Originally Posted by
Doug Fattic
Miele used a lot of different BB shells including the one in your picture. What is most distinctive are the dropouts. I have never seen them on any other frame although I doubt they were exclusive to only Miele. Also the way the dropouts are attached to the stays in your picture is exactly how Miele did their attachments.
In 1995 Miele auctioned off their frame building equipment and supplies and I brought some of both back to Michigan with me. It was a fortunate trip because for years I've been able to use the materials I got there in my framebuilding classes for brazing practice. I have a 5 gallon pail full of those dropouts. That is why I am so familiar with them. I also got a bunch of lugs and shells and fork crowns. They used a lot of different kinds on their different models.
With your comments on the dropouts and the attached pic of another Miele on ebay, I'm convinced it's a Miele. The ebay bike has chromed Campy dropouts so that's not a match to the charity's bike. However the bottom bracket shell is identical to the one on the charity's bike and it has a braze-on front derailleur mount, just like the one on the charity bike. That along with your comments about the drop outs is enough for me, it's a Miele. Not the Pro, like the one on ebay, but I'm guessing it's a good quality frame, probably double butted, chromoly steel.
This is a big help as I prepare to sell this locally. We sell the really nice bikes we get to fund the bike ministry charity so we never have to ask our church to pony up any funds. Of course all the workers are volunteers. Thanks very much for taking the time to help out.
