Hiya all,
I'm new to vinage bikes and looking to pick up a restoration project- particualarly an old Loop framed bike.
Could anyone point me in the right direction as to how to roughly age what i'm looking at?

Thanks in advance,

Su

How about a picture of what you mean by a "looped frame" Not enough information at this point. Roger

I assume the OP is referring to this style of frame:



They have been made for many decades, and are still quite common in Italy (where I took this picture). Umberto Dei is one company still making this type of frame.

I was thinking he was talking about Colsons or Burley tandems where the seat stays and the chain stays were one looped piece of tubing. Red Line also did this in BMX bikes and in folders Bike Friday did this for many years. That is the way my early 1990s Pocket Rocket was built. Roger

Susan, you're in the land of loop frames.Take your pick of any 30's/40/s/50's frames that fits you and go at it. Remember that Raleighs have proprietary threading of some parts so other marques may be easier to deal with. Premium models include Sunbeam, Humber, Rudge, Hercules and Raleigh of course. Good hunting. We think this examplewas a rebranded Hercules.

Sorry for the confusion- I didint realise that there was more than one bike that was known as loop framed.
The bike in Johns post is the sort of thing I'm after- In an ideal world with 3 speed hub and dynamo.
Incidently, I'm assuming rod brake tend to date the bike as older than calipers/canti's? or am I barking up the wrong tree?

Not necessarily. Umberto Dei is still making loop-frame bikes with rod brakes.

Woof?

They are still making rod braked bikes in China and India even today. Flying Pigeon and Eastman are a couple that come to mind. Raleigh stopped making the rod braked Tourist in the 1980's.

I have seen loop style frames from the mid 70's that were made in France and were 10 speeds, with center pull brakes.

Aaron