It means metric sized Reynolds 531 to moi. Perhaps someone had left some lying around in the UK, instead of shipping it all to France where it belonged. What's the BB/headseat threading, if marked? Edit: I see the seller claimed BSC; have you checked? Just curious...

[QUOTE]Was it standard practice for a fillet-brazed frame to have a lugged BB shell?
/QUOTE]

Our Tourist #5935 is filet brazed at the bottom bracket.

I'd just build the bike into something cool and enjoy it. If it is any consolation, a well documented 1957 Jack Taylor "Tour of Britain" frame in nice condition went for $927 on eBay recently.

Weigh it bare. That will tell you (more or less exactly) what the 26.4-ish seatpost size portends.

Speaking of weighing it, the spindle shouldn't be any heavier than a square-taper spindle.

When i get home tomorrow ill weigh the sucker. Again, im just having fun with the detective work sorting out what it is. Ill enjoy it taylor or not and i care not how much i paid for it.

+1. Right attitude...it's a hobby, and the mysterious stuff is part of the fun.

Hope it's a great rider...

more info from Norris Lockley:
"

Hello Brian,

I'm releived that the frame arrived; in the event the Fed-Ex Economy 3+ days delivery worked well.

You reaction to the frame was very similar to my own when I started to research it for sale...I though that it was at least 20 years older than the frame No indicated.

I haven't a clue where I bought the frame, but have to assume that it was at a local bike jumble some years ago, as such frames do turn up often in this area.

I have seen a lot of Taylor's frames and have met up with the three brothers from time to time to discuss frame-building. The word 'idiosyncratic' is the adjective that best describes their work. Often an owner will find that the front fork drop-outs do not match the rear ones or that one of the lugs is from a different set etc etc. The brothers had a vast stock of parts dating back to pre=WWII days and these tended to appear on frames throughout the nect forty years or so.

Your frame SHOUTS late 40s -early 50s..and that is what I believed i owned..no shred of doubt. However I think it is quite conceivable that the brothers, in the 70s were still drawing on stock from the earlier years and hence producing frames that appeared to be older than their years.

Your frame has had a working life - ie it has been well used, as road-track frames were meant to be used - they were work-horses..but it has gained a lot of character. It is well documented that Norman Taylor who built the frames never filed the bronze-welded joints..he welded them, tickled them with a small flame to smooth them out..then sand-blasted them and sprayed them. I have written up on the classiclightweight.co.uk site an account of a conversation with the brothers. It is not at all unusual to detect slight welding ripples on a Taylor frame..but I suspect that later ones had fewer ripples as technique improved.

When packing your frame I thought I detected little dots/areas of light green paint underneath the black and I wonder whether ...

More anon"

Rear spacing is 120. Is that normal for track drops? Im guessing so..

I think so.

Is there an sa hub with 120 spacing?

Oh, that green paint thing would kill me. That's tough... be a detective or financially responsible....

It's beautiful, it suits your riding style and wants...and you get this awesome mystery! Win-win.

The bike has two flaws, it's built for a giant and it's not mine. Frame is such a score and I love the idea of pre ww2 parts on a 70s frame.

Huh?

Anyhow, it def needs a 26.2 seat post. Anyone have one?

I just rebuilt the headset..

actually its 110, oops.

Most of them, I think.

In the 70s, yes. In the 40s I'm not sure.

I have a black one and an shiny aluminum one. Both are new single bolt jobs. I'm happy to send you either one so you can get it on the road.

I was under the impression that lots of older English bikes built with 531 took a 26.4mm post. I have two two bikes that are supposed to have come equipped with a 26.4 post. Both have 26.2s in them because 26.4 wouldn't fit. I don't think this is a rare occurrence.

I think SA hubs are 110mm, so you're in luck!

I haven't measured this one here, but of course, I will soon.

i think some 30s and 40s bikes were like 118mm.

In the email from Norris he mentioned that he might have seen green spots of paint underneath the black finish. If that is true, I would be tempted to ruin a perfectly good paint job to see if I could find anything original underneath. It's just like on my house... I really, really wanted to remove the shingles that covered the original wood siding. Not knowing what I would find, I chickened out and just repainted the shingles.

so it turns out I could actually fit 700's if I wanted to. I put on a medium reach diacomp center pull and there was plenty of reach...

but i do like the idea of coaster or hub brakes.

hmm.

if anyone has any opinions on how they'd build this frame I'd like to hear them too.

5 speed Strumey Archer hub, 700c (new one alloy one) w/bar end shifter & drops. That way you could put serious miles on it if you chose too as well as keep it looking somewhat period.

I would do exactly that. In fact, I'm building up three bikes that way.

yup. an SA 5 is definitely under consideration. I wish they were easier and cheaper to get a hold of, but whatever.

Buy this:

https://bikesdirect.com/products/mercier/kilott_wt5.htm

Take what you need, sell the rest. That's why I am here, to solve problems.

+1. Ah, the joys of playing with the cheapness that is bikesdirect product.

https://smartbikeparts.com/search_det...?itm=SBP998196