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Originally Posted by ethebull
(Post 13345996)
I'm the former Proteus employee, 1981-1993. Post some pix and I can offer some insight. ... never mind, i see them now. Must have looked at this quickly before that post above.
I am not sure what to make of your frame there. The decals are not what we did in house, Proteus never had engraved seat stay caps like those, The seat lug looks like a Prugnat S4 which we did use over many years of production, but the extra clamp ear reinforcement is very atypical, as are the suit of cards cutouts. We mostly did a mitered to a point seatstay attachment, and a good many fastback stays to a large machined binder. The Fork crown is late eighties Cinelli, but during my tenure, that's not one we used, though we sold them as an importer. so... it is a "Proteus", but not one that came out of College Park MD from 1981-1993. Not sure where it originated. I was also a umcp student during that ear and remember College Park Bicycles also starting up biz and gawking at all the classic bikes that I could not afford. Lots of nice rides crusing the campus and I biked everywhere all the time, as did many of my dorm mates. |
I've had one small US Proteus Century pass through my hands, and while your decals are a more modern style, can confirm all the details on your frame line up exactly - the seat stay points, the windowed lugs, RGF bb shell, campy dropouts, brake bridge details etc. I believe the CT part of s/n was for Century Touring
Originally Posted by Loose cog
(Post 22443722)
Greetings all
I am hoping that Chris Riley (bikeriley); “ethebull” and a couple of the other Proteus fans are still linked to this thread after no posts for over a decade. I am looking to establish if this Proteus Century model was produced in the US or in the UK and establish an age from the serial number. The bike was purchased for the parts and is unfortunately too big for me. I am located in Johannesburg South Africa. Here goes: Constructed with Reynolds 531 butted tubes, stays and fork Prugnat S/4 professional cut out lugs RGF English thread bottom bracket Campagnolo dropouts with eyelets and adjusters 27mm seat pin, removed a 3ttt post Measures 58.5cm centre to top (57cm centre to centre) with 56cm top tube Frame serial number CT673 The frame was found with Sugino Mighty BB and crank, Campagnolo NR brakes, Suntour bar-end shifters, 3ttt seat pin (saddle later junk), Tange Falcon headset and nice Japanese bar and stem. Many thanks |
Lovely old Proteus Century you have there. I would certainly think it was the genuine 70's American built article. They were beautiful frames and to have one that looks to be in original condition is brilliant. I might add that the lugs are certainly styled similarly to the Prugnat S4 model but the lines, curves and cutouts suggest one of the plethora of Bocama patterns that were manufactured back in the day. The frame certainly isn't a British built Proteus as appeared earlier in this thread. I was probably only 7 or eight years old when this particular frame was manufactured.
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I'm pretty confident that those are Haden lugs made in the UK. They were popular just before investment cast lugs became the norm around 1978 + -. I used a set making my wife a frame she helped with the process.
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Thank you. I am certain my bike was USA made. Always intrigued to find a lesser known bike brand on our shores in South Africa. I found this bike together with a Bob Jackson which may have been owned by a German family who emigrated from South Africa a few months ago.
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I have an MD Proteus bought from original owner (custom spec) in 1976. Raced and road till early 90s. Now planning to restore - new paint and build out w the same vintage Campag, Cinelli gear. Open to input & suggestions esp on authentic Proteus decals. Will paste pics but seems like I need more posts before I can. Chat me up!
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More info, pre pics (need ten posts before I can share - grrr). Frame is ran Imron (original but beat up) and has slight slope to top tube, 23.0 in front, 23.5 at back. More in next post
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Third. Gorgeous sloping fork crown, the curvy P lugs as discussed, etc. - all shows fine craftsmanship. Can’t wait to share.
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Any info on MD Proteus top builders of the day, circa 1974-5, plz share Thnx and more later
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