Classic & Vintage - What is this Columbus frame? need help.

Hi.

I found this on the roadside rubbish collection yesterday. has a mix of Shimano Sante and 600.

Frame is very light for its size. columbus drop-outs (forks & frame)

Serial number on the B/B is M205
Paint is a very dark blue with a gold mist over the top, done properly not with a spray can.

I know it isn't anything super exotic, as the lugs are quite basic, but it is well constructed & has an internal brake cable.


Seatpost diameter is approx 27mm (seatpost is stuck, so I will need to remove it somehow)
Once I find my damned headset spanner I will drop the fork out to see if there is any markings on the fork steerer.

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02341.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02342.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02343.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02344.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02346.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02347.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02349.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02350.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02352.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02353.jpg

http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02354.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02356.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02357.jpg

...

First step is to check the bottom bracket cups for markings to detrermine the thread standard. Second, check inside the bottom of the fork's steerer tube for five helical ridges. If there's nothing, then you can remove the fork to check the outside of the steerer.

Looks like a nice frame! Wish I could find stuff like that on the "roadside rubbish"...

check inside the bottom of the fork's steerer tube for five helical ridges. If there's nothing, then you can remove the fork to check the outside of the steerer.


Ahh. completely forgot about that.
Yes, it has 5 ridges - flutes.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02360.jpg
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02358.jpg

hmmm. no markings on the steerer. Just the serial number M205




My Rossin has the same ridges on its forks.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02117.jpg

Looks like a nice frame! Wish I could find stuff like that on the "roadside rubbish"...

they don't come easy haha.

when they do the roadside collections I am normally driving the streets all night till around 5am.

I found a rare Tange/Rhino BMX bike a few weeks back in MINT condition, all japanese made components
(except the wheels).

all I did was put new tyres on it.
http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/andrewlockhart/DSC02189-1.jpg

I have nothing more to add to this thread other than saying that the OP's S/N is hilarious.
-Gene-

I would not dismiss this bike that quickly :)

the presence of Sante components gives you an approximate age: 1989-1991ish. The facts that it is a Columbus frame, it does not have a rubber cable guide underneath the BB and has that internal top tube break line arrangement, points to an italian make. Based on the size (it's a big bike), I'd say that it is Columbus SP steel. If you take good C-C, C-T and T-T measurements, I could probably nail the maker. I suspect that the bar and stem are Italian in origin as well. That was past the era of pantographed everything, so you might have something really good here...

ah, cool.

I have pretty dodgey eyes for a young fella (21) I can't find my glasses

58 seat tube
56 top tube. centre to centre

It has 3ttt bar and stem

ah, cool.

I have pretty dodgey eyes for a young fella (21) I can't find my glasses

58 seat tube
56 top tube. centre to centre

It has 3ttt bar and stem

Yup, seems like you got yourself an italian racing (not touring, based on the tube size) Columbus SP bike. And the Sante components would be a perfect fit for that era 1990 (+/-1).

That top tube brake line should be a dead giveaway if someone knows that era of italian bikes very well.

Cool. thanks for the info.


I wonder what brand it is? or if it was possibly built by a local builder in australia with italian steel?


Do you have any ideas what it could possibly be?

Cool. thanks for the info.


I wonder what brand it is? or if it was possibly built by a local builder in australia with italian steel?


Do you have any ideas what it could possibly be?

I am not that sure what it could be... But I am fairly sure of what it is not (and that is most of the 'major' Italian manufacturers who branded their bikes on several places in 1990 or even today.) If the bike is in AUS it could potentially be a home-made job. (and a great one, that top tube break line detail and the add-ons to protect the tube is really nice - and unique- I hope that someone who knows that later era of Italian steel better than me - I'm kinda stuck in the Campy component Italian steel bikes - will chime on; and someone will probably will... give it a couple of days :) ) This might be a heresy (not hearsay) but, if you got your measurements correct, this kind of screams Gios to me (they were the most aggressive frames out there and they really sold their bikes as frames pretty much). But... I suspect that Gios would not let a frame leave their place without slotted BB housings, at least up to a few years before that bike was put together...

and, btw, here is a shot of a (mangled) Gios of about your era showing a similar top tube brake line work (that one has crapy 90s Campy components and painted an ungodly red):

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2568/4048060925_ebbafac98c_o.jpg

I once saw a Basso Gap with a similar top tube............

I asked two of the old local frame builders who I suspected it was & they said no.


so, back to the search

anyone else with ideas?

aaaaaaaaaaaaanyone?

I have asked more of the aussie frame builders and it isn't theirs.

So it must be made in italy?
I wonder if i should go & ask the the person whos house I found it at?.