Albert is in the house
 

My new (old) Eisentraut Limited arrived from Texas on Thursday. I didn't get to do anything with her until today as Irene had me otherwise occupied. And today, Irene keeps me indoors-perfect for polish and assembly.

This bike was a CL PSA on the Serotta site. I am pleased. Paint is good for 36 years of use. Nuovo Record FD, RD, and crank set, Phil hubs, Fiamme rims, Weinman 500 brakes, 3T bars, Cinelli stem, Selle Storika saddle. Serial number gives a born on of 1975.

Tommorrow she will get ridden and some decent pics taken. I'm sure there will be some dialing in, but happy for sure.http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=216329http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=216330http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=216331http://bikeforums.net/attachment.php...hmentid=216332

Congratulations!

I saw that one as well, and she looks like a real find.

It's taking a lot of willpower on my behalf when these beauties are available.

Nice bike!

Is it just me or are the DT braze-ons down lower than usual?

I'd say they are low. 7" from the steerer tube vs. 5" on the adjacent Olmo. I'll report how it feels tomorrow.

re: willpower-I had none on this one. Must have control now.....

Looks beautiful, but I'd love to see some better pics.

I don't know much about these, but it seems very well equipped. Should make for a very nice ride. Is it Dutch made ?

Better pics in natural light tomorrow. It was a little wet and windy today.

Made in Oakland, CA. I am by no means the expert, but Eisentraut is one of the master's. I believe he apprenticed at the side of one of the early Schwinn folks. My understanding is that he is now largely retired.

NICE! More pics, and a ride report please...

Dig those hip decals. We got the Oakland stroke!

What size is your FS Kvale (50ish?) Birth year? and how much for f/f?

Albert Eisentraut is an underrated American framebuilding legend (and he would probably tell you that, too, as he can be a bit bitter about it, but he doesn't really like talking about the past, so don't ask him...). One of the earliest and longest-lasting of the 1970s US framebuilding generation, but he doesn't really get much credit for his body of work, which is a pity.
The Limited was an attempt at a higher-volume 'Limited Production' frameset. The 'rainbow Traut' was another famous model of his framesets.

It was funny the story Stephen Bilenky gave about him at the Heartland Velo show. Eisentraut seems to be the Ebanezer Scrooge of frame builders and doesn't want anything to do with frame building or builders for that matter.

Eisentraut learned from the Wastyns in Chicago, the folks who were behind many of the original Paramounts. All of his frames are/were high-end. The highest end was the "A," the custom line. These are exquisite works of rideable art. They are one of those rare frames that look better and better the closer you get.

For a few years in the 1970's, he oversaw the "Limited" line - his designs, mostly built by apprentices (including Bruce Gordon, among others). The story I heard through the grapevine was that Eisentraut discontinued the "Limited" line because he felt he could not do the quality control he wanted and still do the other things (including buidling the "A" frames) he wanted to do. Later on, in the 1980s, he and Ed Litton shared work space and they did the "Rainbow 'Trauts" together, with each also building their own custom frames.

He also ran a series of framebuilding classes. A number of major American framebuilding names got started through them - Bruce Gordon and Mark Nobillette are the only two I can think of off the top of my head, but there are more.

Eisentraut is definitely one of the Gods of American framebuilding.

Interesting observation. My '75 Limited did not have braze-ons, I added mine later. I would be interested to know if others originally came with these options. I don't recall. My S/N is 5L088.

Wasn't Bill Stevenson also a Limited builder?

It's a beautiful bike, PeregrinA1!

I skipped over this detail in the earlier posts. Those are not braze-ons. Shifters will be moving if the paint is decent under the clamp. The current position is not the natural drop of the hand for me.