Help to identify frame
 

Hi, I found this bike out for rubbish, can anyone identify it?
It weighs about 1750g, a 27mm seatpost is a little loose, so I guess its a 27.2 but dont have one to test.

The dropout spacing is 116mm and the bottom bracket width is 69mm

There are 3 holes drilled through the brake bridge from the front and two from the top half way through, and it looks like its a little squashed like someone has tightened a brake too much.

The bottom bracket threads have some rust in them, so im not sure of the threading.

I can see holes that are filled with paint where a headbadge was, there are two holes at the top and one at the bottom in an upside down triangle.
The serial number is 4946 and is on the bottom of the head tube.

no idea but I'll guess that: since it has track ends, that multiple drilling in the "brake bridge" may indicate that it was never intended to actually have a brake, maybe this is strictly for the track. Guess 2: since you're in OZ I bet it was made there, probably has BSC threading.

Thanks for looking, unworthy1. Looking at it again, maybe the holes were done by the owner because the spacing on a couple look off.

How many holes for a headbadge are there?
The seatstay cluster design is similar to some I've seen on Malvern Star
bikes. Not sure that they used headbadges I'm used to seeing the raised
stars on the headtube.
Another popular brand was Flash, not sure how to ID them but
they also used Nervex lugs.
It appears to be a nice frame, low end stuff usually doesn't
have serial numbers.
Can you measure the seat tube for seatpost size? I'm wondering
if it's Reynolds tubing.

FWIW, serial numbers with a low character count tend to be custom or cottage industry frames. Certainly, the bridge tabs (which are huge) indicate something better than your typical mass produced frame. I know very little about Malvern Star, though I'm led to believe they were mass volume. So, I think they could be eliminated, unless they were known to have a separate serial number format for their upper end models, along the lines of Bianchi's Reparto Corse.

T-Mar,

Malvern star had a range of bikes, low end entry level were 1 star, top of the line were 5 star.
No idea if they had separate serial numbers though

lotek, there are 3 holes for the headbadge. As for the seat tube, I only have a ruler and it is slightly bigger than 27mm.

I found a 27.2mm seat post and couldn’t get it in very far, it was tight and starting to scratch the post, a 27mm post fits good, but I’m not sure if its too loose. There’s either a burr, which I cant see, that scratched the post or its meant to be 27mm.

Looking through the bottom bracket shell at the inside of the down and seat tubes, and through the head tube at the top tube, I can see the frame was pinned together with what looks like nails.

27.0 or 27.2, either one is consistent with Reynolds 531 butted tubing, or (yes, there are others...).

Before we proceed, how's the paint? To my eye, on this ridiculously small screen, the paint looks bad. I'm thinking this bike is in for a total repaint. I don't mean to scare you; I could sure be wrong. But if I'm not, and if you are planning to do a complete repaint anyway, why not take off that existing paint (very carefully) and see what you learn in the process? you may find the shadows of the original decals or whatever, which will tell you more than any of us can.

Also: do I see a hole for an oiler on the top of the BB shell, left side? If so, that tells us something about the date (early 60's at the latest).

Everything so far points to a high end frame.
Can you post a head on picture of the headtube, one that shows
the pattern of the holes for a badge?
Rudi, I think what you're seeing is a paint chip, doesn't appear to be
an oiler hole to my eye.

Marty

rhm,
The paint is bad, it has been repainted and put on fairly thick. The down tube has been sanded right down, so nothing will be visible there.

I'm not in a hurry to paint it, I just thought I'd ask here because theres so many members with so much knowledge :)

There is no hole on the bottom bracket shell, its a rust spot.

lotek,
Heres a photo, I circled the holes because they are hard to see.