mswantak

I asked for info on the Sentinel marque back last year when I found this thing, and the silence was deafening. Google turns up zip, zero, and zilch. Since at the time I'd only bought it as a donor, I didn't pursue it further. Now I've talked myself into doing a build-up with it, so I thought I'd try again from a slightly different angle.

I'm 98% convinced this is a bike of Japanese manufacture sold in the U.S. under the Sentinel name; it has a Tange BB, and came with the Shimano Tourney group -- crankset, brakes, and 600/60 derailleurs. The date code on the SR stem makes it a 1973. Upon stripping the awful yellow paint job, I discovered the original color was a bright orange metallic, and also a serial number at the bottom of the seatpost tube on the left side: N600528. The frame has rather ornate lugs, and unusual seatstays that taper at the upper end. Brazed-on cable guides and shifter stop, but no hanger. The badge on the headstock is stamped metal and depicts a stylized tin soldier.

I'm thinking maybe someone here will recognize these features as the work of a particular Japanese maker. Here's a few pics;

T-Mar

Hmm, I'm sure I posted an answer to your original query.


I believe that is what I said.


All the indicators suggest a mild or hi-tensile steel, entry level frame. As for that lugset, I have seen it on several makes from the era; Azuki, KHS, Miyata, Nishiki and Panasonic. It appears to have been a fairly popular lugset from one of the frame parts suppliers and is not proprietary to a particular bicycle manufacturer.

The serial number at least allows us to rule out a few of the manufacturers. The format, sequence and/or location does fit not Miyata, Nishiki (Kawamura) or Panasonic (Matsu****a) frames for the period. I don't have any experience with the Azuki or KHS serial numbers and therefore cannot comment on any correlation to these brands.

So, it could be Azuki or KHS or any of several other manufacturers that may have used that lugset and those stays. Frankly there's not any truly distinguishing feature on that frame, nor would I expect there to be, at it's price point.

BTW, you did a very nice job on creating the headbadge artwork. Good luck!

USAZorro

Can't say this is what you have, but it is what I find in a guide that I have. Unfortunately, this is all there is: "SENTINEL: U.S.A. Lower grade models for Mead." I also looked up "Mead" but without success.

ollo_ollo

I once had a Centurion Le Mans of that vintage with the identical lugset, it had a Hi Ten frame (sticker was made to resemble a Reynolds 531 from a distance but said "gauranteed built with genuine Hi-tension Steel"). Serial # was located in the same place as yours(lower LH seat tube) # JF 76001. Also see the following link
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/ranger.html for a bit of info on Mead bicycle. Don

USAZorro

Obviously, what's in the guide has proven to not be what's in the thread.

mswantak

T-mar -- no offense intended; you did indeed respond in that thread. My use of the word 'silence' was relative; compared to the volumes of information that pour forth on other marques, the Sentinel remains something of an enigma.

I came across another clue tonight. At the top of the seatpost tube, on the right side where it enters the lug, there's a small numeral '7' inside an oval stamped into the tube. Any idea what it means?

T-Mar

Mystery solved! It's NOT Japanese! While thumbing through an old (1978) magazine I came across a comparision test that included a Sentinel Whisper. It didn't have much so say about Senitel, but it did state that the frames were made and assembled in California.

As for the Whisper, it closely approximates Mswantak's bicycle: high tensile steel frame, Shimano Tourney crankset and brakes, Shimano 600 derailleurs with stem shifters, Shimano LF alloy hubs (QR front, AN rear) mated to 27" Rigida steel rims with BUTTED spokes, alloy ranndonneur handlebar, steel post, Fuan saddle. Claimed weight was 29 lb and cost was $160.00 US. Sorry, no pics of the bicycle in the article.

Almost makes you wonder if this isn't the bicycle Mswantak has, with a few upgrades. Or is his the next model up?

sheldonkasower

Hi,
IU'm hte founder and owner of Sentinel Bicycle Manufacturing Company. Depending on which model you had --- I htink it was one we called :"Whisper" the frame was either made in Chatsworth CA or depending on the model it could have been made by Shikamura in Kobe Japan. We were the first company to produce quality lugged frames in the US - and eventually couldn;t compete with Taiwan and the ocmpany was sold to a division of Bendix Corp who rather quickly ran it into the ground and closed it down.

Hope this helps
Sheldon Kasower

sheldonkasower

Sorry for the spelling I should have used spell check before I pushed submit
Sheldon

unworthy1

Now there's a blast from the past: I had a very brief summer job working at Sentinel in Chatsworth, actually it didn't even last over 2 weeks as I think a group of us kids was brought in just to do carton unpacking and rudimentary assembly work to meet some deadline or backlog. As I recall the base of operation was in a strip-mall on Mason St. that used to house an old Safeway that had shut down. My memory is very sketchy but it seemed like everything I touched came out of a box shipped from Japan. I'm positive you wouldn't remember me, and all I got from it was enormous bragging rights with my pals by claiming I had worked as a "Bike Mechanic".

Mister 4x4

I'm the proud owner of a red w/gold Sentinel Californian that I've had in my possession since winter 1982 - a Christmas present from a family friend who'd wrecked their knees after a slip on the ice in SLC, UT (and couldn't ride anymore).

I was thinking of turning the bike over to Goodwill just to clear some space in the garage, but I'm reconsidering now, since it's such a rare bike. I understand that it's not a particularly valuable bike, but it is rare, nonetheless. I loved riding mine for about 4 years until I joined the Air Force in Oct 1986 and probably logged over 10,000 miles on it during that time (I had no wheels as a kid so I rode everywhere). The shifting action never gave me any problems and always seemed just about right for whatever speed I needed to go - even though it was 'only' a ten-speed.

Unfortunately, as a kid I was also into the whole BMX thing in the late '70s/early '80s (had an awesome Roger DeCosta Mongoose) and the rims (especially the rear) suffered some excessive forces as I'd have occasion to hop curbs and even had the bike airborne a few times avoiding obstacles. Never crashed it or anything, and all of the paint is still fairly pristine - a thorough cleaning and waxing should have it looking new again. I do need a new seat and handgrips/tape, since I wore out the foam grips from all my riding. If I can score some foamies again, I'll just go with those.

I'm hoping to get it rehabbed now and even start riding it again - just recreationally, not for long-hauls or anything. Over the years since joining the Air Force, I've gotten away from riding (and it shows), but I think I'm ready to get back into it again. Hopefully, I can get the Sentinel and my Mongoose Hilltopper back in shape... along with myself in the process.

Hopefully, my local bike shop can fix the rim, or offer up a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the bike's in awesome shape. I'll have to snap a couple pics of it and post. I'd love to hear more from Sheldon (if he ever comes back) along with other Sentinel owners.

Mister 4x4

Well, it happened. I was inspired by a friend and this site. I just got my Sentinel Californian back together and it's better than ever.

Here's a shot of it before I took it all apart and cleaned the crap out of it. You can see the old mirror I tried to make work, and for the most part it did... but it was never really 'right,' ya know. The old foam grips are worn down through to the metal in places.


I forgot to take pictures of it while I had it all apart, but I wound up cleaning everything, repacking all the bearings and turned the rims into the local bike shop for their assistance. They replaced the rear rim and mounted up some new H/D tubes and tires - the only ones they had in 27" diameter... oh well, at least they were able to keep the original wheel size. They also had to get a new freewheel and gearset because of the differences in the rim widths and stuff... which is fine, they work great.

The Dia-Comp brakes and Shimano derailleurs only needed some major cleaning and lubing and they're working perfectly - no rust on the cables, either. I did have to adjust the rear because of the new gears, but it's all good now. Nice and smooth - I can't believe how smooth after all these years of living on my back porch waiting on my lazy-ass to go to Goodwill. The brake pads aren't even brittle or anything - they're still plenty supple and stop the bike on a dime (after I adjusted them). Geez - they're only something like 24 years old (I burned up the original pads coming down Little Cottonwood Canyon from Alta one summer day... yeah - I was nuts back then... lucky too - helmets were for dorks back then as well).

I also upgraded and replaced the saddle with a Specialized Sonoma 175, re-wrapped the handlebars with some Bar Phat foamy tape (with sticky-back gel-pad inserts), added a Specialized computer and Rib Cage water bottle holster.



The bike shop said the front wheel was fine, but I think I'm going to snag a matching rim for the front anyway - cuz it would look so much better if they matched.

While I had it apart, I rode my Mongoose Hilltopper so I could start getting back some legs and lungs again. Man, was that a work-out. I've only gotten up to 3.5 miles riding around my neighborhood, but it's getting easier every time out. Once I switched over to the Sentinel, it was like night and day - it's so much nicer riding a road-bike on the road. Plus, I think my body remembers riding that bike and how well it fit me (or at least, it's what I was used to), so my first ride was awesome and it's been great ever since - even though I've only put down my second ride with the Sentinel this very evening.

I know it looks like I don't have enough seat post showing, but keep in mind this is a big bike. I'm 6'5" with a 36" inseam, and I can't touch the ground with both feet.

I'm SO glad I decided to rehab the ol' Sentinel and hang onto it. I missed riding and never really was excited about riding the Mongoose on the streets... and even less so about dumping more than I spent on my Honda Civic Hatchback on a new road bike.

Anyway - thanks to my pal Mike for the inspiration to get riding again, as well, thanks to this site being here. I love using forums as information sources, and I'll keep coming here as part of my regular rotation.

Schwathorne

Thought you might enjoy these.

Cycle101

Shot in the dark here...are you willing to sell if you still have it? I have a Sentinel from 72. My dad bought it when he was in high school, and it was his prized possession. I ride (or rode) it around every day until the rear cassette busted. If you notice, the crankset and rear hub is opposite of new drive trains on bikes today. The rear cassette is fixed to the hub, and the gears in the front are free. I can't find a replacement rear cassette anywhere. I have a huge emotional attachment to my bike, but it's out of commission until it's repaired. Needless to say, I'd pay top dollar.

T-Mar

The part you are looking for is a Shimano friction freewheel. It is not a cassette and it is not fixed. It does freewheel but the resistance is much higher to ensure the chainwheels freewheel first. Often, the older ones get gummed up even more and feel like they are fixed. The crankset is called a Shimano Front Freewheel Sysyem (FFS) crank. In a pinch, you make a friction freewheel by disassembling a standard freewheel and eopxying the pawls in place, or just using an old, gummed up freewheel. The system will work as intended, just so long as the rear freeweel has a higher rsistance than the front. It's also not from 1972. Shimano introduced FFS and friction freewheels in 1977 and they were typically partnered with the Positron indexed derailleurs.

chevmann

Hi, I own a Sentinel Horizon that I bought brand new in 1981ish I want to say. I was told by the Bike shop that I bought it from that they were made in California around the San Francisco area and they had recently gone out of business and the one I bought was one of two that they had left in stock. I had to choose between a red one and a blue one. I choose blue. But they were American made with Shimano parts. Weather they were a subsidiary of Mead I have no idea. But it's been a good bike. I rode it to Virginia when I was 18 in 1983. The freewheeling front sprocket made it much easier to shift while coasting. No problems. I still have it and ride it today