jacksparrow

just picked up a mystery frame of sorts with all the fruits. Problem is no decals and I can't really work out what it is.

The headtube has the three rivet holes which I would think scream RALEIGH. i measured the rivet holes against an old raleigh in the shed and it seems to be spot on. the only problem is the rear hanger is a VITUS which I thought would denote a french marque. The forks tips are very angular (se pics) It has integrated cable guides on the BB shell which I have never seen before.

The serial on the BB shell number reads WM2002060 with a small maybe SB or just a B as a prefix.

Apologies for the poor photo quality.

USAZorro

That definitely seems like a Raleigh serial number, and would seem to indicate a 1982 build - based on it having a chain hanger.

Looks likely to be a 1982 Grand Sport, or possibly a Competition (see here)

JohnDThompson 

Raleigh was notorious for using whatever parts happened to be available for their frames, so the Vitus dropouts are probably a red herring. The BB shell is English thread, yes? Raleigh used many different serial number schemes over the years at their various manufacturing facilities, so interpretation can be difficult. The initial "W" is consistent with a Worksop built frame, though.

USAZorro

The 1982 catalog lists two models spec'd with Vitus dropouts. Both have the same seat stay treatment. The only difference in the Frame that I can see are the head and seat tube angles. The Grand Sport has 73 degree angles, while the Competition has 74 degree angles.

jacksparrow

thanks for the info. Would the smaller stamped "P" or "B" which prefixes the serial # mean anything?
I cant tell exactly what it is as it's been repainted and laid on thick thus covering some of it.

Also looking at the catalogue, there seems to be 3 brake cable guides on the top tube, mine only has 2 - one towards the head tube and one towards the seat. See pics.

Also, would a raleigh have those angular forks ends?

unworthy1

I think those angular fork ends are Vitus, which would match with the angular DOs. There's enough detail between your frame and the *published* specs/photos in the '82 catalogue to suggest yours is either a limited edition, a later year, or frame-only. You can see that style of TT cable guide used on the gold color 753 frame in the back of the catalog, and it has just 2 guides, not 3. But a stock Gran Sport or Competition seem to show several notable differences to yours: the cable guides, the clamp-on shifters, and perhaps the forkcrown and blade bend (but hard to judge those last 2). Of course, Raleigh did "shoot from the hip" back then.

USAZorro

SB was the indication on a serial number for a frame that was built by the Special Build unit at Ilkeston. All the frames I've seen from there have SB, and then a 4 digit number following it. The W* prefix indicated Worksop (which closed in 1981 if I recall correctly - but then was carried on in Nottingham). SB and W* were mutually exclusive. What you have there remains a bit of a mystery.

Perhaps it was built late enough in the year that we should be looking in a 1983 catalog to find what it is. (again unlikely, as 2020 is a pretty low serial number for a large builder like Raleigh).

jacksparrow

the mystery continues!

The TT cable guides look the same but the braze on front derailleur mount and the seat stays look different...hhhmmm

I'll take the forks off tonight and see if they are stamped just out of curiosity.

kcoffey

Any luck identifying that frame Mr Sparrow, I have the same frame, two top tube cable stops an' all.....but alas no serial no'...Hmmm...looks as though it may have been a Worksop no' as compared to a sbdu no', as the filing that took place at some point in the frames history appears to be across the length of the bb and not the width, and sbdu were stamped across the width (by the edge not from edge to edge) as you have on yours, I know it has been awhile, but I have just come across this thread...

Ex Pres 

Looking at Jack's profile, the last time he was on BF was over a year ago; and he doesn't not have an email contact listed. You'll probably not get a response.

freewheeller

Hi there,
I'm late to the party but perhaps we can help each other out. I recently acquire this Ti-Raleigh Record Ace frame which looks remarkably like the one in your photos above. Mine is also an '82 vintage and also shares the same dropouts and cable guides.

However, browsing the '82 UK Ti-Raleigh catalogue, the Record Ace I found has different dropouts with mudguard eyelets. I can only assume my model came out after the catalogue went to press as a 'gap-filler' for the space between the standard '82 Record Ace and the '82 Gran Sport. My mystery is now, what was the original spec of this limited model?