Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Frame identification help needed

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Frame identification help needed

Old 08-23-11 | 02:04 PM
  #1  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 94
Likes: 2
From: Southwestern Ontario

Bikes: Surly LHT, Kona Big Honzo, CX frankenbike

Frame identification help needed

Hi all,

I recently bought a frame from a friend at my local bike co-op. It has Brodie decals, but had a Fiori fork installed. I emailed Brodie with some photos and the serial number and they say it is not one of their frames. From what I understand, Fiori is an alternate brand of Norco. Unfortunately, Norco only seems to allow me to contact them by snail mail.

The serial number appears to be GCL 35, though I think the frame has been repainted so it's a bit difficult to make out. I've attached some photos.

Any ideas on how to ID this frame would be appreciated. I've cobbled together parts to get it rideable, and it seems to ride well. Ideally I'd like to figure out what the original fork geometry is, as the fork that came with it has a theaded-threadless adapter frozen in the steerer tube.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
side_view_full.jpg (94.7 KB, 79 views)
File Type: jpg
front_triangle_closeup.jpg (98.5 KB, 28 views)
File Type: jpg
headtube_lug_closeup.jpg (93.3 KB, 17 views)
File Type: jpg
BB_closeup.jpg (96.9 KB, 18 views)
File Type: jpg
BB_closeup2.jpg (97.0 KB, 19 views)
aglauser is offline  
Reply
Old 08-23-11 | 09:55 PM
  #2  
CbadRider's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,929
Likes: 1
From: On the bridge with Picard

Bikes: Specialized Allez, Specialized Sirrus

Moved from General Cycling to Classic & Vintage.
__________________
Originally Posted by Xerum 525
Now get on your cheap bike and give me a double century. You walking can of Crisco!!

Forum Guidelines *click here*
CbadRider is offline  
Reply
Old 08-24-11 | 06:09 AM
  #3  
Bianchigirll's Avatar
Bianchi Goddess
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 28,888
Likes: 4,132
From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In

Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.

judging from the overall condition I would say the fork is likely a replacement. can you post some closeups of the seat cluster and dropouts? is there anything stamped on the dropouts? any idea what the BB threading is?

__________________
One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"

Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Bianchigirll is offline  
Reply
Old 08-24-11 | 07:34 AM
  #4  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 94
Likes: 2
From: Southwestern Ontario

Bikes: Surly LHT, Kona Big Honzo, CX frankenbike

Thanks Bianchigirll, I will get those other detail shots. I still fairly new to this, wasn't sure exactly what would be helpful.

I didn't see anything stamped on the dropouts, but the frame seems to have been repainted, so fine details like that are a bit obscured. I'll take another look.

It has a sealed BB, I assume that means standard threading. Is that a reasonable assumption?

For what it's worth, the original owner claimed it was new in the early 2000's (which is why I posted in General at first). Then again, he also told the guy I bought it from that it was a Brodie, so who knows?
aglauser is offline  
Reply
Old 08-24-11 | 08:33 PM
  #5  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 94
Likes: 2
From: Southwestern Ontario

Bikes: Surly LHT, Kona Big Honzo, CX frankenbike

Okay, here are some more shots of the frame. Looks like the rear dropouts are forged and say "??EV CAMPAGNOLO".

As for the poorly done Sprite can seatpost shim, it's a temporary fix so that I could take a little ride and see if it was worth spending time on this frame.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMG_3290.jpg (97.3 KB, 15 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_3291.jpg (94.3 KB, 18 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_3289.jpg (94.9 KB, 20 views)
aglauser is offline  
Reply
Old 08-24-11 | 11:50 PM
  #6  
realestvin7's Avatar
Large Member
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,533
Likes: 5
From: Tejas
BREV. CAMPAGNOLO. So you have Campagnolo dropouts. Where's a good fork crown pic?
realestvin7 is offline  
Reply
Old 08-27-11 | 07:29 AM
  #7  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 94
Likes: 2
From: Southwestern Ontario

Bikes: Surly LHT, Kona Big Honzo, CX frankenbike

Details of fork. Again, not sure if original fork or not.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMG_3302_small.jpg (88.2 KB, 9 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_3305_small.jpg (94.1 KB, 14 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_3304_small.jpg (89.2 KB, 7 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_3301_small.jpg (95.2 KB, 7 views)
aglauser is offline  
Reply
Old 08-27-11 | 09:51 PM
  #8  
realestvin7's Avatar
Large Member
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,533
Likes: 5
From: Tejas
Too bad it's so rusty. That's a cool fork. Frame's pretty neat, too.
realestvin7 is offline  
Reply
Old 08-28-11 | 04:31 AM
  #9  
non-fixie's Avatar
Cyclotouriste
Titanium Club Membership
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,784
Likes: 6,995
From: South Holland, NL

Bikes: Yes, please.

Bit of a project, but from where I'm sitting it looks like a well-made frame. Frame number syntax suggests a (very) small scale production. Worth saving if there's no major damage.
non-fixie is offline  
Reply
Old 08-28-11 | 09:15 PM
  #10  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 94
Likes: 2
From: Southwestern Ontario

Bikes: Surly LHT, Kona Big Honzo, CX frankenbike

I'm thinking I'll try to clean it up a bit and ride it for a while. If I really like it I might try to do a proper repaint to match the fork, assuming I can get the fork usable again. Right now there's a chunck of stem stuck in there that's shorn off in such a way that I can't get a grip to try to wiggle it out.

It would be nice to ID the frame, but maybe I'll just have to learn to enjoy the mystery.
aglauser is offline  
Reply
Old 08-29-11 | 07:06 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,115
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by aglauser
Hi all,

I recently bought a frame from a friend at my local bike co-op. It has Brodie decals, but had a Fiori fork installed. I emailed Brodie with some photos and the serial number and they say it is not one of their frames. From what I understand, Fiori is an alternate brand of Norco. Unfortunately, Norco only seems to allow me to contact them by snail mail.

The serial number appears to be GCL 35, though I think the frame has been repainted so it's a bit difficult to make out. I've attached some photos.

Any ideas on how to ID this frame would be appreciated. I've cobbled together parts to get it rideable, and it seems to ride well. Ideally I'd like to figure out what the original fork geometry is, as the fork that came with it has a theaded-threadless adapter frozen in the steerer tube.
How wide is the bottom bracket shell? If it is 70 mm instead of 68 mm, It's an Italian frame (or at least, has Italian spec.). It looks like a circa 1975-1980 Italian frame to me, a Basso-built Pogliaghi perhaps, for example, but it could be British or American (even if it has a 70 mm BB shell, as some builders in the US did Italian threads, but not many did). Sure as heck not from 2002, by a longshot. It appears that the second set of eyelets were added to the rear dropouts when the double-eyelet fork was added. What is going on where the down tube meets the BB shell? Is that just weird gunk, or a welded repair/patch?
753proguy is offline  
Reply
Old 09-05-11 | 12:56 PM
  #12  
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 94
Likes: 2
From: Southwestern Ontario

Bikes: Surly LHT, Kona Big Honzo, CX frankenbike

Originally Posted by 753proguy
What is going on where the down tube meets the BB shell? Is that just weird gunk, or a welded repair/patch?
The gunk is from some tape that was on the frame. I think the intention was to plug the holes in the bottom of the BB shell. It was duct tape covered by electrical tape. I'm not looking forward to trying to get all the adhesive off.
aglauser is offline  
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
vivvov
Classic & Vintage
8
03-12-17 11:38 AM
dwscrimshaw@bti
Classic & Vintage
4
07-11-16 08:50 AM
lasauge
Classic & Vintage
3
07-22-14 04:03 AM
Alfski
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
5
04-30-13 06:55 AM
bvward
Classic & Vintage
11
01-26-10 05:01 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.