Jeffrey Bock
 

The LBS gave me a heads-up about a very nice vintage custom that showed up in the shop for some work so I went over today to check it out and take some pictures to share with you all.

One of the mechs. at the shop talked to Jeffery today and said it should be ~72-74 judging by the decals. Oe of the more interesting parts is the brooks saddle that is solid plastic. Anyone know any history on that thing?

p.s. The owner is not interested in parting with it.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-S...7/IMG_1128.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-V...5/IMG_1133.JPG


https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-w...5/IMG_1132.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-H...7/IMG_1129.JPG


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https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B...5/IMG_1131.JPG

Is a WV builder?

Does it have 24" wheels? It looks like a Junior bike, but it could just be the angle of the photos.

Iowa. He has connections with Skunk River Cycles in Ames I think.

Ahhh, good info. And, +1 to the 24" wheels. My eyes were hurting for a minute there..... I couldn't believe how big the brake levers were ;)

Maybe a Jeff Bradley bike? From his midget racing days. That would be something.

Interesting fork crown. Do you know what it is?

I've never heard of this builder, but:
A., looks like very nice work, and
B., kind of doubt it would be as early as '74 with the Campagnolo 1010B (short) DOs and sans portacatena holes (but with some drillium holes!) my gut guess is: 'later'.
The early Phil hubs look "right", and that's a GPM (is it? the ring is) crank I've never seen before. Never seen a "unicanitor" style Brooks before, either...this has some rare details!

I think he's a builder based in Ames, Iowa. I remember seeing his bikes at Michael's Cyclery in Ames back in the early 80s.

PW hubs could be second generation already (first gen had bright chromed steel center tubes), so if it is original to the bike, build date might be more towards the mid 70's.

wanted: midget with deep pockets.

cool bike.

The cranks are GPM, and the wheels are indeed 24". The story the shop was told is that it was raced by a junior who outgrew it, and the current owner rides it regularly! I am not sure of the fork crown but can ask a friend of mine to take a better photo. As far as the date goes, the shop got in contact with the builder and he dated the frame based on the decals. Wether or not the parts were added later I am not sure. Also, it has a really nice edco competition headset!

didn't jeff bock play with the yardbirds for a while? helluva guitar player.

Been a long time since I've seen Jeff Bock. My recollection is that he was teaching school in Des Moines. Highly respected builder.

Assuming GPM means Gipiemme.

like many Italian brandnames, Gi-pi-emme is just the phonetic spelled out initials G-P-M in the Italian language, and GPM is the name of the firm.
There are probably dozens, but here's a couple that spring to mind
Duegi (due-G, or two-G: G.G.)
Biemmezeta (BMZ, bi-emme-zeta)

But some defy the trend: ITM (Italmanubri) didn't go there, nobody agrees on what to do with 3TTT (Tecno Tubo Torino) ;)