I picked this up a while back - actually BlankCrows picked it up for me since he was closer after I discovered it on Craigslist. I dragged it on over to Bigbossman's on Friday for a little extra TLC and to share a little of the fun. It was out to Ed Litton's out in Richmond, CA for a repair of a top tube cable guide that needed pulling out and all is well. I stopped by Stone's Cyclery in Alameda, CA and saw two other Eisentraut's yesterday so its got my blood up to show it off. Thanks go out to Blankcrows and Bigbossman so far. I haven't acquired any Italian steel yet that compares with some of their rides so maybe I'll just keep an eye out for more Made in America bikes. Campy all over except for the front Dura-Ace derailleur. Have only added new Continental GP 3000 tires and tubes, bar tape and brake cables and casing but otherwise it's how I got it. It needs a bit more work as time allows but here it is so far...

Very nice. I believe Bruce Gordon built some of the Eisentraut production frames - wonder if that's one of them.

Uhmm... That has to be one of the most awesome head tube decals I've ever seen

It depicts a hapless solo breakaway rider just before being reeled in by World Champion Eddy Merckx.

Gorgeous; love the understated color scheme. And that Concor is very cool. Hats off to you if you can push those gears in the Bay area.

He can't.

I've been had... Glad I don't live on a hill. No ducks for you!

Very nice! Check out that spacer in the headset

I haven't heard about the Bruce Gordon affiliation with the Eisentraut Rainbows. Ed Litton was involved a bit at some point but to what extent I'm not sure. When I had the bike out at Litton's shop he gave me a little insight on it and told me how to decode the serial #.

I am glad that you mentioned the spacer as I have seen these on a few larger steel frames with threaded steerers and I don't understand how the quill expander would not be in a threaded area. Am I missing some trick?

NICE BIKE!!

Rainbow Trout for the win!!

vjp

I thought the full name of that model was "Rainbow TROUT" or "Rainbow TRAUT", depending on whether the pun was delivered subtle or overt. Check out the signature seat cluster: whoa!
Ed Litton bought a lot, if not all, of Eisentraut's equipment when Albert was fed up with frame building and wanted out. (that's the story I heard, and might have heard it straight from Ed...maybe)

Gordon worked at Eisentraut's shop for a time (like some other guys - e.g. Mark Nobilette). I believe he had a hand in some of the production models - Rainbow Traut, Limited. Not sure which. But you can be sure whichever they were they were well done. Al didn't do them himself, for the most part, AFAIK.

Uh, there is a mild incline heading up to your street. You'll be walking that bike up it with those gears and your legs.

The nice gentleman I got the bike from seemed like an experienced rider--perhaps a racer from days gone by. In his garage he had another, newer Eisentraut in the exact same color, and this bike was for sale because of the dink on the cable guide. (Hard to tell from the photos, but the front and rear cable guides on the top tube are offset towards the left side.) It was apparently surplus, and I can report that I handed over less than $300 for it.

I think Bill Davidson of Seattle also worked with Eisentraut's. I'm pretty sure I've seen rainbow logos on older Davidson's, too.

Beatiful bike. I dig that fillet-brazed hand-built stem.
You going to keep that front derailleur, or find one to match the rest of the group?

My plan was to initially put the bike back together as I acquired it and check out the ride before I do anything drastic with it. I'll be making some changes soon to the rear cluster - the sooner the better with the hills around here. I'll probably replace the FD to Campy to have a full gruppo on it. The period Dura-Ace FD was probably on it since it performed better than it's Campy equivelant at the time and from what BlankCrows said about the previous owner he was very meticulous in what he had and how his bikes worked. I just consider myself very lucky to have discovered it on CL and been the first to jump on it.

With the general lack of info out there about the Eisentraut models it's hard to know. Looking at the postings on the CR mailing lists many mentions just refer to the Rainbow. Others list it as a Rainbow Trout. Any original owners out there know for sure?

There is an ebay auction here that just ended with a butchered Eisentraut Rainbow frame (derailleur hanger removed for a fixie conversion... What a waste... What were they thinking?) that just has the Rainbow logo head badge but no trout. Whats up with that? Different model? Seller did a good job of not showing the rainbow decals but there is no fish present. The seat tube lug looks right.

I believe it's "Rainbow Traut" - hence the actual fish depicted on the badge. The spelling of "Traut" is obviously a tongue in cheek reference to Eisentraut's name.

No idea.

Thanks for the info PS. With no documentation out there to go on except for what people have to say its hard to come up with the right answers. Still wondering about the years these were produced and the approximate number made.

I worked for with Albert for just over 2 years - for 2 years I was Part Owner and Vice President of Eisentraut Bicycles Inc.
I built Limiteds until the end of 1975 - never built a "Rainbow" those were later.
Just to set History straight.
Regards,
Bruce Gordon
Bruce Gordon Cycles
www.bgcycles.com

^good to know, and since we are talking History: I recall that Albert was trying (maybe he succeeded) in setting up an "offshore" operation to have some frames built to his specs in Japan. Anybody know the details?

So my wife's Limited was built by Bruce Gordon? cool.

Bruce,

Thanks for the input and setting the record straight. Just wish there was a little more info out there about these. Such is life for the majority of custom builds / limited production bikes from local frame builders and having acquired it second hand there is only so much I'm going to find out. I admire your work. I've seen your name associated with Eisentraut's but knew you were doing things much earlier than this one. Hope to stop by your place on my way up to Santa Rosa soon as work takes me that way a few times a month.

Not exactly - I built Limiteds until December 1975 - they continued after I left to form Bruce Gordon Cycles.
Please don't ask if I built your wife's - I have no way to tell.
Regards,
Bruce Gordon
www.bgcycles.com