jefnvk

So, I bought this for $20, because I wanted the fenders for another project. I haven't been able to find any information on what it actually is, other than a Columbia 10 speed, likely from the 70s based on the ridiculous looking reflectors and safety brake levers. I see a lot of Columbia 3-speeds on CL in my area, but I don't ever recall anything like this (not that I look for them, though).

It has a Huret Allvit rear derailleur, and Huret front derailleur and levers, some sort of French hubs (can only make out "France" in the oxidation), Araya steel rims, a Mesinger branded seat, and Dia-Comp brakes. It is in fairly decent shape mechanically, nothing wrong that a cleaning wouldn't take care of. It doesn't fit me, and I have no interest in keeping the bike itself. Right now I'm trying to determine if it is worth enough (or anything) to clean it up, toss some new tires on and make a couple bucks on Craigslist, or stripping the parts (I have other vintage bikes that use almost all those exact components) and tossing the frame. It doesn't look like a particularly quality bike to me, but I'll admit my eye isn't great at these things yet. No serial number, at least none on the dropouts, under the bottom bracket, or on the head.

3alarmer 

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...you have the right idea, in general. The components on these are nicer than the frames, because they were churned out in huge numbers in foreign factories, and used by the American manufacturer of this bike boom beauty on their gas pipe welded frames. I guess youi can sell anything if it has air in the tyres and rolls, but I'd be real surprised if you got your investment back once you put some time and tyres into the project.

Still, I regularly see $200 Varsities on my local CL. I'd just feel badly selling one to someone.

zukahn1 

I would probably strip the nice fenders components I could use like the nicer long reach brakes off the bike there worth more than the $20 you paid for the bike donate the rest to the local bike coop.

jefnvk

OK, thanks for confirming my suspicions that it is nothing special. Might toss it "as-is" on CL for a week or two to see if I get any biters, and if not strip what I want off it and give the rest to a co-op. Definitely a less wasteful idea than tossing the frame in the trash!

okane

So true.

Other ones I've seen look like the very bottom of the barrel. but at a glance this one looks to be the best of the worst.