An eBay Mystery: French Edition
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
An eBay Mystery: French Edition
French mystery frame. Trash? Treasure? Qu'est-ce que c'est?
Campy dropouts. Interesting that it has the serial number stamped so prominently up top.
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting
Your best Sunday guesses?
Campy dropouts. Interesting that it has the serial number stamped so prominently up top.
https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ayphotohosting
Your best Sunday guesses?
#2
Stop reading my posts!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,568
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,053 Times
in
780 Posts
that serial number location is typical of Mondias (Swiss, but close by France). It's a later model (given the braze-ons) and could be re-sprayed so hard to say if it's a Mondia (which would have had distinctive paint even if all the decals were gone). Only other thing that springs to mind is a later model Gitane, but I think that's just cause of the rear brake cable support. Mondia had a second brand too called "Juvela", could be one of those. If you are the lucky owner, you may also be lucky enough to get a late Swiss bike that uses a standard ISO (British) BB threading...hope so.
edit: hang on, I just read the whole ad and seller says it's French threading, I'd definitely get that verified: Swiss would be the same as FR on the adjustable side, but LH threads on the fixed cup. Also, If it's a Mondia it's very likely Reynolds 531...
edit: hang on, I just read the whole ad and seller says it's French threading, I'd definitely get that verified: Swiss would be the same as FR on the adjustable side, but LH threads on the fixed cup. Also, If it's a Mondia it's very likely Reynolds 531...
Last edited by unworthy1; 06-08-08 at 11:15 AM.
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mentioned: Post(s)
Tagged: Thread(s)
Quoted: Post(s)
Not the seller, just a sucker for French bicycles and forensic mysteries.
I saw it this morning, and thought it was a pretty frame. But I'm no expert, and the $120 price (and the cryptic clues accompanying it) might either be the deal of the century, a crime against economy, or, most likely, something in between. I thought maybe some of the board elders might recognize it - or at least be able to reverse engineer its origins.
I saw it this morning, and thought it was a pretty frame. But I'm no expert, and the $120 price (and the cryptic clues accompanying it) might either be the deal of the century, a crime against economy, or, most likely, something in between. I thought maybe some of the board elders might recognize it - or at least be able to reverse engineer its origins.
#4
Senior Member
Unworthy1 is on the right track. Mondia or Juvela, around 1974 according to the serial no. It looks like the frame has had some braze-ons added. I can't be sure since I'm not familiar with Juvela but Mondias of that time period didn't have braze-ons for down tube shifters. My 1976 Mondia still uses clamp on shifters and the serial no. is 272151. The Ebay frame is nice and I'd like to have it but $$ is tight at the moment.
#5
Stop reading my posts!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,568
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1438 Post(s)
Liked 1,053 Times
in
780 Posts
I asked the seller via eBay about the threading and he answered:
"I did try a french cup on the left before I posted this sale and it did go in.
As for the right side I did not do that and the frame is 3 hours away to test it.
Thanks."
So, it's inconclusive, but I'd bet it might be Swiss threading. (The braze-ons could very well be additions made along with the paint job.)
What's your '76 got in the BB, retyred?
"I did try a french cup on the left before I posted this sale and it did go in.
As for the right side I did not do that and the frame is 3 hours away to test it.
Thanks."
So, it's inconclusive, but I'd bet it might be Swiss threading. (The braze-ons could very well be additions made along with the paint job.)
What's your '76 got in the BB, retyred?
#6
Senior Member
I've always assumed my 1976 Mondia has Swiss threading. The frame has sold for $162. Anyone on this forum snag it? One last bit of info I discovered: Mondia also made frames that were badged as Paul Egli and Tour de Suisse. It's not known if they shared the serial no. sequencing with Mondia and Juvela. Has anyone on C&V ever seen one?