/1984BertrandseatclusterR.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m73/N_Goe/Bertrand/1984Bertrandheadtube2.jpg
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m73/N_Goe/Bertrand/1984Bertrandforkcrown.jpg

mkeller234
08-18-09, 11:05 PM
That looks awesome. What's up with the exposed bearings on the bottom of the headset?
USAZorro
08-18-09, 11:17 PM
Neat looking bicycle.

Looks like someone installed a needle bearing headset incorrectly.

engo
08-19-09, 07:09 AM
Actually, the headset is shot, and I just used a few parts to keep the fork and frame together...
T-Mar
08-19-09, 07:24 AM
I think you might be able to push the date back a bit. That's got the old logo and no chrome. The new logo was definitely in place by 1985, so it's 1984 at the very newest. BTW, consider yourself lucky regarding the lack of chrome. I had an SLX come through the shop a week ago. It had the worst chrome I had ever seen. Of course, it could have been an anomaly. I don't recall them being bad but then again this was the first one I've examined closely after 20 years of use. The owner offered it to be for $340 CDN but I turned him down. It was just too rough cosmetically and the left crankarm had the stripped extractor threads.
engo
08-19-09, 07:42 AM
I think you might be able to push the date back a bit. That's got the old logo and no chrome. The new logo was definitely in place by 1985, so it's 1984 at the very newest. BTW, consider yourself lucky regarding the lack of chrome. I had an SLX come through the shop a week ago. It had the worst chrome I had ever seen. Of course, it could have been an anomaly. I don't recall them being bad but then again this was the first one I've examined closely after 20 years of use. The owner offered it to be for $340 CDN but I turned him down. It was just too rough cosmetically and the left crankarm had the stripped extractor threads.
Thanks for the info, T-Mar. 1984 was the date I was given, but I imagine that with small builders, date sold does not always equate to date built, and that it could be slightly earlier.

I was also told that this frame was actually custom built for the owner by Bertrand himself, and not subsequent staff builders. No way to know for certain, but it's possible. The date would support this.

Either way, I'm pretty happy with the condition of the frame; there were some paint chips that I touched up, but it's generally very clean. I'm looking forward to seeing how it rides!
T-Mar
08-19-09, 08:23 AM
If it's a custom build, then the purchase date should accurately reflect the manufacturing completion date. Barring faulty memory of the orignal owner, we now know the transition date for decal styles. :thumb:

BTW, what other Quebec built, bicycles do you have? Gianella, Marinoni, Limongi, Le Croc, CCM (Procycle), Velosport, DeVinci, Cervelo, Argon18, Hutesbault, Louis Garneau, Guru.... There have been a lot!
engo
08-19-09, 09:09 AM
I had a DeVinci, but sold it. Currently I have a Marinoni and this Bertrand. I guess I have a long way to go before I can open my "Museum of Quebec bicycle builders"! Ah well, it's good to have a goal!

Someone in the building next to mine rides a Hutesbault...maybe I'll leave him a note....:D