Before I start shopping eBay, or elsewhere online, or searching Velobase, or (most likely) posting a WTB here, I kinda need to know more. 1958 is my oldest bike, and an era before my time (I was 4 years old in 1960). So, I need a stem & bars to "restore" the bike (Drysdale).

So, what brands and models were appropriate then, and/or which would be "desirable"? I figure the type with the (I do not know what to call it) sharp, pointed transition from the upright to the extension. Thinking I might avoid (or do I?) the AFA/Pivo "death stem", what else? I've seen the Milremo brand (see photo that I stole off the Internet), are those safe? What other brands should I research? And I am running across 25.4mm clamp a lot, if I go that route am I going to run into problems source bars? Certainly, I want alloy, not steel!

Allow me to attempt to dissuade you. There were some lovely steel stem options at that time:

Titan




Ambrosio




GB



Brent

How 'bout an Ambrosio adjustable-reach stem? Similar to a Major Taylor, but adjusts from the back instead of the front.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/27453863172...oAAOSwXYJfi6Bx

These were standard equipment on the ca. 1960 Capo Siegers, the company's top-of-the-line model.


Almost all-orig. 1960 Capo Sieger

Another BF member sent me this stem free of charge. My thanks to that member. The stem was to be for my 1958 Rabeneick 120d, a top of the racing line German road racing machine. Sadly, or not, depending on one's point of view, I sold the Rabeneick to a local bike shop (happens now and again)...


Anyway, if this German steering stem blows your kilt up, send me a PM and we will work something fair out...


Unfortunately, I cannot get it to you until the end of April 2023 (I spend my winter months in Jamaica riding my mashed up Bianchi which sat unused for two years, got loaned out and the borrower did not treat my Bianchi well)....

GB Spearpoint (for British) I'd have no problem using that Milremo, though.

Well, ifn it was a Paramount or at least a Schwinn.

Still wondering about any other brands/models of stems (and bars!) I should be keeping an eye out for.

OK, I'll add Titan and Ambrosio to any search criteria. Unsure on steel, I should try to figure out the weight penalty. The bike has a light frame, will have tubulars, but steel cotterless (Gnutti) cranks, so overall weight is up in the air a bit!

Hmm, interesting, never seen one on a road bike. Food for thought but I figure once I have the "correct" reach, would I ever adjust it? (Yeah, I know, that's missing the point! )

That looks really cool, but I don't know about April! Trying to spend the winter on several restorations/completions starting next Tuesday.

That looks much more appealing that the garden-variety rounded-back GB sram, that's for sure.

GB (Gerry Burgess) are worth checking out, made aluminium brakes, bars, and stems since 1945.

I'm looking at rebuilding a 1960s Holdsworth so I've been checking out the options and for bars I like the look of GB Tourmalet
(they've also got the same reach and drop as my 1982 bike). Several of the GB bars have 'GB' and a UK outline engraved on them.
Picked some up on ebay for £30 (with a free Ventoux and some cranks). I'm not certain of their exact date but early 60s is about right.



On Ebay I'm currently seeing GB Hiduminium spearpoint stems for £24

Ambrosio had aluminum stems in 1958 and actually were more common than their steel stem.

Ambrosio Champion 02 by iabisdb, on Flickr

Ambrosio Champion 03 by iabisdb, on Flickr

Were these GB stems ever in 26.0?
I saw one advertised as such on Ebay, but I didn't dare to push that button.

Judging by this catalogue page they were all 1".
Hence the adapters: part numbers 709, 710, 711.
Edit: this is a "pre 1964" catalogue.

I have never seen, or heard-of one with 26mm clamp diameter.

GB has all along been on my radar scope. And the Ventoux is a favorite bar for me, I really like the big rounded curves, but I have not seen any in quite a while. The price of £24 implies sourcing in the UK; I guess shipping a stem over to the US might be tolerably affordable, handlebars perhaps not.

I like the look of that!

So which adapter to run 26.4mm handlebars?

Yep, Ventoux is possibly less common on Ebay US.
There's 4 on Ebay UK atm starting at £20, but postage would be around £32

There is one from US at $59.97
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165714666...Bk9SR-rGpb-qYQ

By the way, when did Allen-Key stem bolts come out? Those are much easier to find, plus no exterior wrench flats to get all dinged up -- but if they came out a decade to late, I think I'd pass on that.

$75, delivered, perhaps OK but then the cost of a stem on top of that... somewhat why I like to buy bars/stem together, both for saving shipping costs plus ensuring they fit.

-----

owned an Alvin from about this time

it came fitted with a Titan stem & bar

had Chater Lea headset & chainset


-----

VERY interesting to know that! However, it was suggested in an earlier topic on this bike that it was probably supplied new as a F&F and the original owner built it up as desired; the mix of components on it as I got it, I think mostly unmolested, supports that theory. I have not checked out Titan on eBay yet, I need to do that. Checking out GB and Ambrosio there shows some options, but for ones in nice shape the asking prices are no $urpri$e.

a listing like those GB bars... 17" is center to center or outside to outside, and how the drop is measured. 17" center to center is VERY wide for a bar of the period. Confirm, don't Cry.

I have been bitten where a 38cm bar was described as 40cm - and just prior to return noticed it had taken a whack- one side tweaked in from center. Seller took it back but I was out return ship.

The Scheeren stem is spoken for and will answer the call next Spring...

With a little checking, it seems that Drysdale happily used British components. A guide to what was available in the period is found in this extract from the 1957 Holdsworth 'Aids. Please note that Holdsworth promoted his own 'in-house' components first.
Then I would encourage you to look at the Readers Bikes on Classic Lightweights to see what Readers have used on their bikes for the timeframe of your project. The GB Hiduminium Spearpoint stem came in a variety of lengths and are often seen for sale (because they were widely used!) The same goes for GB Maes handlebars.

I hope you're not wedded to wide drop bars. They were generally rather narrower in the '50s. A notion that seems to be coming back into vogue.

Thanks for posting that, I hope the new owner enjoys it. Cool-looking, I rather had mixed feelings about the aesthetics.

Hmm, what sites did the see info on Drysdales on? VERY curious. Anyway, I was looking at a Philippe bar & stem on eBay, looked interesting, but saw the GB Hiduminium Spearpoint on Hilary Stone's website and if still available, it might be worth putting a package of various items from them to order and keep the freight costs down on a single blended shipment. Maybe. And them I hope to be able to source some 25.4mm bars in nice shape. And I'll check out that link you included. I am mostly re-using the components from the bike as it was given to me, but the bars, stem and saddle were unusable.

Good news here... I have narrow shoulders. Well, I am not 100% sure how to get an accurate measurement. For that matter, are bars' widths measured outside-to-outside, or center-to-center? Pretty sure I can comfortably ride 38 or 40cm bars, maybe more.

The GB spearpoint design looks great, is PC, and is a great fit on a British frame. They came in aluminum ("Hiduminium") and lightweight steel (Reynolds 531 and Accles & Pollack Kromo). I also really like the Belgian Titan, but they have their own diameter so you'd have to get a Titan handlebar along with it. Those are pretty cool too. Perhaps the cheapest and most common option would be a French stem: Pivo, Belleri, AVA, Philippe, Milremo, etc. I don't know their timelines but they produced the same models over many years. The stem is one of the most visible parts of a bike, so you want to get it right.

May we see a photo or two of the Drysdale in question? These bikes are not common in my part of the world.
Brent

https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/al...rything.98320/
Show us your Drysdales!
https://www.ebykr.com/drysdale-mid-century-mystery/
1950 Alvin Drysdale Special at Classic Cycle Bainbridge | Classic Cycle Bainbridge Island Kitsap County
Drysdale home
https://www.ebykr.com/drysdale-mid-c...atalog-page-2/
https://www.ebykr.com/drysdale-mid-c...atalog-page-3/
https://thecabe.com/forum/threads/al...k-bike.180338/