Bike Wolf

Any thoughts on what year/model and worth? Thansk in advance!



Several images will have to be resized, I will add later..

juvela

~MCMLXXII. Despite the Durifort tubeset a fairly low model due to stamped ends and plate style chainstay bridge. T.A. chainset likely a post-manufacture upgrade. Hope that whitish residue at base of seat tube is just foreign matter and not the sign of a failed/failing joint.

Bike Wolf

So is
"MCMLXXII" a model or is that your sig? Any idea as to value in case I sell? The wheelset is not original and the seat post is a Birmalux Made in England so Im guessing it is not either. everything else appears to be original however, just noticed there is number 72 stamped in front of seat post lug

juvela

Hello Bike Wolf,

Thank you for these additional images. She looks to be in fine condition.

~MCMLXXII was a date estimate. Others more knowledgeable will be along shortly for value ideas.

The 72 marking on the frame's seat lug is not a date. It refers to the angle in degrees between the socket for the top tube and the socket for the seat tube.

With view of complete machine to hand she looks like the T.A. chainset is original. My error.

Odd that her rear mech seems to have gone walkabout. Is this how she came to you?

Forum is blessed with very expert Bertin enthusiasts who will give you more/better information about the bicycle.

orcas island 

Much depends on your location and market. Where are you located?

Bike Wolf

Boise Idaho

T-Mar

I have only passing acquaintance with Bertins but they produced a Durifort model with stamped dropouts and a TA Cyclo Tourist crankset known as the C-34. There was also a rannondeur version known as the C-116, which I thought this might be, but the few I've seen typically have rack mounts on the upper seat stays. I'd place this early to mid-1970s.

The forum expert is BertinJim. I see he's active to-day, so I imagine he'll be along shortly and provide a more informed assessment.

bertinjim 

Bike Wolf-

T-Mar said, "...they produced a Durifort model with stamped dropouts and a TA Cyclo Tourist crankset known as the C-34." He is correct but the C 34 was an entry level sport bike and the bike you have is a touring oriented one as you can see from the "Special Cyclo-Touriste" in your first block of photos. The cranks, brakes and derailleur levers look original (although Bertin used Huret Allvits on this bike as well) but the wheels would typically been Normandy HF with QR rather than the nutted wheels in the photos. The front and rear OEM derailleurs would likely have been Simplex Criteriums to match the alloy levers. Your particular bike is from the mid-1970s based on equipment and graphics but Bertin decals were highly variable from bike model to bike model within the same production period. As far as model identification, it looks like a Bertin C 31. These were available without fenders, lighting and racks like yours although they often had those factory fitted accessories as well. The frame and paint seem in excellent condition but the changed out equipment means the bike is probably in the $100 - 150 dollar range with your market varying that up or down with demand. It's a lovely example worth keeping as a rider should you wish. With any luck, Charles will pop by and add further insight.

Bike Wolf

Thanks Bertin Jim! You folks on here are a very powerful and helpful resource, I learn alot from everyone

repechage

I have one of these, in green as well. A bit bigger, 57 cm, center to top.
As a functional bike and cleaned up my bet would be that even with the current wheels above $200 would be a place to start.
The problem for these bikes is that they are worth more parted out most often.
They provide a ride above their "price point" and visual appeal of the stamped dropouts.
Bertin's could be custom specified by a shop in fairly small batches, at mfg. the components would be all European.
Which is curious as Bertin had the Shimano distributorship in France. The seatpost may well be original, as I recall a 26.4 diameter, so the tubing is not too heavy given that the metric OD of the tubing is 28.0 mm.

juvela

One thing which surprised me a bit was to see a plate style chainstay bridge on a cycle of this quality level.

Was this a standard practice for the manufacturer at this time?

IIRC Bertin made contemporaneous models below this with a tubular bridge.