Well I'm (what I feel like) a good ways into my bike project. This is not much of a restoration, but a conversion to single-speed ride. I believe I'm working with a vintage frame, however, am unaware of its' manufacturer. This is why I'm asking in the "classic & vintage forum. I've done some searching for a sign of a stamped manufacturer, but am unable to locate one. I received the frame with the paint partially stripped, so have no idea what markings were previously on this bike. I just received word that I'll be able to powdercoat the bike for only $60. Working for an agricultural equipment company has its' perks.

Thanks in advance!

Here are some pictures:

I guess one or more things could be going on at this point.

1. my pictures suck and no one really can identify the frame.

2. no one cares? haha

3. since i'm not restoring it to vintage specs...my thread has little attention.

hmm...i guess a bike is a bike is a bike....hopefully it turns out well

Single speed is fine. Most people are turned off if things are shaved off the frame but would applaud that another bike is on the road.

What parts came with the bike or did you receive it as a frame?

Can you also upload photos of:
Seat lug cluster
Rear drop outs
Any serial numbers

If you can, can you identify: bottom bracket threading (Italian, British, etc.: https://www.sheldonbrown.com/ and https://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpe...yTenSpeeds.htm are excellent resources)
Seat post diameter

This is what the frame came with...already uninstalled....

Suntour GT shifting components.



Dia-Compe Brakes.



Sugino Maxy Crankset and Chainring.

Here are a few pictures of the frame that were requested.

Curious marking:



Rear Dropout:



Seat Post lugging:

Oh I forgot to include a couple parts...

SR Quill Stem:



Sakae Custom Road Champion Bars:

Briefly looking at the photos, it seems like an entry level Japanese frame. Seems like a great candidate for a single speed. The curious markings are nubs to hold clamp on shifters or shifter cable clamps in place. Lugs seem very distinct so someone might be able to identify it better than I.

Ah ok. Thanks much for the help =). I should probably try to get better pictures of the lugging on the fork, and around the bottom bracket.

Awesome. Back to mytenspeeds.com =).

EDIT: more pictures of lugging...

+1

Well, maybe one step up from "entry level" since you have a cotterless crank with removable rings; true entry level would have a steel cottered crank or a steel chain ring swaged to a cotterless crank arm, depending on the date.

Speaking of the date, you can probably find date codes on the derailleurs and the brakes. Somewhere around 1980, I think.

The chrome steel plate at the top of the fork is a sign of a low end bike; and it's removable, of course.

I don't recognize them, but I do like the head lugs; I'd definitely do a two tone color scheme, with contrasting color on the head panel and seat tube.

I'll look for date codes in a bit here. I did notice some numbers stamped into the different components.

As far as the chrome steel plate at the top of the fork goes, I am having some trouble figuring out how to remove it. The bottom side of the bearing headset holder doesn't want to move. I'm guessing that in order to pull this plate off, the ring or underside bearing collar must move up and over the top of this tube on the fork. Any suggestions?

EDIT: Yeah I just took a swiss army knife, small tin snips, and a bit of elbow grease in order to remove that plate!!! Thanks for the recommendation!

I'm trying to figure out which color scheme I want at this point =). Thanks for the compliments on the frame! You guys sure are nicer than the single speed/fixed forum...shhh don't tell them I said that.

Oooh! I was just looking at my frame, and found a stamped code! The code "R O 13" is stamped just under the seat post lugging on the left side of the frame.

Serial numbers are almost always meaningless. There was no industry standard, and even individual companies changed their serial code methodology many, many times. Best bet for age is to look up the component codes. That stem should also have a date code.

+1 Low end/bottom end Japanese bike, 1980'ish. If that is an Apex crank, then the bike could be from the late 1970s.

The Japanese made some great bikes, so even low end are pretty good. And this is a good candidate for your plans. Enjoy!

Thanks for the great input! I dropped the bike off for powdercoating today. Should turn out nice. =)