violto

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to put a name to my frame, recently picked up from a local bicycle recyclers. I've checked through the past posts and oldroads.com serial number database but haven't turned anything up. It could be Australian (I'm in Brisbane) but other than that I have no idea on it's heritage. It has a strange serial number on the BB and then another on the seat tube. Also, the headset is a pressed in cup where the tube flanges protrude to accept the bearing races. Fairly fancy lug work too. It's been converted to a single-speed for the road and I've just put a new lick of paint on - came with a HORRID rattlecan red so that was the first to go.

The serial numbers read:

46371 X (on the seat tube)
and 851 on the BB.

THANKS FOR ANY INFO!!

Tim

luker

The "Integrated" headset and the little spears on the fork crown make me think Bianchi. I'm no expert, though, this bike is before my time...

Cool bike though. What does the seat cluster engraving say? What would the seatpost size be if it didn't have the spacer in it? and...what is the bottom bracket - English or Italian (or something more sinister?)

violto

Yep, the integrated headset might be its biggest tell. I've heard that they were 'in' around the 60's or 70's? Seat post is a 26.8 but the spacer is only there to make it fit around the clamp area (I cut the spacer short so that it would fit). The lock-ring is on the drive side - does that make it english?

Seat cluster engraving is "46371 X" as mentioned in the first post.

Tim

Edit: Forgot to mention that I had to destroy the original seat-post as it was stuck in the frame after the last owner it last decided it would look better if it was painted ALL THE WAY DOWN! It was unfortunately quite ornate and a beautiful piece of work and it was a shame to see it go.

Also, just remembered that the seat-post said "THOR".

Otis

I don't know what it is, but I would add to the mix that: that was a common type of headset arrangement for many pre-war bikes, as were rear facing drop-outs. There's a good chance it is not a track frame. Regardless it will build up into something cool to ride.

violto

It could be pre-war and it may NOT be a track frame. It has drillings for breaks front and rear and if I'm not mistaken, it also has a hole in the chain-stay bridge for a mud guard.

It was pretty strange, when I purchased the frame, it had a shimano cable guide on the down tube near the BB and another cable guide on the DS chain stay. I assumed that it was for a derailer but there is no attachment for it!! Could it have been for a geared hub?

There are no bottle cage mounts so that's why I assume it's a track frame but it could be a completely different animal. Also, there is a small hole for a screw on the left-hand side of the BB shell at right-angles to the horizontal. Could this have been the original attachment for the cable guide? I'll have to plug it up if I don't want dirt and grit entering the BB shell.

Cheers,

Tim

cudak888 

Is that a fisheye lens effect, or are those top tube/down-tube joints badly bent?

-Kurt

violto

haha no they are straight, It's the fish-eye effect. I had my camera on 'macro' and it's quite a close shot.

el twe

Measure the BB shell to determine if it is or isn't Italian threaded.

violto

It's english - 68mm

el twe

Not Bianchi, then. Could be Australian, maybe British. My money's on path racer.

unworthy1

I think el twe is right about the path or road-path and I'd second the "British". Anything else is a guess for me, but somebody like Hilary Stone (PM him) would be a better bet to suss this one out. It's clearly old and a shame that the tubing has suffered some insults down around the BB.
BTW, the lockring is on the non-drive side, where you'd expect it. I think there might have been an oil cup in the BB shell, at an earlier time.

violto

Hi unworthy,

What do you mean by path or road-path? about to do a forum search on the name. Probably more likely to be an Australian frame and builder. Will give Hilary Stone a message soon.

Do you think the serial numbers give any clues? It's been in a few dings for sure and really should have filled them in when I painted it but it is only really a learning experience for me. I'm going to tackle a 70's era Hoffy frame that I've found and THAT will be a challenge.

This machine will be for the weekday rides and for pedal stroke training.

Cheers!

Tim

unworthy1

You're right, I didn't see that you were in OZ, but much of the Australian bike industry followed the British model, especially in early days. So Hilary may not be able to ID this, but then again he just might. Path was a British term for "track", and the road-path was a bike you could ride on the street, to the track, and with a few quick mods make it suitable for a track race and then ride it home, afterwards. These typically have fittings for mudguards and sometimes even lantern bosses, but they have the rear-facing "track ends" like yours.
BTW: Nice Bike!

violto

Awesome! Thanks unworthy. I'm thinking that it might be a path-racer with the break drillings and guard holes. Was reading on other threads that some had a hold in the BB similar to mine.

Great to be able to at least know what the bike was used for! Love bike history and it's great to own a little bit of it. When are my wheels arriving**********!!!!

yellowjeep

How are you planning to build it up? I have nothing good to add other than its a sweet looking frame

violto

I've got a set of the OpenPro wheels from bensbikes on order and a Sugino crankset coming too. Probably put a 17T on the freewheel and a 15 on the fixed side of the rear. dunno about the chain but I have a set of bars and I have some of that blue Fizik tape to go with the paint job.

After that, it's academic, I've got some eggbeaters sitting here and some Michelin PR2's. Saddle is another matter. I'd LIKE to get the matching fizik electric blue but in all honesty, I can't justify spending $120 when I have a perfectly good one to attach. Unfortunately, it's black.

Cheers,

Tim

violto

I just found this post

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ght=path+racer

Some guy found a Caminada frame that is actually a Viking Path Racer from Australia. Might be getting closer to finding what this frame WAS.

If I do find what it is, I'll have to change the decals and will put something more traditional on!!

violto

Jackpot:

Does this look familiar?
https://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...0&d=1138131501

The guy who owns it rekons it's a Viking path racer but rebranded with "Caminada".

Only thing is that the Vikings that I've seen, the lug-work is pretty darn fancy, and mine isnt nearly as nice.

Might be getting close!

Edit: Crap, this means I'm going to have to re-do the decals.

Another Edit: the guy's bike is a little different to mine -

The head tube lugs are similar but a little fancier than mine
The track dropout is similar and the same shape but doesn't have the mud guard attachment holes on top
the seat cluster is almost identical and uses the same style of end caps for the stays.
Can't tell anything much about the rest of it, don't have a close-up of the forks.

Could be a different model?

Pasqually

looks like what they call a club racer.

I found one very similar at the beach one day, every tube had been dinged and bent and both rims snapped (they were timber) it was very rusted, but something was telling me to drag it home.

luker

the one in the other thread is considerably newer than yours...

luker

It looks like you have a 70 mm axle in your bottom bracket. Normally, the threads on the adjustable cup are flush with the lockring. The hole in the bottom bracket shell fits either a grease zerk or (older) a little cup that holds oil and drips it into the bottom bracket bearings. I think you'd probably be happier with a zerk (and I dunno where you'd find an oil cup). The hole should have something in it, though, because it'll drip water into the bearings just as well as it would oil...

Grand Bois

You should be able to find a Zerk fitting that fits that hole. I put a socket on mine and tapped it in with a hammer. Obviously it's just for looks with that cartridge bottom bracket. I didn't notice that I missed filling that little pit until I looked at the picture.

violto

Wow thanks guys!! I wondered if that was an oil port - similar to the ones found on old hubs. I'm going to have to find a nice nut to go in there.

Dirtdrop - what year/make is your frame? My port is almost exactly the same but the BB shape is slightly different.

Does anyone know what year those semi-integrated head-sets were around? are they unusual?

Cheers,

Tim

el twe

I think the integrated headset was around in the 30s and 40s.

violto

30's and 40's?? I had no idea it was pre-war. It doesn't LOOK pre-war. There was just about no surface rust and very little on the inside of the BB and headset.

Aside from the numerous dings, it is in really good nick.