Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Mystery Frame

Traded my '64 Bottecchia conversion for this frame at the shop. They had no idea who made it, but they had it on display on the wall, and I think they were asking $500 or so for it.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4923863538_d8464e710a_z.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4923269311_9e79ab65fb_z.jpg



There are random letters and numbers on the lugs, and some here on one of the dropouts.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4923863802_a2df73f020_z.jpg


Can anyone tell me anything about this frame? Any guesses? My friends guessed that it was a home build.

Here are some more examples of random letters and numbers on the lugs:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4923269271_de5d660747_z.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4122/4923863742_002bdd445e_z.jpg

Here's a picture of the headset. (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4923863600_971535344e_z.jpg)
Bottom bracket shell (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4923863696_91acfcde85_z.jpg)


P.S. I forgot to mention the one thing they did know is that this was made in the late 70's or 80's.

Sweet! Love the nervex lugs! Not sure about the make tho.... but then again it could have had its ends swapped....

Try posting in the C&V forum.

Sorry, new here. I guess that would be a more appropriate place; I'll post it over there as well. But maybe by chance one of the single speed folks might happen to have a clue.

Sweet! Love the nervex lugs! Not sure about the make tho.... but then again it could have had its ends swapped....

Not sure on the Nervex lugs. They don't look like any that I have seen before.

http://cyclespeugeot.com/images/Nervex_lugwork.jpg

I stand corrected upon actual closer inspection.... :lol::rolleyes:

Doesnt look clean enough for a professional build. Any one selling that would have cleaned up all the welds, lugs, etc.

I have identical lugs on my early 70's Raleigh.

I have identical lugs on my early 70's Raleigh.

What model, they don't look identical to any Raleigh that I have ever seen...

(kinda, sorta, but not quite) close to some Puch's tho:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_K3LsaGxYIZg/SiOUwbN0QRI/AAAAAAAAAIk/K1HAbn72HZU/s320/lugs_puchclubman.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4923269311_9e79ab65fb_z.jpg

Check this out! I think I may be onto something.

http://www.carltoncycles.me.uk/mybikes/images/69-l2.jpg

1969 Carlton Longfellow

Check this out! I think I may be onto something.

http://www.carltoncycles.me.uk/mybikes/images/69-l2.jpg

1969 Carlton Longfellow


Found the name of the lugs "Crespera".... You may have a rare gem there.

http://www.carltoncycles.me.uk/details/lugs/images/crespera.jpg

i think raleigh/carlton were known for forks like yours too

Looks like a match :O

fork looks similar to this, no?

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2651/1772/1600/raleighcrown.jpg

fork looks similar to this, no?

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/2651/1772/1600/raleighcrown.jpg
Very similar, indeed, but not an exact match.

I've seen a lot of Raleighs and Carltons that look very similar, and Sheldon Brown's Raleigh dating page (http://sheldonbrown.com/retroraleighs/dating.html) says that the number stamped on the dropout dates it to 1966. However, I've yet to find an exact match! I can't find a Raleigh or Carlton track bike from that time that has the same lugs.

I found this on ebay. The lugs don't look the same but the fork does. Also the dropouts kinda do but its hard to tell from the pictures. You might want to message the seller. His name is "carltoncycles" and he seems to know his stuff.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350386659298&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1266wt_1139

I think we may have a match. A quick Google search for "Carlton Flyer Track" wielded a few bikes that are almost an exact match. This one is nearly exact, but it looks like the owner changed out the fork.

167351


This one is an exact match all the way around.
http://cars2.ebay.com.au/Carlton-Flyer-Track-Frame-Path-Racer-Reynolds-531_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ250667465754#ebayphotohosting

The ONLY thing that bothers me is the headbadge. My frame has two small holes in the head tube that look like they're for a badge, but they're vertical, as in one on top of the other. All of the Carlton badges I've seen are horizontal. I'll keep looking.

Thanks for the help everyone! I'm pretty satisfied with what I've found. 1966 Carlton Flyer.

The chrome looks a lot like stainless steel that's been polished.

The chrome looks a lot like stainless steel that's been polished.

Not to me.

Looks like old chrome (awesome).

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4923269311_9e79ab65fb_z.jpg

vs.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4333760669_7fe124a352.jpg

my guess is it's a raleigh track from the 60s, the dropouts and everything else matches the carltons from the 60s but the headbadge is weird. by the 70s raleigh and carlton both started using simpler lugs and beefier dropouts

sweet bike by the way, enjoy it

sweet bike by the way, enjoy it
Thanks! I'm definitely going to be riding it often. I'm probably going to put new parts on it because, while I can appreciate that it is indeed a piece of history, I will be riding it every day. Frames haven't changed much over the years, but the components sure have. Plus there are a few dings in the tubes, so it wouldn't be worth an awful lot anyway. I'm not building it to be a museum piece, I'm building it to be a dependable piece of machinery (regardless of how awesome it looks :))


Also noteworthy: My fork isn't drilled for a front brake! While it's cool that it's a dedicated track bike, I was planning on riding with a brake. Any suggestions? I said I don't care about restoring it accurate to the time period, but I'm not down with maiming the fork with a drill.

I am sure most LBS will be able to drill a hole for your front brake.

and as a sidenote, chrome+white looks awesome.

my guess is it's a raleigh track from the 60s, the dropouts and everything else matches the carltons from the 60s but the headbadge is weird. by the 70s raleigh and carlton both started using simpler lugs and beefier dropouts
Or a Carlton path racer.

Not to me. Looks like old chrome (awesome).

Stainless steel goes from this to what you see next to it or even what you show, depends upon how much time you put into polishing it. And exposed to the elements, it can easily lose it's brand new luster:

http://www.bremertonnjrotc.com/goaweighto/anchor/anchor8.JPG

And it could even look like this:

http://prollyisnotprobably.com/2010/02/courage_bicycles_stainless_ste.php

http://speedpedal.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/bike-attachment.jpg

Stainless steel goes from this to what you see next to it or even what you show, depends upon how much time you put into polishing it. And exposed to the elements, it can easily lose it's brand new luster:

http://www.bremertonnjrotc.com/goaweighto/anchor/anchor8.JPG

And it could even look like this:

http://prollyisnotprobably.com/2010/02/courage_bicycles_stainless_ste.php

http://speedpedal.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/bike-attachment.jpg
Why are you hijacking the thread to yet again argue that you are right and everyone else is wrong?

Why are you hijacking the thread to yet again argue that you are right and everyone else is wrong?

Crocker, the mystery is solved regarding the frame make. I just made a casual observation in a positive light regarding how nice it was and that it looked like SS, somebody else challenged and argued it. Why is it I make a comment and someone else argues it, but I'm the one that hijacked the thread ? MYOFB !

This one is an exact match all the way around.
http://cars2.ebay.com.au/Carlton-Flyer-Track-Frame-Path-Racer-Reynolds-531_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQitemZ250667465754#ebayphotohosting

I just noticed that my dropouts are different. I examined every lug, but somehow missed the dropouts. lol

I just noticed that my dropouts are different. I examined every lug, but somehow missed the dropouts. lol

Careful there Higher Class wouldn't want CrockerCock to accuse you of coming back and hijacking your own thread because you found something that was argumentative, that "you are right and everyone else is wrong" ? ;)

your dropouts are different than the carlton frame because it's a path racer so it's meant to be raced on grass/dirt and would include drillings and clearance for fenders, your frame's a raleigh track from the 60's, the geometry is probably slightly more aggressive than the carlton as well.

You can get a keirin clamp-on front brake, and spare the fork from the drill.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4052/4333760669_7fe124a352.jpg
unrelated but.. drool..................


Also noteworthy: My fork isn't drilled for a front brake! While it's cool that it's a dedicated track bike, I was planning on riding with a brake. Any suggestions? I said I don't care about restoring it accurate to the time period, but I'm not down with maiming the fork with a drill.
use a keirin brake
http://www.chariandconyc.com/images/products/detail/DSC_0479_2.jpg
it clamps on to your fork. I believe it comes in regular (circle) or aero (oval) depending on the fork you have. Works as well as any other brake.

looks alot like my fathers steel frame. His was made by a small time builder on long island ny i believe in the late 70s. But its probably custom