TS Isaac Frame - Rebuild
01-08-21 | 06:37 AM
#26
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 18
Likes: 20
From: Pottsville PA
Bikes: 1996 Co-Motion Co-Pilot Tandem, 2005 Look 585
I also have a 70's Isaac and it's one of my favorite bikes.
Does your frame have a serial number? I've gathered a few together - here's what I have so far:
06 77 12 -owned by BK
12 77 77 TS -"Camchain" green road bike
01 78 79 TS -Mine
01 78 82 JF
02 79 157 -"Camchain" purple track bike
04 79 133 -owned by JT
From what I can figure, the first two digits are the month, the second two are the year, the last group are the build sequence, and the initials indicate whether Tim or Jock built it. If you look at the three frames built close together in Dec 77 - Jan 78, it appears as though they used one numbering sequence regardless of who built it. One thing that seems odd is that the first frame in the list has such a low sequence number. Tim started building in 74 and Jock joined him in 76, so I'm sure they had built a lot more than 12 frames by June 77. Maybe that's just when they started using the numbering system.
I would encourage you to try contacting Tim at Match Technical. He was very friendly when I emailed him several years ago when I got my frame. I don't recall seeing those star cutouts before - I'm guessing this is an earlier frame.
The Classic Rendezvous page has links to a TS Isaac brochure and an interesting 1999 interview of Tim for the Rivendell Reader. Tim Issac
Does your frame have a serial number? I've gathered a few together - here's what I have so far:
06 77 12 -owned by BK
12 77 77 TS -"Camchain" green road bike
01 78 79 TS -Mine
01 78 82 JF
02 79 157 -"Camchain" purple track bike
04 79 133 -owned by JT
From what I can figure, the first two digits are the month, the second two are the year, the last group are the build sequence, and the initials indicate whether Tim or Jock built it. If you look at the three frames built close together in Dec 77 - Jan 78, it appears as though they used one numbering sequence regardless of who built it. One thing that seems odd is that the first frame in the list has such a low sequence number. Tim started building in 74 and Jock joined him in 76, so I'm sure they had built a lot more than 12 frames by June 77. Maybe that's just when they started using the numbering system.
I would encourage you to try contacting Tim at Match Technical. He was very friendly when I emailed him several years ago when I got my frame. I don't recall seeing those star cutouts before - I'm guessing this is an earlier frame.
The Classic Rendezvous page has links to a TS Isaac brochure and an interesting 1999 interview of Tim for the Rivendell Reader. Tim Issac
01-08-21 | 07:06 AM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 15,400
Likes: 8,319
From: Seattle area
Bikes: Bikes??? Thought this was social media?!?
Great bike and very informative posts by all.
If I were to grow my group of bikes, it would have to be in the direction of small US builders. I have 3 but not vintage yet.
If I were to grow my group of bikes, it would have to be in the direction of small US builders. I have 3 but not vintage yet.
__________________
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
Vintage, modern, e-road. It is a big cycling universe.
01-08-21 | 10:48 AM
#29
Full Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 245
Likes: 177
From: Vancouver, BC
Bikes: 48 Alleluia, 52 Blondin, 68 CNC, 55 Dujay, 46&67 Herse, 76 Singer, 48 LeGreves, 55 Metropole, 62 Holds Cyclone, 55 Condor, 65 Masi, 81 Sequoia, 76 Eisentraut, 72 Proteus, 60 Paramount, 77 Trek TX700, 81 Ross, 82 CBS, 70 Cinelli, 77 Merz, 83 Proctor
I would suggest emailing Tim to see what he might remember about your frame.
01-24-21 | 09:08 PM
#30
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 53
Likes: 1
From: near Afton, Wisc
Bikes: Colin Laing
Greetings Guys; I just thought I'd chime in. Back in 1977 we ordered a frame from Tim for my wife. Along about 1980 he worked at Trek for a bit & I got to meet him a second time. Excellent workmanship! We still have it & plan to give it to the Grand daughter soon. Ole' Bob.
06-17-23 | 07:17 PM
#31
mindless wizardry
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: China
Bikes: Montgomery Ward Rollfast, Raleigh Lancer, Raleigh Gran Sport, Bianchi Specialissima, Schwinn Paramount, Masi Special, Frejus Track, Masi Gran Criterium, Harry Quinn, TS Isaac Cirrus, TR Isaac Track Special, Trek 770, Trek MTB Proto,Match Paramount
Thanks for all the info. I have searched, and the only thing I have found that resembles a serial number is this sequence on a decal around the seat tube 1515 9TH DENVER 80218
1515 9th Denver 80218 was TS Isaac's first shop address in Denver. His shop was located in the basement of the classic apartment building located that is still there. The first shop was in a room that was originally the valuables storage vault for the residents. He lived on the 1st floor directly above his shop.
1515 9th Denver 80218 was TS Isaac's first shop address in Denver. His shop was located in the basement of the classic apartment building located that is still there. The first shop was in a room that was originally the valuables storage vault for the residents. He lived on the 1st floor directly above his shop.
06-17-23 | 07:18 PM
#32
mindless wizardry
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: China
Bikes: Montgomery Ward Rollfast, Raleigh Lancer, Raleigh Gran Sport, Bianchi Specialissima, Schwinn Paramount, Masi Special, Frejus Track, Masi Gran Criterium, Harry Quinn, TS Isaac Cirrus, TR Isaac Track Special, Trek 770, Trek MTB Proto,Match Paramount
1515 9th Denver 80218 was TS Isaac's first shop address in Denver. His shop was located in the basement of the classic apartment building located that is still there. The first shop was in a room that was originally the valuables storage vault for the residents. He lived on the 1st floor directly above his shop.
06-18-23 | 10:16 AM
#33
aged to perfection
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,242
Likes: 1,660
From: PacNW
Bikes: Dinucci Allez 2.0, Richard Sachs, Alex Singer, Serotta, Masi GC, Raleigh Pro Mk.1, Hetchins, etc
I’m curious as to the actual age of this frame.
I (slightly) new Tim Isaac back when Nuovo Record was actually nuovo (early 70’s) as a fellow racer, albeit several classifications above me. Wouldn’t have thought he was building frames yet. I encountered him again, along with Curt Goodrich, decades later, probably 2004-ish, on a Rivendell-sponsored group visit to his frame building shop in Woodinville, WA. They were certainly building nice ones then!
I (slightly) new Tim Isaac back when Nuovo Record was actually nuovo (early 70’s) as a fellow racer, albeit several classifications above me. Wouldn’t have thought he was building frames yet. I encountered him again, along with Curt Goodrich, decades later, probably 2004-ish, on a Rivendell-sponsored group visit to his frame building shop in Woodinville, WA. They were certainly building nice ones then!
/markp
07-27-24 | 03:02 PM
#34
Steel and Lugs
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 37
Likes: 119
From: NorCal
Bikes: Tesch 101, 1967 Paramount Track Bike, 1976 TS Isaac, 1982 Trek 957, 1982 Trek 736, 1983 970, 1983 Trek 730, 1983 Trek 620, 1984 Trek 660, 1985 Trek 770, 1985 Trek 760, 1985 Trek 670, 1985 Trek Green 660
Holy thread resurrection, I just picked up a TSI bike. Serial number 107616, unfortunately it’s had a fork replacement. It came out of Southern California originally, I picked it up in the Bay Area.
07-31-24 | 10:57 PM
#35
Full Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 245
Likes: 177
From: Vancouver, BC
Bikes: 48 Alleluia, 52 Blondin, 68 CNC, 55 Dujay, 46&67 Herse, 76 Singer, 48 LeGreves, 55 Metropole, 62 Holds Cyclone, 55 Condor, 65 Masi, 81 Sequoia, 76 Eisentraut, 72 Proteus, 60 Paramount, 77 Trek TX700, 81 Ross, 82 CBS, 70 Cinelli, 77 Merz, 83 Proctor
Nice, clean looking bike. I would guess the paint and decals are original. Built in October 1976, if my hypothesis regarding Tim's frame numbering system is correct. I sold mine a couple of years ago, but very much enjoyed owning and riding it for several years.
Last edited by Duke7777; 07-31-24 at 11:05 PM.
10-24-24 | 10:30 PM
#36
Steel and Lugs
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 37
Likes: 119
From: NorCal
Bikes: Tesch 101, 1967 Paramount Track Bike, 1976 TS Isaac, 1982 Trek 957, 1982 Trek 736, 1983 970, 1983 Trek 730, 1983 Trek 620, 1984 Trek 660, 1985 Trek 770, 1985 Trek 760, 1985 Trek 670, 1985 Trek Green 660
05-25-26 | 04:21 PM
#37
Newbie
Joined: May 2026
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Tubing
Nice bike. Decal style suggests an early build, before 1980 certainly.
We have two TS Isaac bikes here. I converted my wife's into a 650B, upright bar bike. Mine is still drop bar, but I have lowered the gearing, retiring the 53/42 Super Record crank and installing a 48/36 Zeus crank instead.
We have two TS Isaac bikes here. I converted my wife's into a 650B, upright bar bike. Mine is still drop bar, but I have lowered the gearing, retiring the 53/42 Super Record crank and installing a 48/36 Zeus crank instead.
Last edited by Velocat; 05-25-26 at 11:57 PM.
05-25-26 | 10:31 PM
#40
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 49
Likes: 91
From: New Orleans, LA
Bikes: T.S. Isaac touring, Raleigh International (fixed gear town set-up), 531 EuroAsia no name road bike, Gunnar Street Dog (frame,) Tomasso SL (frame)
My T.S. Isaac Stratus built up as my fixed-gear commuter:
05-26-26 | 12:13 AM
#42
Newbie
Joined: May 2026
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
I found this bike in the basement of a shop in Portland. It was poorly setup as a single speed and as soon as I saw it, I knew I needed to have it. Over the course of a year I slowly rebuilt it with roughly era appropriate parts. I haven't seen a ton of examples of these bikes, so I figured I would add this one to the internet archive.
