Another frame ID thread, last one I swear.....
 

Hey, what can I say? This is my last purchase for a time. Already have more than is reasonable, but had to have it LOL. From the giant auction site. Unknown builder or tubing. Decent lug work. Strange cutout of a Columbus dove 🕊️ on the bottom bracket. Campy dropouts. Has an early-ish Chris King headset. Any ideas or thoughts on a builder? Has a "custom built by da Silva (?)" decal on the seat tube. Googled Da Silva, but only found a painter in Florida, bit his work appears to be much cleaner than this. 27.2 seatpost. I'll pull the fork and see if it's stamped. Also has a 531 sticker, but doubt the validity. Any feedback is appreciated.
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no ideas but subscribing for the ongoing saga!
Some very nice custom touches, here!

Did that frame come from Europe? A local bike touring shop here (Belgium) used to carry a German brand Da Silva, decently made touring bikes — especially for the price. I vaguely remember seeing a Da Silva road bike too, somewhere in Germany. No idea if they ever did custom, but it says "35 years of frame building experience" on their website.
https://www.dasilva.bike/

Very nice, but you would definitely want to make sure your seatpost clamp bolts are secure. Wow. :eek:

Beautiful details on that. Obviously put together with care, OCD-level attention on the lug details. Name not ringing a bell, and couldn't quickly turn anything up on Google.

​​​​​​Yeah, plus I am a Clyde. It looks so delicate, but I will try to be extra mindful.

You don't have to promise that this is your last frame ID thread. We enjoy them. :)

Reynolds tubing but that is the Columbus dove on the BB shell.

That is more for myself, than anything. And I am telling the truth. Until another one tickles my fancy.

Yeah, no clue. It looks like a late edition. Doubtful it's original, but who knows? If I can find out more on builder, maybe I can track down more concrete info.

Side note: pulled fork. Quick look over, and couldn't see anything useful. Am going to check it out after work with a magnifying glass to see if I'm missing anything.

Also details are pretty excellent.

Oh! Does anyone have a spare record rear track nut? Bike didn't come with one. I'll post bars/stem, post, and wheelset this evening.

Huh. Interesting, I would've expected to find some kind of stamping of some sort on it, sometimes stampings are ultra-light, upside down, partial. Weird it would have a stylistically similar Columbus dove on the BB shell if no Columbus tubing. So, like, no rifling in the main triangle tubes or fork?

That 531 decal, the thick paint, highly probable those were added later and the decal doesn't match the tubing.

Another with thick paint!
 

Yeah, paint is fun but mediocre. Thankfully frame quality makes up for it!

Confirmed Columbus dove stamp on steer tube. I don't see any rifling on any of the tubing. Anyone know what Columbus' track or heavy guage tubing would have been for 80s?

Interesting 531 decal. I've not seen blue before and it looks early to mid '70s style that seems early for the frame? Very nice looking lug work. Columbus heavier tubing would be SP/SPX but 27.0 seatpost. 27.2 would be TSX, SL, 531c, Tange Prestige, Vitus GTI/TXO.

No idea, but I'll keep the pics just in case anyone asks me what a typical American custom frame looks like. ;)

Dave Kirk came to mind at first sight. He's known for high points on the seat tube lug running up the saddle post.

(I'm assuming it's a respray and the "built by..." sticker is as legitimate as the Reynolds.)

I'm probably way off but are those Henry James lugs?

PS tubing. That Reynolds graphic looks repro, really curious blue 531.
the bottom bracket chainstay extensions look interesting.
I vote American.
I would really truncate that seatlug upper extension... it is silly.
At least the bottom bracket cutout is not a twitter bird.

I am curious if there is rifling inside the steerer or if there is Reynolds or Columbus embossing on the outside

I think the lugs may have been extended (not just the silly seat lug extension). If not, they look more Japanese to me. But otherwise it does look like an American frame to me.

Thought I mentioned it previously, but fork is definitely stamped Columbus. No rifling anywhere that I can see to suggest Columbus tubing, buts it my understanding depending on age and guage that not all Columbus featured rifling.

I love the lug extension and think it is awesome. It's absurdity adds to it's character. Doubt it will be practical as I'm a big boy, but we'll see.

Appreciate all the input guys! Keep it coming.

I personally wouldn't modify it and agree it's part of the character. Granted, a little phallic in comparison to what I'm accustomed to. Cecil Behringer was known for similar, though far more subtle, as evidenced on mine and probably others.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...602c307a84.jpg

That's true, they didn't always rifle the steerer. I think it's probably Columbus tubing and someone just slapped a Reynolds sticker on it.

Updates with pics
 

Overhauled, ready to roll. Still need to reglue tubs, going to try current tires and will upgrade/replace once I get some mileage in.

Love this bike. It's sassy. Still need saddle, chain, pedals/toe clips, and brake mount setup. Gold or silver chain? Thinking gold. 🤷🏾‍♂️👍🏾

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Nice progress on the build! All those gorgeous Campy parts....no way you could go all in and add a classic Campy Pista crank?

(Definitely a gold chain)

I cannot imagine a seat failure on the lug...

Vlad the Impaler built the frame!