Mystery frame
08-31-18 | 02:18 AM
#3
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 540
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From: Los Angeles, CA
Bikes: None in ridable condition
I have seen that style of engraving before but I can’t locate the picture of it at the moment. And I definitely remember trying to figure out if it was FSE or BSE the first time I saw it.
This should be BSE, which was a small (and perhaps short lived?) company that made lugs and bottom bracket shells. Some of their stuff was plain, like this:
And some, apparently, more elaborate.
Unfortunately, the only information I can find is a post on a German forum where a user who wanted to get info on their Krautscheid (Krabo) bike emailed the company. In their response, they mentioned that the lugs used on the frame were made by a small company called BSE, based in Lumezzane (near Brescia). The name associated with the company was Bertoli. I’ve no way of verifying any of this, unfortunately. Info on BSE is practically nonexistent online.
One possible match (and I was looking at metallurgical businesses in Lumezzane, only) might be Stamber. Might be worth a shot to send them an email and ask.
In the meantime, I’ll keep looking for that picture I’ve seen somewhere and report back.
This should be BSE, which was a small (and perhaps short lived?) company that made lugs and bottom bracket shells. Some of their stuff was plain, like this:
And some, apparently, more elaborate.
Unfortunately, the only information I can find is a post on a German forum where a user who wanted to get info on their Krautscheid (Krabo) bike emailed the company. In their response, they mentioned that the lugs used on the frame were made by a small company called BSE, based in Lumezzane (near Brescia). The name associated with the company was Bertoli. I’ve no way of verifying any of this, unfortunately. Info on BSE is practically nonexistent online.
One possible match (and I was looking at metallurgical businesses in Lumezzane, only) might be Stamber. Might be worth a shot to send them an email and ask.
In the meantime, I’ll keep looking for that picture I’ve seen somewhere and report back.
08-31-18 | 06:55 AM
#4
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,463
Likes: 1,554
From: Hardy, VA
Bikes: Mostly English - predominantly Raleighs
I have seen that style of engraving before but I can’t locate the picture of it at the moment. And I definitely remember trying to figure out if it was FSE or BSE the first time I saw it.
This should be BSE, which was a small (and perhaps short lived?) company that made lugs and bottom bracket shells. Some of their stuff was plain, like this:
And some, apparently, more elaborate.
Unfortunately, the only information I can find is a post on a German forum where a user who wanted to get info on their Krautscheid (Krabo) bike emailed the company. In their response, they mentioned that the lugs used on the frame were made by a small company called BSE, based in Lumezzane (near Brescia). The name associated with the company was Bertoli. I’ve no way of verifying any of this, unfortunately. Info on BSE is practically nonexistent online.
One possible match (and I was looking at metallurgical businesses in Lumezzane, only) might be Stamber. Might be worth a shot to send them an email and ask.
In the meantime, I’ll keep looking for that picture I’ve seen somewhere and report back.
This should be BSE, which was a small (and perhaps short lived?) company that made lugs and bottom bracket shells. Some of their stuff was plain, like this:
And some, apparently, more elaborate.
Unfortunately, the only information I can find is a post on a German forum where a user who wanted to get info on their Krautscheid (Krabo) bike emailed the company. In their response, they mentioned that the lugs used on the frame were made by a small company called BSE, based in Lumezzane (near Brescia). The name associated with the company was Bertoli. I’ve no way of verifying any of this, unfortunately. Info on BSE is practically nonexistent online.
One possible match (and I was looking at metallurgical businesses in Lumezzane, only) might be Stamber. Might be worth a shot to send them an email and ask.
In the meantime, I’ll keep looking for that picture I’ve seen somewhere and report back.
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In search of what to search for.
In search of what to search for.
08-31-18 | 09:35 AM
#5
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Joined: Nov 2017
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I have seen that style of engraving before but I can’t locate the picture of it at the moment. And I definitely remember trying to figure out if it was FSE or BSE the first time I saw it.
This should be BSE, which was a small (and perhaps short lived?) company that made lugs and bottom bracket shells. Some of their stuff was plain, like this:
And some, apparently, more elaborate.
Unfortunately, the only information I can find is a post on a German forum where a user who wanted to get info on their Krautscheid (Krabo) bike emailed the company. In their response, they mentioned that the lugs used on the frame were made by a small company called BSE, based in Lumezzane (near Brescia). The name associated with the company was Bertoli. I’ve no way of verifying any of this, unfortunately. Info on BSE is practically nonexistent online.
One possible match (and I was looking at metallurgical businesses in Lumezzane, only) might be Stamber. Might be worth a shot to send them an email and ask.
In the meantime, I’ll keep looking for that picture I’ve seen somewhere and report back.
This should be BSE, which was a small (and perhaps short lived?) company that made lugs and bottom bracket shells. Some of their stuff was plain, like this:
And some, apparently, more elaborate.
Unfortunately, the only information I can find is a post on a German forum where a user who wanted to get info on their Krautscheid (Krabo) bike emailed the company. In their response, they mentioned that the lugs used on the frame were made by a small company called BSE, based in Lumezzane (near Brescia). The name associated with the company was Bertoli. I’ve no way of verifying any of this, unfortunately. Info on BSE is practically nonexistent online.
One possible match (and I was looking at metallurgical businesses in Lumezzane, only) might be Stamber. Might be worth a shot to send them an email and ask.
In the meantime, I’ll keep looking for that picture I’ve seen somewhere and report back.
Thank you very much for your detailed answer. So happy that your are assisting me with that as I was getting a bit frustrated with this mystery. I will look into that option and report back. It is worth noting that the bottom bracket logo is slightly altered later at the lower end of the F (or B) by a hole meant to hold a plastic cable guide.
I have many more details concerning the bike in another thread Help identify vintage bike that didn't get any traction, that's why I opened this new one. Please have a look there to for a hint.
Looking forward to any news,
Dan
08-31-18 | 11:54 AM
#7
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 158
From: Santa Fe, NM
Bikes: Vassago Moosknuckle Ti 29+ XTR, 90's Merckx Corsa-01 9sp Record, PROJECT: 1954 Frejus SuperCorsa
I see BSE more than 753. Stylized B if it is one.
Looks more like a B than an F - compare to the E on the end - no downward turn on the ends of the "E", whereas the first letter is downturned at the top, suggesting "B": or "P".
Not likely to be 753, unless folks made lugs out of it, which I'm not sure of. (IIRC 753 is tubing only, not lug material)
Looks more like a B than an F - compare to the E on the end - no downward turn on the ends of the "E", whereas the first letter is downturned at the top, suggesting "B": or "P".
Not likely to be 753, unless folks made lugs out of it, which I'm not sure of. (IIRC 753 is tubing only, not lug material)
Last edited by canyoneagle; 08-31-18 at 11:58 AM.
09-03-18 | 11:49 PM
#8
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 540
Likes: 761
From: Los Angeles, CA
Bikes: None in ridable condition
Still haven't found the picture I was thinking of but I did find another frame that has the same bottom bracket engraving. This one is an Esposito (Massimo & Salvatore, out of Milan). I'm not saying that your frame is an Esposito frame, only that the bottom bracket engraving matches. I've only seen a handful of Esposito frames online and they've all been heavily pantographed (with lots of stars), so I can only assume their work would be easily identifiable.
Cicli Esposito is still in business, so it's another avenue that could be explored. Perhaps they may have more info on this mysterious BSE lug manufacturer.
The rest of the picture set can be found here.
Cicli Esposito is still in business, so it's another avenue that could be explored. Perhaps they may have more info on this mysterious BSE lug manufacturer.
The rest of the picture set can be found here.
09-04-18 | 12:55 AM
#9
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Joined: Nov 2017
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Thank you Maurice, you're really the Professore! I have sent an e-mail to Stamber (no answer yet) and will explore this path as well asap. Looking at the photos you linked I notice that apart from the pantographing all the other lugs are very similar to mine as well as the fork crown. I'll keep you posted.
09-21-18 | 12:04 PM
#10
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Looks like I'm stuck on this one. No reply from either Stamber or Esposito so don't know which way to keep searching 
Meanwhile, the bike is a great ride, at least as nice as my Mendiz with Columbus Neuron, if not better.
Still looking for some help, please...
Meanwhile, the bike is a great ride, at least as nice as my Mendiz with Columbus Neuron, if not better.
Still looking for some help, please...
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