Strange Raleigh
 

I actually am wondering if this isn't actually an International or Gran Sport in disguise. It's hard to tell since so many parts have been changed out and it has clearly been re-painted or touched up by hand. I did roughly 28mi on her last night and she's wonderfully smooth and compact for such a Lg frame size. Quite a plush ride.

Some weird things on top of the super comfy ride quality:
Low serial number with absolutely no letter on rear dropout- "0002XXX"
Original owner appears to have changed out the 27" sew-up's for 27" clinchers and thankfully saved the hubs.
"Professional" on top tube is placed in a very strange location.
Unknown head tube lugs (Which I very much like)

Made in Nottingham? Forgery? Who knows.... I'm thinking it will make a superb Randonneur though.


https://drive.google.com/folderview?...3M&usp=sharing

Is there a serial # under the bottom bracket? Those Capella lugs are usually found on 1973 models. I've seen them on the Competition, International, and Super Course. Not sure I've seen them on the Pro.

bigwoo-

Looks like a genuine Worksop built Raliegh / Carlton. The Capella lugs were exclusive to Carlton made products in the early to mid-70s, I believe. Another tell is the wire style rear brake cable stop bridge. The forged dropouts argue for an upper tier bike but I do not believe Professionals ever came with Capella lugs. Possibly a Competition or an International or one of Carlton's myriad distinct models? You might wish to try the Veteran Cycle Club's online library and browse their catalogues.

Feels very much like an International to me...the Capella lugs, the wire style rear brake cable stop, the top tube cable routing...obviously repainted and re-decaled (Professional decal is definitely out of location). All of the components also point to a Professional or International (assuming they are original)...and, given the lugs, again...feels like an International!

There's a claw in the back-dropouts aren't forged, I'd be inclined to say it's a Super Course

Sometimes 1974, too. I have not seen them on a Gran Sport.

Ruling out the Gran Sport, I'd say Super Course, too. It's probably from 1973, but could be from 1974.

I agree, almost definitely a '73 Super Course.

Lugs indicate it's a '73, which the older style serial also shows. Stamped drops show it's absolutely not a Professional, International or Competition. It could maybe be a Gran Sport, but I also have never seen one with Capella lugs.

I am not a Raleigh expert, but the claw certainly suggests Super Course to me, as well.

What is the seatpost diameter? 26.4 or 26.6mm would clinch it as straight gauge 531 = Super Course. 27.2 would indicate butted 531, and 26.0 or 26.2 would indicate "gas pipe."

Holy cow, lots of great responses when I got back from breakfast! Thanks guys.
There's no serial under BB.
Seat post is a 27.2.
Weirdness....

A chromed steel 27.2? You're 100% sure?

Measures exactly 1 1/8"

That's more like 28.6. Something's off.

I'm getting awfully tempted to strip the paint off of this thing to see what originally lied underneath

I'm still betting on Supercourse. I wonder if the post is slightly ovalized.

Almost certainly a 1973 Super Course. The Capella lugs were exclusive to '73; if any '74 models had them then they were older frames from 1973 that got built up later and "became" a 1974.

1973 super course. I think it would fool plenty of people if badged as an International, definitely fooling no one with the Pro decals

OK guys,
Thanks for all of the expertise. Crazy that someone went to all this trouble. Most interesting is that I had a SC 1 size smaller than this one years ago and was quite unimpressed with the ride quality. Maybe I'll see how she does loaded. Thanks again.

If it's a Super Course, it should have plain dropouts and a 26.6 or 26.8 seat post.

IF the seat post is indeed 27.2, it probably isn't a Super Course (but someone could have reamed the tube to take a larger post.

If it's definitely 27.2 and definitely butted tubing and definitely plain dropouts with no derailleur hanger, then it's not a Raleigh.

In which case it's a Carlton. The Capella lugs were introduced in the late 1950's and appeared on several Carlton models into the early 60's, such as the Carlton Capella. I really can't imagine why someone would repaint a Carlton as a Raleigh, but people do some strange things.

A couple questions that hopefully may lead to the truth:

Is 27.2 marked on the seat post?

Has the post and/or tube opening been measured with reasonably accurate calipers?

I'm leaning towards identifying is as a Super Course. The location of the serial number doesn't seem consistent with it being an International or Competition. As rhm states though, it could possibly be a Carlton, and measured seat post size seems the most telling clue we have available here.

Interesting bike, bigwoo. Eager to hear what you think of the ride qualities.

To clarify.
 

To avoid any further debate: Capella lugs were in introduced in 1960.

If it is a quality frame (whether badged Raleigh or Carlton) it'll be made by Carlton (in Worksop, Nottinghamshire). I've interviewed ex-Carlton employees for my book on the SBDU, as some ex-Carlton builders moved to the SBDU in Ilkeston, Derbyshire in 1974.

John.

Hi Z!
The ride is especially great on fast downhill descents. Tight and controlled. The flats are a quite refined and plush. (I'm at a bit of a disadvantage for some things because someone put a Dura-Ace freewheel on here that is quite aggressive and for flats/downs.)
As I stand here in the garage drinking my coffee and picking away at the back of the seat tube, it's quite obvious that the original paint on this was an off-gold/pastel yellow. I'm going to focus on the TdF I recently scored and pass this one on to a tall guy who's in a pinch for commuter transportation. I think it will be superb whether loaded or just flying around the city. Strange one indeed.
EDIT: I just realized that "Raleigh" on both chain stays and on the downtube are all hand-painted. They are definitely NOT decals. Sheesh, someone REEEEALLY wanted this to be a Raleigh Pro

John,
This sounds awesome. Is this already published or have you already submitted a final abstract or is this still in the works? I would love to pick a copy up when you have a publication date! Please let me know when this will be printed or already has!