Hybrid frame ID
 

Just got this old hybrid frame. Do you know what brand/model/year is it?

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps3f3dd793.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps152c6f46.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...pse7fa2ed4.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps399822ff.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...psbb5e4219.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps5c7a33e2.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps3baa4207.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...psf48a903b.jpg

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...ps50e58c15.jpg

Seatpost is 25.4, BB threaded 35mm right/right 70mm wide, headset 25.4, stem 22.2. Serial number under BB is FED9706692. Front and rear DS dropouts are marked 89 or 68. Weld quality seems pretty good. Double eyelets F&R, braze-ons for rear carrier, dynamo and kickstand, holes (for internal front light wiring?) on DT underside, pulley for down pull FD. Obviously repainted.
Edit: Just noticed it has a JIS headset. That means it's Japanese?

From the gen bracket all the eyelets, and kstand plate I am leaning toward a Raleigh. Your in the UK yes?

I do find it ood that it has a highwire cable design using a pulley for the FD but then has stamped sropouts and that kstand plate.

It has some odd features for me also, I'm not in the UK.

Very strange specs. Seat post size suggests entry level, as does the kickstand plate and 3D dropouts. While I haven't seen this particular serial number format before, it is typical of Taiwan or China and should be circa 1989-1990, However, that 35mm, right/right, bottom bracket is really confusing. Wider BBs were often used on ATBs and hybrids, but I though that by that period French standard threading was obsolete, even in France! The JIS headset doesn't necessarily mean Japanese. It was used on a lot of entry level models. What's the rear dropout spacing? Any markings on the fork's steerer tube?

The construction method is really hard to identify from the pics. In some places it looks like there may be scallops indicative of TIG welding but overall it smoother like it's brazed. The external fillets look larger than typical for an internally brazed frame as produced some French companies.

That bottom threading is really perplexing given the apparent era. Pending further evidence, I can't state much more than the fact that it would appear to be an entry level, possibly chain store, city bike/hybrid circa 1989/1990.

This is driving me crazy! I can't believe no one has a clue. Just now I was thinking maybe it was an old road frame someone braze cantilevers and that high wire on for 'cross but why leave a Dynamo bracket? And an old road bike would most likely be lugged.

If it really is a Hybrid most of them, as T-Mar says are '90 and later but I can't recall many with highwire cables like that except Bianchi but that would be lugged until the mid '90s.

Unicrown fork is also indicative of circa 1989/1990. Given the dropout style and codes match that on the rear, I'm assuming the fork is OEM to the frame.

Thanks for your responses Bianchigirll and T-Mar. I think it's not a modified frame, the fork is OEM. There are many hybrid frames similar to this one, but all I've seen have under BB gear cable routing. Rear spacing is 130mm, no markings on steerer tube. Maybe it's not clear in the pics, but it's all welded, not brazed (except for the dropouts?).
So it's an obscure frame... perhaps time will tell what's it.

Thxs for clarifying the construction method. TIG welding become popular in the very late 1980s, about the same time as the arrival of hybrids. Based on everything, it's probably circa 1989-1990 but I don't have any suggestions on the brand.

Update: built this frame with a Nexus 8 rear hub and a Shimano hub dynamo front, with 700 x 38 tires it's a nice riding city bike:

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/e...psd71285f4.jpg

Looks great!

+1. :thumb:

Thanks JJPistols and T-Mar!