What to do with this Proteus frame?
 

I can't help myself looking at bikes. Now that I have one local builder (the Alpine) I had to jump at the chance for a Proteus, damaged as it was, for $30 delivered. Now I have to determine just how bad this frame is. It's very lightweight, but has been crumpled under the front derailleur mount, and the obvious, bad nds seat stay damage. It has a Proteus headbadge, but I couldn't find a serial number anywhere... could this be a Proteus kit, with headbadge? Could it be a class-built "bro-teus"? Most importantly, can it be repaired, or should I strip the headset, bb, stem, bars, levers, and front brake, and call it $30 well spent?
[MENTION=381793]gugie[/MENTION] - what do you think of the damage? [MENTION=129154]KonAaron Snake[/MENTION] [MENTION=78948]ethebull[/MENTION]
Where should I look for a serial number if this is one of Proteus's bikes? I'd guess it'd be one of the later ones if it is one of their marketed frames.

Some pictures:
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...363552b4f2.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...50eeb1df91.jpg

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...236e5e6e5b.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d20ad80221.jpg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...844884c036.jpg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8a439ef9c8.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7538075fd1.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2fdeca87c6.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...080b8703a8.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4ad3e1dd80.jpg

Bummer. I'm no expert, but that looks like a tube replacement to me, which means $$$, unless you know a frame builder.

So many things look wrong.

1. Seat stay bent pretty bad. Seat stays are reasonably easy to replace if it couldn't be bent back, some brass filled into a sharp bend.
2. What idjit hacked up the shift lever bosses? Easily replaced.
3. That fork crown looks like it was cracked or badly brazed prior to paint.

Who knows what else? If you were local, I'd say bring it by so I could get a better look at it. Time and time again photos posted here that look really bad turn out to be not so. I'm not sure about this one, however.

Bring it to a local frame builder for an opinion. Have him do the work if warranted.

I think Proteus still offers frame repair, I might bring it in after stripping parts and see what they say. I knew it was a long shot but I can probably recoup the money on the rest of the components. Guy who sold it to me said "look, it's Italian", pointed at the headset.

I have a Proteus that I believe was made from their kit because it does not have a serial number. I bought it several years ago and the seller said he got it from the widow of an Iraq war veteran. She told him that her husband had built it but crashed it before being deployed. That alone is enough for me to hang on to it.

It has a Cinelli bottom bracket and Campagnolo drop puts. The lugs a appear to be the unfiled and very utilitarian on mine. Yours has the wrap around seat stays and mine does not. I have never seen a Proteus head-badge, I think that may have been custom made. I would be interested in buying it from you if you do decide to scrap the frame.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...023e5684d5.jpg

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...083e6e96d5.jpg

[MENTION=77789]Kobe[/MENTION] - I would try to straighten that fork if you still have it. I had one that was bent not quite as far and it worked out great. Click on the link to see the tools and approach.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8866/...1182a638_b.jpg
WP_20150430_008, on Flickr
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7673/...055f088c_b.jpg
P1020999, on Flickr

For $30 you got your money's worth with the Campagnolo headset, SunTour Bar-Cons, and fork with Henry James crown, even if the rest of the frame isn't worth repairing.

[MENTION=77789]Kobe[/MENTION], that is a neat bike, I gather that the head tube and seat tube are not the Reynolds tubing, since it didn't come in those lengths, but a straight gauge cr-mo tubing, for stiffness, and that the seat tube was then reamed to take the same size seat post as the regular frame kit.

I will for sure let you know if I decide not to try and save it, for the headbadge and fork if you want it. The headbadge seems to be etched or printed on an aluminized backing, like some of the oval Trek stick on badges. The design is from the 70s, they have a different logo today.

I cross posted in Framebuilders forum, maybe I'll get some opinions or recommendations for a good builder who can look at it locally.

Interesting; I was in there a few months back and was asking if they knew any frame people (looking to have braze-ons added), they said no (did not talk to the owner at that time, however).

My Proteus frame was superfluous so I simply gave it to them.

Totally agree, and I see nothing wrong with the fork (big plus that it's a Henry James crown, maybe slight minus that it's for nutted brakes) so it's a score for the money you spent. Maybe some hobby builder would like to experiment/practice on the frame, could end up a win-win.

Not sure, it seems like it is one of the things they advertise on their website, under additional services. Re-reading that section, maybe not.

I don't think Proteus would have let any decals or head badges go to kit builders. My first frame was a proteus kit. Their booklet on fame construction was pretty helpful.

The Proteus frames I saw in the '70s were really clean. I never knew anything about the builders though. Most of them had side attach seat stays, but they were more like fastback stays than the wrap around. Proteus
Shows a Proteus headbadge

I had always assumed they were 531, going back and looking closer at the Proteus catalog it appears the larger (26.5") framed used something called Proteus tubing.

I grew up 2 miles from the Proteus shop until we moved when I was 13, just about the time I was getting into road bikes. I wish I had visited their shop then.

The seat tube damage looks mainly confined to paint-scraping - from the FD mounting? The picture doesn't really tell the story. Is it dented in that area?

The NDS stay might be another story, but then again, isn't there a tool to fix that kind of damage as long as the tubing isn't kinked? That's some pretty thick paint; might that be making the damage look worse than it is, too?

Lastly, I see nothing wrong with the crown in either photo. I believe there is some sort of plug at the bottom of the crown and that is what [MENTION=381793]gugie[/MENTION] is commenting on.

I'd try to save it no matter what I paid for it. This looks to be a very well-built frame that doesn't seem to need too much work. I wouldn't give up on it yet.

DD

Looking at the fork crown again, looks like what I thought was damage is light reflecting. As mentioned, pictures can be deceiving.

That bend might roll out. Not sure if the diameter matches any of the common aluminum frame blocks, but one could always use a hole saw or forstner bit through hardward, then split it in two.

I worked at Proteus from 1981-1993. This was not a frame that came out of our shop for a customer. The seat stay attachment is not one we used. Students taking our frame building class would have used a plug seat stay cap, a full wrap style like yours is too advanced, so it is not a student frame either. The head badge sticker was printed in the late 70's. We had some around during the time I worked there, but they were not applied to our finished frames during that time. If they ever were before me, it was brief. The sticker was basically a failed attempt to have a Proteus head badge. They may have been all from a "sample" order.

Not much I could tell you about repairs. The frame seems to have Henry James lugs and fork crown, and I think those are Zues downtube shift bosses, for what it's worth.

Thanks all, I'll certainly try to get some more info on it. Thanks for the info on the headbadge / sticker, as the others I'd seen here hadn't had one, in favor of the down tube lettering.

The seat tube is crushed a little where the paint is chipped, right under the FD clamp spot. I think it can be rolled and blocked pretty easily. Someone put a too small clamp on it?

The seat stay may have a sharp crease, I didn't get a chance to examine it all that thoroughly. I'll hopefully be home from the hospital (delivery room) tomorrow, but probably will still have limited time available.

Congrats! :beer:

[MENTION=100119]Whit51[/MENTION] and [MENTION=54406]rocks in head[/MENTION] - I used that guy in Arlington. Wasn't too pleased with the quality of work. I think he knows the tools but not great with them. He does repairs for the 3 wheeled bikes in DC that take tourists around the mall.

I had this little problem with a NWT Bike Friday. Note the crack in the picture that was actually a break
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3764/...f108aea0_b.jpg
P1010350, on Flickr

I sent an email to BF and they sent me a replacement part. Here is the work he did
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3754/...1eca4ced_b.jpg
P1010729, on Flickr

Had him do some work on my tandem too, twice. I gave him the assembly to be sure things would fit. They didn't the first time. I don't like the quality of the weld but it got done.
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7304/...68b7aec9_b.jpg
P1010225, on Flickr

Thanks for the advice. After thinking about it I think I know a guy, made his own Ti frame (I sold him a Bianchi Volpe frame once), he may have the knowledge or references to evaluate this locally.

As far as CL repair guy, I can usually get a better bead on my welds than the pictures shown of the local repairs, but only when using dad's blacksmith shop and nice welder. If this ends up being a DIY replacement stay, I'll practice brass and silver brazing on a few old frames first. This is a goal for much later.