EnsitMike

Just found this frame in a relatives basement shop-- and it's my size.


Anyone know anything about it?

acoffin 

I would guess it's a re-branded English frame, probably Raleigh built.

EnsitMike

Hm, are these things worth anything?

Lascauxcaveman 

Depends on which Raleigh you're talking about. They made everything from top-end stuff to just-a-little-above-the bottom. Is there a decal that indicates the tube set used? Closeups of the lugs, seat cluster, dropouts and bottom bracket would the give the vintage frame guys a much better chance of IDing this thing.

The Golden Boy 

I think it's mighty cool looking- if you're talking about for yourself, and the frame fits and it's not too heavy- I'd invest in building it up (or finding a donor bike to steal parts from to build this one).

Not that I know the value of any such collectible pieces, I don't think it's "worth anything" to the point that I wouldn't be afraid of building it up and making it an awesome fun cool ride.

I think it's way cool looking.

rhm

I grant that the idea of an English import is not unrealistic, but it doesn't look at all like a Raleigh to my eye. Rear drop out is not Raleigh. And the brake bridge is not drilled for a brake? Interesting! Do you have the fork?

juvela

the soft edged colour changes in the finish suggest a germanic heritage. may be from the low countries. noted the vertically drilled brake bridge. weinmann made calipers for this type of mount. did anyone notice that the fixed cup appears to be one of those rare single doggers?

tend to think it more likely of continental origin.

may turn out to belong in the "show us your Dutch bikes" thread.

waiting for T-Mar to weigh in...surely he will be able to enlighten us all.

zukahn1 

My guess would be rebranded low end reatailer import frame western Eurpopean in origin early 1970's most likely Austrian or Danish. As just a rough frame no fork this one has basically no value. If you could find a somewhat matching fork and headset that would work for a hipster beater build maybe $50-60

juvela

the forum had a thread a few months back concerning a bicycle with a very English sounding name that was built in Belgium and discovered in...Japan(!):

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...1#post16113364

TugaDude

Looks like the non drive side crank is still in place. Tell us what brand it is. Might also have a date code. Would like to see pics after it is cleaned up. Looks to be in decent shape.

EnsitMike

Very cool guys-- I'll go take detailed pictures tomorrow and post them up.

FastJake

Unless you can figure out what it is, the frame is worthless IMO until you get that seatpost out. And it's REALLY down in there. I'll bet $20 it's stuck. To make a complete dork of myself here's solution to the matrix:

- You don't figure it out, the seatpost is stuck. $0.
- You figure out it's something decent, seatpost is stuck. Maybe $20?
- You figure out it's a cheap low end frame, the seatpost is free. $20.
- You figure out it's something decent, seatpost is free. Best case scenario I don't think you're looking at more than $75, especially missing the fork.

EnsitMike

There is a lot of caked on mud, but here are some closeups. Not expecting to have struck a high value frame, but I'm really curious about it because it was my grandfathers. So, what do you guys thing?

EnsitMike

I think you were on the money! Pedals are WECO and after a little google time found that they are made in Germany. Also got a bit of London origin finds in the little research I did so it will be great to see what everyone says.

zukahn1 

The detailed pick tell a lot it was definetly a bike 3speed .

and likely older than previous guesses

mparker326

BB oil port, 3 speed pulley, cottered crank as said point to it being older.

Looks like a steel seat post so you may have luck removing it. At this point, I would wash it real good and keep it as a memory of your Grandpa. If you want a project, build it back up and ride it. It will probably take quite a bit of $$$ to do this if you aren't a bike nut and have stuff laying around.

rhm

The BB oil port is not the normal English design. And the 3 speed pulley is on the left side; which rules out any Sturmey Archer 3 speed hub. If I recall correctly, the Fichtel & Sachs Torpedo hubs also shift from the right side, not left. Shimano made a 3 speed coaster brake hub on which the gear cable attaches on the left; so maybe your bike was made for that?

juvela

Hello EnsitMike,

She appears to have a Los Angeles bicycle license sticker on the upper portion of the seat tube. Does it perchance carry at date?

When you get around to disassembly would be curious to learn if the bottom bracket fittings bear any markings.

Thank you for the additional pictures.

EnsitMike

There are two stickers. Los Angeles license and a UCSB school permit. Both are dated 61. Unfortunately, I have a feeling those were probably placed far after manufacture date. Still very cool though.

No problem :]

juvela

Hello EnsitMike,

thank you for this new information.

the UCSB item combined with the date of 1961 is curious. the school was quite small at that time and had a largely female student body who were on their way to becoming teachers. not many male students. it became more of a fully fledged branch with wide ranging curriculae later in the decade.

was your grandfather perhaps a teacher by profession?

juvela

wrt the Weco pedals -

the forum had a recent thread about a Dutch bicycle which came fitted with Weco hubs. it is possible that your grandfather's bike may have also had a Weco front hub.

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...hing-different

IknowURider

Totally cool. I assume it had 26" wheels, in which case I would turn it into a single speed with some alloy wheels (nothing fancy) and for 15.00 get a single speed rear cog , but before you buy anything , get the seatpost out and open the bottom bracket and headset. I can't tell if that's rust or just road-gnar on the cranks.

Oh and the seatpost hopefully isn't jammed way down in there. Spray some PB Blaster in there and let it sit before attempting to extract it.