I recently bought a bike off CL that has had the original paint and manuf. markings sanded off for repainting. The guy I bought it from doesn't know what brand it is or its manufacturing year. It is a steel, lugged frame with what appear to be original shimano parts on it. The bike weighs in at about 23 lbs with everything attached and the wheels/tires are the sew-up kind. The threading on the bolts that hold the crank-arms in place is standard. I haven't taken the BB off yet so I don't know if it is normal or reverse threaded. Here are about 20 pictures I took for a photo journal of its conversion (to fixed gear):

https://www.automatedredemption.com/r...ersion_project


any insight into the manufacturer/year of this frame would be so greatly appreciated that I might explode. Thanks!

Kinda looks like a Bridgestone. Is there a serial number on it somewhere?

I haven't seen one, but the spray paint is pretty thick in parts. I'll give it a good inspection when I get home from work though.

Are those press-fit dropouts?

The components are similar to what was on my Maserati, but the frame isn't the same... I'm going to guess '74 by the components, particularly the Pivo stem and Barilla brakes.

What is the BB shell width? 68mm or 70mm?

It looks like a low-mid frame, but seems to have nice wheels. Should make a nice fixie. Its oddball bikes like this that make good conversions, not the pristine classics that a lot of people seem to want to convert.

peace,
sam

the BB shell is 68mm and I can't find a serial number. The odd thing is that when I pulled the BB off, the grit and crud was so think you could barely see the metal components. Once it was all washed away though, the cups and bearings were flawless. I wouldn't be able to tell the different between brand new and these. My guess is that they were replaced shortly before getting stored underneath a pile of dirt for a few years.

I'm not sure what press fit dropouts are, but they seem pretty normal to me. They look a little off probably because of the paint that moved around and rubbed off.

I looked at a few pictures of bridgestones, but they all have derailleur hangers and top tube braze-ons and water bottle cage mounts. I saw a picture of a Bianchi that looked like it could be the same frame, but that may be wishful thinking on my part.

Hi
In my opinion it is hard to tell exactly who the manufacturer could have been, however it is definitely a Japanese manufactured bike from the early to mid 1970's. From the previous reply, it could possibly be a Bridgestone or Kabuki bike. Anyhoo, it is a good strong workhorse bike and you should have no problem disassembling, cleaning and tuning this bike, or for that matter, getting replacement parts - all standard english threads. Be interesting what other replies will be, to see if someone can better identify it. Good luck.

Sorry to bump this old thread, but I do have new information, if that will help. I stripped the frame yesterday of paint, found what looked like silver paint between the red and the steel - but still no identifying marks. The discovered silver paint was only on certain areas. The fork has the word: NERVOR stamped into the metal, and the head tube has "BOM" stamped into it. There is no serial number on the bike.

does anyone have anything better than a guess? or even more guesses so I can GIS the brands and try and compare?

Check to see if it has Simplex dropouts because Nervor is a French fork, if it does then I believe it's one of two brands, either a Motobecane or a Peugot...but obviously I could be wrong.

Hey Definition!
Ok I am going to muddy the waters here a bit and who knows maybe give you and idea or two.
I have a website (check my profile) and you may want to look at the pages there, and do a bit of comparing really. The BOM is clearer on your headcup than on mine, I thought it was BCM actually, but clearly its BOM I see. Now to muddy the waters here, if this is a mark of the maker then all you have to do is figure out who was supplying Gitane with frames era 1967 to 1971 ish.I have a 1969 Gitane I am restoring and that will be the pages I am directing you too. By the looks of the pics you have it seems other than the frame, maybe the brakes too, otherwise is all newer materials to upgrade a bike. Keep us posted ok, love to watch the progress.
Tim

Nervor oh the fork? seems like I recall that being French tubes?
Nervor was a brand of Motorcycle from France from 1930's to the 60's.
The BOM is very familiar but I can't find anything on it. . . frustrating
will keep looking.

Marty

wow harlantk, I think that may be it. there are some differences in the rear dropout shape, the fork is completely different, the seat stay tubes have a different shape when connecting to the seatpost clamp and you have that kickstand holder thing that I don't, but the braze-ons look like they were pulled from the same box, and the head tube lugs and the BB Shell lugs look identical. Neat!!

froze, i'm not sure what simplex dropouts are, but if they are these, than I don't have them. What I have is more like the non-drive side version of these

Those in the pics are campy dropouts, Simplex would say Simplex on the dropouts. If yours says Campy then I don't know what you have! But I do know that Nervor is French and those forks were used on French bikes...UNLESS the forks are not the original.

well, it doesn't say campy on my dropouts either. there is no text on the frame at all except for a 58 on the top tube and BCM on the headset cup.

(on closer inspection, it looks like it does say BCM on there and not BOM!)

BCM Bocama Competition (at least the BCM BBs were).
French frame as suggested. Probably Gitane if I had to
venture a guess (based on the BCM headtube and Nervor fork).

Marty

BCM stands for Bocama - lugs are Bocama. Looking at various things like the fork crown I suspect the frame to be French.

Mike,
Austin Tx.

Ok kewl!!!!!!
Bocama Lugs. I have learned and appreciate this data. I have so much to learn yet on vintage bikes, what I actually own, and all. Forums are great, a good way share all the knowledge out there and learn a few things. Some day I might even be able to properly identify my own Gitane. I know when I ordered it it was a custom frame, "NOT" I was young and so paid for things I thought I wanted. Dont get me wrong here, Gitane did not mislead or misrepresent me at all, in fact quite the opposite, they bent over backwards then to help me. I just didnt know what I was doing, well still dont HAHA. Sad I lost all the decals back in '73. From all standings now it looks to be a Grand Sport Deluxe in fashion, and no longer the Custom Professional I made the order to be. Stupid me for killing the decal work back then.
Anyway, I have to agree here if I bet on the bike you have probably a Gitane, but like I say, I am still learning. I sit by to watch the experts here help.
Tim

Any markings as to threading on the BB cups or the Headset? Esp the BB cups; if marked 35x1 the frame is almost certainly French.

checked the pics and other comments...

somethings just don't 'Grok'... stamped dropouts in pressed stay ends and 'heavy' lugwork say lower end. These frames are machine assembly built, square cut tubes, heated to solder temps, dipped in flux and then solder and run into the lugs - check inside the BB shell, you'll see squarecut stay ends pushed flush to 'stops' in the BB shell.
Shimano 600 says "mid range'. Sewups as stock on this frame... doesn't Grok
I'm guessing that this bike went thru 'upgrades' and most of the original components, especially drivetrain are no longer onboard.
70s era french bikes of this level would have been outfitted in Huret/Simplex...
wasn't until the 80's that the French started using Japanese components.
Have you determined what BB threading it is (since you have had the BB off)?
Whatz the spacing at the rear dropouts? this level, a 70's era bike would be 120mm, if itz 126mm then its prolly from the 80's, 126 didn't filter down near this level until the mid-80s.
French BB Threads - French Bike - steerer tube ID diameter will also finger it as french. whatz the stem diameter?
English Threads - asian bike (not necessarily Japanese...)

They don't look like Bocama lugs... but who knows what all range any of them offered...

Well maybe they are Bocama
just not used to seeing these...
go here...
click on the 3rd diagram page - check out the 'plain lugs' - they do look similar.
the BB threading and steerer ID would confirm "french' or not...

good luck

I had the opportunity to purchase a bike that was similar to yours. The lugs are exactly the same and the dropouts as well. It is a Browning Ten Speed Bike. It is a Belgian made bike with some Japanese parts. The original came with Mafac Racer brakes, a PIVO stem, Simplex front and rear derailleurs, SR crank (Japanese), Shimano hubs (Japanese) hooked on to a Weinman dimpled rim with Simplex spokes, and finally a Stronglight headset. And yes it also has a NERVOR fork. It was a hodge-podge of Asian and French parts. I got mine in its original form and was used by an old lady who left the bike stashed in the garage throughout its lifetime. If you look at the left dropout and scratch the paint you will see a series of numbers... the same way peugeot carbolite frames made in Canada have it. The bike also sports a bracket that is welded on to the left seatstay to connect a reflector. Also the bar that connects the right and left seatstay (where the rearbrake is attached) is a flat piece of stamped steel-not a tube. Now, the search does not end there. Looking for information about the Browning is difficult as well. From what I gathered from the net they came in three models. The one I have seems to be the middle version of it. I also was able to get a copy of the ad of the bike. But the picture is so small that it is difficult to extract the information from it. If you get some info about the bike please share it with me. I myself am still researching on my find. Good luck and God Bless!