Bicycle Mechanics - Converting a 1 1/8" headtube to use a quilled stem ??

I've just acquired (for free) a great commuting frame without fork. It has a 1 & 1/8 inch head tube. Is there a means of converting this so I could use an "old fashioned" 1 inch quill stem?

there are 1-1/8" threaded to 1" threaded adapter shims for such things.
I don't recall a 1-1/8 threadless to 1" threaded.

but why? it's like cherry picking the worst aspects of both systems.

If the fork is not threaded I dont see why to use a quill stem, if you have a 1 1/8 threaded fork then get a 1 1/8 stem those are available.

Quill stems require a threaded headset (at one time there was an adapter, but I don't think it exists anymore). If you have a threaded 1-1/8" fork, you can find a split sleeve with a 1/16" wall to reduce the ID from 1" to 7/8". Or if you have a 1" threaded fork you might find headset reducer sleeves for your frame.

I've just acquired (for free) a great commuting frame without fork. It has a 1 & 1/8 inch head tube. Is there a means of converting this so I could use an "old fashioned" 1 inch quill stem?

If I'm understanding this correctly, you have the frame but you don't have a fork for it.

Just get a 1 1/8" threadless fork, 1 1/8" threadless headset, and 1 1/8" threadless stem. Putting a 1" threaded stem in would make no sense at all. Note that 1 1/8" threaded systems do exist. My 1995 Gary Fisher Tassajara has a 1 1/8" threaded headset and stem which are original to the bike.

I would not be surprised if the OP is like me and has access to a bike coop which has a lot of cheap parts but not much in the way of newer stuff. My coop doesn't have any threadless non-suspension forks after I snagged the only one recently. Well they do have a couple but they are cheaper suspension front forks I think.

I tried finding a cheaper threadless front fork on CL and couldn't find anything other than one guy who wanted to sell me a carbon front fork off of a Scott Speedster but I didn't want to spend that kind of money.

You could get a 1/8 threaded fork and 25.4 quill stem. very common for mountain bikes in the 90's.

If you still need to get a fork there's little point on going frankenbike on the assembly. There are ebay options that are inexpensive enough for both fork and stems.

But if you insist - 1 1/8" steel steerers tend to be happy enough to accept 1" quill stems, so all you need is a workaround to to do the headset adjustment, and some way to lock it in. If you hammer a star nut all the way down to the bridge of the fork you can use a threaded rod, a piece of tube to go over the steerer and a crosspiece to get the compression right. A 28.6 seat clamp can be used to lock it in. Insert quill stem and ride away into the sunset