Hi, I just picked this frame up as I'm going to build a simple singlespeed to get around town. I found a serial number and searched the internet but couldn't find anything. Here's a little info on the frame and thanks in advance if anybody knows anything.

The serial number is NH0005926 and is located on the back of the seat tube.

The seat stays wrap around the seat post clamp. There appears to be a "+" symbol on the left dropout. The lugs are pinned and the fork crown is in a semi heart shape.

Here are some pics. Thanks!

It looks like a Raleigh, to me. This is based on the rear brake cable braze-ons, the pump peg braze-ons, and the wrap around rear frame seat stays. The fork looks like it once had a front dynamo generator light attached to it. Just my 2 cents. Let's see what others think.

Raleigh Grand Prix or similar. Fork crown , rear brake cable adjuster bridge, rear dropouts, and wraparound seat stay ends are some tell-tale signs. Also, the serial number seems like typical Raleigh format to me.

Then again, the lug shape and pump pegs are somewhat confusing. Are there any holes on the head tube where a headbadge might have been attached?

Are the pump pegs those "L" looking things coming off the top tube? What are they used for? Also, there are no holes in the headtube where a headbadge might have gone. Thanks for your help!

I'll bet against it being a Raleigh. To start with, it doesn't seem to have any holes in the head tube for a badge. There are significant differences, but a 1960s Falcon (I believe) frame that I ride as commuter has the same sort of dropouts: they're not "stamped" but cut from plate, and thicker than the "stamped" types seen on Grand Prixes and so forth. Lots of British builders used the full-wrap detail at the tops of seat stays. Is the light boss on the fork on the left or right? That might tell you something, since it makes sense for the light to be on the road side, rather than the shoulder side. Any grease fittings on the frame? Those sort of went out by the 1970s.

Hey Charles, here's a little more info if it helps. I measured the rear dropouts and they are 5/16" thick...not sure if they're stamped or plate, but they appear to be plate. There are no holes in the headtube. There are no grease fittings on the frame and the light boss is on the right side of the fork.

After Jacksbike and Realestvin7 said they thought it was a Raleigh, I did more research and found this website that has Raleigh serial numbers. Here's the web address.....
https://www.jaysmarine.com/TH_raleigh_serials.html
According to this website, the serial numbers would match a Nottingham built bike in June of 1980. Does this sound accurate or do you think it might be something else with the new info?

Thanks again!

What's the seatpost diameter? This is very intriguing.

What is on that crank arm? Is it possibly original to the frame?

It screams English to me, but even early Nishiki's had wrap around seat stays.

Its either a Raleigh or Carlton and has raleigh threaded BB cups and was built in Raleigh's Nottingham factory. Seatpost diameter will be 25.4mm.

The '68 Raleigh Record I'm working on has the same double braze-on setup for the rear caliper cable stop at the front of the top tube.

The '71 Raleigh Super Course frameset I own, has the same rear brake bridge, and the fork crown matches.

But the lugs, the wrap around seat stays, and the pump pegs on the OP's frame, are missing on my two examples.

I'm betting on a 1980 UK-market model. The serial number, front drops, top tube cable stops, and centerpull cable stop are all undoubtedly Raleigh; it would be a Grand Prix if it weren't for those headlugs and the pump pegs.

I'm not sure if the '81 or '82 UK catalogs are out there, but if you can find them, look through it. I bet you'll find this machine in it.

-Kurt

This dude would know! I knew it was a freakin' Raleigh. The only thing confusing me was the lugs and pump pegs.

@Realestvin7.....the seatpost diameter is 25.4mm like Hilarystone said. The crank has Apex SR on it and Japan stamped on the backside. I'm not sure if these are original though.

@Kurt.....After reading all the posts and doing research on the serial number and looking at pics, I was thinking Grand Prix but are those head lugs not appropriate for a Grand Prix?

I appreciate everybody's help as I'm mainly trying to find out the make and model to give it an appropriate paint job.

David

It's looks like a solid English frame. Just paint it English-y. Lol. I'm doing my girlfriend's Super Grand Prix right now.

LOL....English-y it is! Looks like we're on about the same part of our projects. Have fun with those lugs...LOL. If I start painting more bikes, I'm definitely going to invest in an abrasive blast cabinet! haha.

I'm doing a Rustoleum spray emamel base with Testors model enamel on the lugs. Should be relatively straight-forward. I have an electric space heater warming the garage as we speak.

Right on...I'm not that far along yet and not sure when I'm going to finish up but you should definitely post a pic of your frame on here when you're finished. I'd like to see how it turns out. Thanks again for all the help!

David

Remember - U.K.-market model. Probably the U.K. equivalent to the Grand Prix as we got it here.

-Kurt

Definitely a Raleigh. Given the light braze-on, might be a lower-end touring model.

I'm still puzzled as to how a Raleigh would NOT have headtube holes for a Heron badge.

Neal

Stick-on Heron badge.

-Kurt

From the Nottingham shop?! Blasphemy!

Neal

5/16 is the size of a pencil, same as 8MM, the size of a stem bolt. negative. They are "fine blanked" (stamped) and around 3/16" or less.

None of my Raleighs have any of that furniture. Close but not exact. I think it's a Japanese copy of a brit sports model. The crown looks exactly like my old Carlton Corsair.

I got a frame a couple of years ago and it had been painted. It took me over a year to find what it actually was and only by a random photo of a dropout.


IMG_4067 by barnstormerbikes, on Flickr

@FTWelder...you're right, I miss typed. It was suppose to be 5/32". Thanks for the pics and the help!

You're right. How about a decal?

Truth be told, the lower-end frames in the 1983 UK catalog do have decal headbadges - there's your answer.

-Kurt

So since we're assuming this is a lower end frame, is it still decent for a newbie rider who's just going to get around town a little bit and try his hand at biking a little more?