Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,638
Likes: 14
From: Maidstone, Kent, England
Bikes: 1970 Holdsworth Mistral, Vitus 979, Colnago Primavera, Corratec Hydracarbon, Massi MegaTeam, 1935 Claud Butler Super Velo, Carrera Virtuoso, Viner, 1953 Claud Butler Silver Jubilee, 1954 Holdsworth Typhoon, 1966 Claud Butler Olympic Road, 1982 Claud
I've got the same frame, or at least it has the same brake bridge and the rest looks the same. Mine is pretty low-end but had the original decals "Tensor" head badge from (if I remember correctly), Darlington or Durham in North East England and "Made in West Germany" on the top tube. A strange bottom bracket arrangement - pressed in cups like on an Ashtabula crankset, double chromed chainrings with a trouser protector plate on the outside. The drive side crank is fixed to the BB Axle and the left crank only is cottered. The cups are a different size to the BMX and Schwinn types so the alloy convertor I bought won't fit. the left chainstay has some sort of square bracket fitted to it that might be for a wheel lock or reflector. original finish was metallic red with a black seat tube band and "Wold Champion" finishing bands. As far as I can ascertain, Tensor was an importing company who bought products from the European mainland, assembled them in their warehouse and sold them on. This bike had Huret 10 speed, a Wrights leather saddle, chromed 27 by one and a quarter rims on chromed non QR hubs, alloy bars & stem and Weinmann side-pulls. No cable braze-ons, the white outers were full length. Now it's resprayed I think it's a candidate for SS/FG conversion and selling on to someone who'd appreciate that kind of bike. It's not as bad as it sounds - quite a fun ride but mine's not a "keeper". On one posting someone said they thought there was a problem with the forks, but they seem sound enough. Hope this helps, don't know who actually manufactured it, since Tensor seems to be badge branding, but would like to find out!