DoctorGenius

Hey all,

I'm not sure if I have posted this in the correct section but I
was wondering if anybody could help me identify the maker of this
frame / give any suggestions / general information about it.

I won it through an online auction and I have the intention of
giving it a new paint job and some new parts but I'm interested
to find out a bit more about the frame before I start.

I'm from New Zealand if that is any help. Serial Number reads : 74143
It has some 'bi-plane' forks which I don't see very often so they
might have the strongest indication of the maker, I'm not sure sure

Here are some images of the frame:
https://img209.imageshack.us/i/dsc0306j.jpg/
https://img193.imageshack.us/i/dsc0309hd.jpg/
https://img27.imageshack.us/i/dsc0311xj.jpg/
https://img696.imageshack.us/i/dsc0313jg.jpg/
https://img84.imageshack.us/i/dsc0315iz.jpg/
https://img140.imageshack.us/i/dsc0317yk.jpg/
https://img585.imageshack.us/i/dsc0318p.jpg/
https://img168.imageshack.us/i/dsc0319c.jpg/

Forks:
https://img221.imageshack.us/i/dsc0321x.jpg/
https://img710.imageshack.us/i/dsc0322y.jpg/
https://img690.imageshack.us/i/dsc0323k.jpg/
https://img832.imageshack.us/i/dsc0324m.jpg/

Thanks

CV-6 

You left out one vital clue. Threading.

Bianchigirll 

DoctorGenius

Thanks CV-6. I'm relatively new to all this so I'll do some research
into the threading on the bottom bracket and headset and get back to
you later on today.

CV-6 

What did the seller have to say on the history of the frame?

noglider 

I don't know, but it's nice.

DoctorGenius

The seller didn't have much to say about the frame when
I got it off him. He said he had it lying around for quite some time
and forgot where he got it from. He said it is a frame from the 70/80s.

I also brought a headset off him when I was there and he measured
it and said it was the Italian style headset.

unworthy1

it's a twin-plate fork crown, except this one's not a typical flat plate on the bottom, but a forged piece with points...also has been drilled for either a front brake or ? Lugs looks to be Bocama, but the top headlug looks like it was "faced" quite a bit so that some material is removed from the top, perhaps the lower got that treatment, too. The long taper to the stay ends and forkends looks distinctive, but doesn't ring a bell with me...wasn't there a Bosomworth building frames in NZ? Any chance it's his work?

DoctorGenius

Thanks for the reply. I think you are onto something there. I looked into it and there was a Bosomworth
building frames in NZ. Mike Bosomworth or Eddie Bosomworth. Also found that the serial number 74143 indicates it may
have been built in 74 in January and it was number 43. Sounds logical.

Cheers for the knowledge, unworthy1

unworthy1

here's a quote lifted from the CR archives (unfortunately, it doesn't support the idea of this track frame being a Bosomworth):
Eddy Bosomworth built frames in Rotorua from mid-70s ( I first saw one in
1977 or 78), until about 1989, when he sold the business.
He had a fairly sophisticated operation- plenty of Italian framebuilding
machinery and a computerised frame design system.
Early Bosomworth frames used pressed lugs with 3 holes drilled Cinelli
style. The ebay frame looks typical of his mid-80s output with investment
cast Cinelli lugs. The frame is probably completely nickel plated
underneath the paint.

Bosomworth supplied frames for most of the New Zealand team at the 1988
Olympic games. While there were many custom builders in New Zealand at
that time, Bosomworth was the only one to move out of the garden shed into
a truly professional business.

David Benson
Auckland, NZ
the boldface is mine: I think it's pertinent to note that David says there were a lot of NZ builders, but Bosomworth is the only name we Yanks know of...

DoctorGenius

Hah, awesome info. Cheers for that.
Could just be a random NZ built frame.
Somebody else recently told me they had a
frame like this and the previous owner
raced it in NZ at track level like 20 years ago.
And he was certain it was NZ made.

Cheers for all the help