Help Identify this frame Gios?
 

I was given this frame it dates from the mid 70's as a patent 74 Nuovo Record rear derailleur was removed from it. The bottom bracket is English threaded the brazed on waterbottle mounts are hex shaped. On the bottom bracket on the drive side on the underneath a raised HB on the other side is a s/n 8175 very hard to make out. The seat post is an old campagnolo 2 bolt system 27.2 size. Very ornate lug work too



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It is Not a Gios. It DOES look British and of decent quality at least the head lugs do. I bet the bottom bracket has LH threading on the drive side.
The British were more likely to have stamped a frame number that may help identify it.
As it has been repainted, it may or may not have the original fork, not enough images of that.
The "fastback" seat stays and the ornate lugs are an interesting pairing.
Does there happen to be an oil port on the bottom bracket shell?

The bottom bracket does not have an oil port.

I would agree "Not a Gios" - but very cool. Are the fork dropouts Campagnolo too? It looks pretty rusty...can it be saved?

Yes the dropouts on the fork is Campagnolo as well

give that thing a healthy dose of framesaver and a paintjob! nice frame!

Carpenter comes to mind. But there could be half dozen possible British builders.

Norris Lockley might be the best one to identify it.

A few more pictures

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With an English thread BB shell and those curly lugs, it's highly unlikely to be a Gios. The lugs remind me of Hetchins, but the fork is anomalous -- perhaps a replacement.

Mercian?

A little more about the frame. The guy who gave it to me was from Hong Kong and he got it from a friend in Hong Kong who raced on it and had it decked out like a Gios as that was his dream bike. As to what it was originally he could not tell me.

Looks like Hetchins-inspired lugs but not a typical Hetchins pattern (that I can find), not exactly like any Mercian fancy-lug model either. Very British whatever it is, and undoubtedly a high-end frame. And probably not the original fork, WB bosses might be later additions, too.

Carpenter.

I sprayed the frame with WD-40 and the H B has come up even clearer anyone know of a builder who stamps HB on their frames

Hobbs of Barbican? (I just guessing, but he did make ornate-lug frames)...
then there's Horace Bates known for his ornate lugs (a better match I think).

that is one sweet frame, cant wait to see it after careful sandblasting and in a coat of primer.
that bike is begging for a two-tone to show off that lugwork!

It would be neat if I could get a fairly positive ID on the frame so it could be restored with the proper decals I was also told that although it has a Columbus sticker on it it is really Reynolds tubing.
My other question would be is sand blasting the best way to prep the bike or should I try sanding by hand.

I would chemically strip the paint so you know the full story on the rust issues first, ask shinibop about what lurks under thick paint.
Then I would media blast it but with something not very aggressive.

I have tried sanding in the worst of the rust areas and got down to bare metal quite quickly it sees that the rust is only on the surface what should I do if this is the case. And is there any type of chemical stripper available in Canada this is a new endeavor for me.

I've pulled the fork and it is stamped V1875 so corresponds with the frame so I don't think its a replacement

Agree not a gios... the frame is way before gios came out. Looks english to me.

It's not a Hobbs.

I hunted around through the Classicrendezvous British Isles page. I think I found it.
No idea if the frame number would work with it though.

So what do you think it might be

Condor maybe?

Pretty close to a Hurlow Condor is what I came away with, similar (though not exact) lugs and seat stay treatment.

That was something that occurred to me to investigate based on the "HB" serial number prefix - plus how nicely radiused and balanced those swervy lugs are - much harder to accomplish than appears at a glance. Fastback deal is typically Condor as well.

So what do you think it is? I investigated Hurlow and one article said he sculpted fleur de lys on his lugs and there are a number on mine too

Without further investigation I think you have reached the collective limit here.
British serial numbers are not my interest.
I suggest you sign up for the Classicrendezvous group. Details at the site.
I bet they will collectively either confirm or provide you with more information.
Probably more than one will offer to purchase it.