https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...de52a80b0.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0c07b18da.jpeg
Out from the depths of a dark, dusty, dreadful and distressed comes some early Dura Ace( before it was Dura Ace ). But, these don’t have the turkey levers!

They will do handle bar duty on my 70’s Sekine frame I got from John Thompson.

Would those levers have been paired with Tourney center pulls?

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...dd416d8e1.jpeg
No, Tourney would have had Shimano across the front. DA first came in centerpull set up and these DA levers paired with them

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Thanks very much for the response.

Were you able to locate a serial that could give you a date? [have no knowledge of Holdsworthy serials]

Am thinking that from its looks it appears to hail from the 1978-79 time.

You will have lots of good fun working with this.

Hope it is your size so you can commence a build thread... ;)

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NB for [MENTION=336348]dweenk[/MENTION] -

when Yoshi & Co. launched the first DA products in 1973 there was not a full road ensemble. early release fittings were chainset, front mech, shift levers, hubs. to make a road ensemble early DA equipped machines had pedals from KKT, Crane rear mechs and these Tourney centrepull brakes stamped DA. they were only around for about one or one and one half years before the DA sidepull set launched, whereupon they disappeared.

Zeus did something similar when they launched the 2000 road ensemble. they did not have a full group so filled it out with some Criterium series components.

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Why do the British drink warm beer?




Because Lucas makes their refrigerators.........

While not quite the steal some of you have found I bought these form our local thrift store for $74 and change a few weeks ago. I have them both rideable without much work. I may restore the Racer. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...11f958e7dc.jpg
Strumey
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ce42cb6c1e.jpg

Juvela, please excuse my ignorance, but what is an "oytoy" thread in reference to? I've never heard of the term. Thanks for the schooling! Never heard of a 68mm shell with Italian, vice 70mm without Italian thread. Was this a common practice?

Raleigh "sprite" ?
 

Either a donor or a rebuild. Missing parts, but functional with great bearings all around. Not sure of year, got from original owner who thought she bought it in '74; but hub dates from '76, and paint scheme from '77. Any information would be useful. Missing front brakes, front derailleur and stock shifters. Shimano index shifter for rear was installed. Decent replacement saddle for what I assume was a vinyl covered Brooks saddle. Should make for a good gift bike. Odd "GB" alloy stem; original? Year is as usual a mystery to me.

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Hello HPL,

"oytoy" - me having a wee spot 'o fun

it is the phonetic spelling of the cockney pronunciation of Itai, the Brit colloquialism for Italian

apologies for any mystification ;)

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actually there were 68mm Italian threaded shells on production bicycles

they were perpetrated by ACER-MEX on some models of early 1970's Windsor and Carabela cycles

hope this solves the mysteries...

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Maybe just a shell which was cut quite a bit during facing?

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It is a bit of an oversimplification, but one way to think of Sprite series models is as a Record with an upright bar and mudguards.

The model of GB stem worn by the bicycle is completely standard & common. Found on gazillions of cycles from Britain. Also employed in the U.S. by Schwinn.

Non-present front mech was a Huret model 700 Luxe. Original shift levers were Huret stem controls. The machine's transfer set began in 1974. Some Sprite models of the early 1970's came through wearing Altenburger Synchron brakes.

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Odd that my first exposure to "GB" parts was on my '75 Colnago; since then I've only had that brand show up on mid-high level racers, so a surprise to see one on a sport model. Thank you for the Huret info, I'd not found anything specific other than brand.

Does that "short" rear fender seem normal (an optional part)? I can't find a catalogue example match, more akin to Tourist design than Sprite. It's original to the bike, assumed to be '76-'77 due to hub dates/paint.

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in case you have not run across it already GB does not stand for Great Britain but rather Gerry Burgess, a maker of patio furniture

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Sprite series cycles have varied a good deal through time. There have been planetary Sprites, derailleur five-speeds, derailleur ten speeds, models with mudguards, models without. IIRC when one gets back into the 1960's there were also 26" wheel Sprites.

If you are curious as to the Sprite series you can walk through the years with them by going to the annual catalogues posted online.

Raleigh Catalog Database Archive

Not in the least an expert on Tube Investments products. Others can supply much more and better information.

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A most excellent and natural query! :thumb:

There were cycles made this way on purpose.

During the early 1970's ACER-MEX had models of Windsor and Carabela cycles which were constructed with 68mm Italian thread shells.

Owned a new Windsor Carrera Sport at this time, a flambouyant red 23" machine. Its frame constructed of Agrati lugset and crown, Maeda forged ends with adjusters. The shell was 68mm Italian. I never had occasion to check it for maker; may have been produced by Agrati as well. Cycle kitted with Sugino Maxy chainset. Cups were Sugino Italian thread. Bottom bracket spindle "Type II" number 3S (standard double spindle for 68mm shell).

If this is not enough oddness the frame was also built with an .833 steerer. Cycle's stem was a Gran Compe of .833 dimension.

This combination of sizes unique in my experience.

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86 Team Fuji
 

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...635b070651.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...11632937f5.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...06d5e476f8.jpg
Just traded a 1986 Miyata nine twelve for this 1986 Team Fuji looks mostly complete just needs a front wheel with a suntour sprint hub, and sprint pedals and it has shimano hoods on sprint levers, but on a whole, a beautiful bike. Not sure how easy it will be to find the front hub or the hoods. Apparently the rear derailleur and shifters have been upgraded to suntour sprint 9000

Scored this freebie from Craigslist and picked it up this morning. I'm usually late to the part on CL but I was lucky this time. "Sadly" it' my size so this will be a keeper after a rebuild. It's got a mix drivetrain(rd is Deerhead/fd looks like a 600 Arabesque ) but the Super Maxy cranks look original. I'm thinking it's a '78.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...e6b80575_b.jpg
IMG_0888 by 2cam16, on Flickr

I'm thinking it's 20 years newer but the price is good.

Well I'm thinking you hit the jackpot, your size, Deerhead, barcon's, Avocet and complete, not bad for free. :thumb:

They didn't make S10-S's in '98. ;)

I recently picked up a nice looking Wilier Trestina ramata for 50$. Full Campy nuevo record. It was on my top 5 dream bikes list. Cinelli handlebar/stem. Rolls saddle. GP4/Record wheels. Cant post images yet :(

Ooops.
Maybe I should research a bit before I speak ;)

+1; not to mention they didn't have graphics anything close to that in '98 (did anyone?....). The Classic Fuji site would help with identification via the graphics, but it looks early '80s to me, maybe late '70s.

I just realized there's no freewheel on that bike. Late '70s to early '80s is correct. I assembled a few of them during that period. Wheels are not original with those concave rims.

Sadly that site is gone since the owner passed away. :(