MajorA

This one just ended on eBay, for pickup only in Brooklyn:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...1396&rd=1&rd=1

I didn't want to post on it so as not to queer anyone's pitch, but I've been dying to ask: what do you folks think it is? As a Bob Jackson owner, and one who had to do a lot of detective work to establish the provenance of his machine, I'm pretty darned sure that this is NOT an '80's Bob ... the seatstay treatment is completely different than any I've seen, the lugs are way too fancy, and the usual drops were Campy 1010's and not the vertical Campy drops here. And, the five-speed cluster suggests 120mm spacing, which puts it in the '60's or '70's. Opinions?

dbakl

It's an interesting bike, certainly earlier than 80s. I'm not that familar with Bob Jackson, but he did make more ornate bikes under other names like Merlin and JKS? From the looks of it I'd guess mid/late 70s. Actually, the front derailer braze on and the fork rake says 60s, but the vertical dropout were mid 70s, so maybe it was upgraded? The high flange hubs and Universal brakes were certainly gone by the 80s. Interesting to know what the headtube decal is.

Dr.Deltron

That is a puurrrdy ornate lugset alrighty!

I could have alot of fun painting something like THAT!

And even 4 bills isn't bad for a sweet curlyQ'ed canvas like that one.
Glad I didn't see it before it ended!

And to find out if it IS a BJ frame, you can pay them $50 and they'll look it up for you by serial number.

I'm still debating spending half a note to know about a steel Merlin frame I have.
Rumor has it that Bob Jackson was working at Merlin Racing Cycles around the time my frame is purported to have been made.
IF BJ DID make the frame, it might be something to itemize on my homeowners insurance!

Otherwise, it's just a cool old frame with a magical name.
Rumored to have been built by Bob Jackson.

But the lugs aren't anywhere near as fancy as the lugs in your post.
. . . .sigh .
those ARE some purrrdy lugs.
Thanks For sharing!


(maybe next time, before it ends) .

splytz1

Shoot, I would have had fun with that, and it's in my neighborhood...

norskagent

it looks bigger than 53cm...

OrangeOkie

I think the fella could have got $400 for the frame alone, and another $100 by selling the components by themselves.

cyclotoine

the components and braze on details date it to 1973-1977. That is the range of the campy bits and the braze on shifters also lead me to believe it is at least as late as 1973. Looks like old logo cinelli stuff
I think it sold cheep too.
The older campy stuff if sold individually probably would have brought another $300, not to mention at least $100 for the bar and stem.

redxj

It obviously went cheaper because of the local pickup, but I think because of a I sold it Ebay store too. I refuse to bid on anything any of those stores sells. They know absolutely nothing about the items and one time one was trying to charge $150 for shipping a frame/fork. Local pickup only and a $5 charge for it too, classy!!

coelcanth

the wrap around seatstays and fancy lugs certainly seem like english details...
but isn't there a headbadge ?

i wonder why the correct front derailleur for the brazed-on cable stop isn't being used ?
maybe the frame is earlier than the components indicate

repechage

This is a bike that I think one is at their peril attaching much substance in the components. If a Jackson shop frame, I doubt original paint as Jackson paint I think would have aged better, they have been known for good paint for decades, so braze on additions need to be considered. My guess though is the cable stop for the front derailluer is original, the mechanism is not, it would suggest early campagnolo record, or gran sport, Huret or Simplex. The lugs indicate as said prior earlier, the wheelbase and vertical dropouts later, but the latter two features are in phase time wise I think. Worth dropping Jackson a line, but provide lug, stay, crown and feature images as well, they paint many bikes of other makes, so even if not a Jackson they might recognize it.

My guess 58 cm c2t.