1970's Lollypop Guild Racer
 

I couldn't help myself when this little custom oddity popped up on FB Marketplace for next to nothing. It measures 39.5 cm C-C. 26" Rear, 24" Front Sewups. it's got 531 decals on some tiny gas pipe tubes. Those 165 arms must create some serious knee articulation at that height. 🤣🤣🤣
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3570fcd8ea.jpg

I do have some 155’s
branded Bulletproof

This gas pipe is not lugged... Story was that the builder made it (had it made?) for his wife. Components are 70s Suntour 5 speed.

Nice! Being 5'2", I'm a little jealous of that find. I'm kind of vaguely keeping an eye out for a Terry style frame in my area

I've got 165s on a frame a bit bigger, and yeah, they're a bit much.

I'd pass it along, but I think this one is like 10 cm too small for you!!! I am thinking this was for a very tiny woman.

Are you sure it's gas pipe? Maybe it's an illusion but the outer diameter of the seat post looks large relative to the outer diameter of the seat tube. That would indicate thin wall tubing. What are the outer diameters of the seat tube and seat post?

Back in the mid 1970s, there was a young (pee-wee or minime class) racer in the GTA with a small, custom built, Reynolds 531DB frame, decked out with small tubulars and 1st generation Campagnolo Super Record. His bicycle was the envy of many Senior class racers and it always attracted a big crowd whenever he showed up at an event.

Is there a brand on the dropouts? If the frame was custome built with different size wheels and assembled with tubulars why would you use 'gas pipe'?

That's not Lollypop Guild.

This is Lollypop Guild.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...88ad72b403.jpg

You know, I judged it by the sound when I flicked the down tube, but it would make sense that a short tube would sound different than typical 531 frame. The seat post is 27.0 , the Seat tube is ~ 30.0
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e4674e138a.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...668692624e.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ead1597a05.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ad2f543c37.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c4c0484577.jpg

Yeah, probably! My generic Japanese mixte is around 47cm on 27" wheels. I don't think I could go any bigger than that, but that is one seriously small bike. It's really cute, I hope it finds a good tiny home.

A 27.0mm post is consistent with Reynolds 531DB for an imperial (28.6mm) seat tube. Far from gas pipe!

The interesting thing is that the components pre-date Terry's popularization of the proportional frame concept. The clues I'm seeing point to mid-1970s. In the photo, it looks like the cable stops on the upper down tube are offset from each other by a couple centimetres, suggesting a possible amateur build.

So, anyone around LA possibly interested in this little guy? I closed my shop and it's just being stored. Free to a good home!

Where is someone going to find tires for that? Super cool though.

My daughters NYC bike:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...c964f6a83.jpeg


This might be a good fit when she visits. And so much cooler than her current Trek 710.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0a3b39884.jpeg

Scamazon, Efbay and BTD.

Not many or good but....

;)

Bill Boston? Or Bill Boston inspired?
 

I agree on the '70's for the potential build decade based on the components and a few other clues like the brake housing clamps. Is it possible it is a Bill Boston bike, since he was custom building this style of bike back then? I have never seen a Bill Boston bike so I don't know what the seat lug and other features would look like.

Can you find a serial number @La Brea Bike ? Someone more expert may know where he placed serial numbers.

Although, it is interesting to note that the Reynolds 531 decals survived but the headbadge and builders name or brand is gone. Perhaps is is an amateur build. Interesting!

So, I have two hand raisers willing to give this crazy pup a new home. Thanks, I will go in order of request. Thanks!

The era would certainly be correct for a Bill Boston frame. The stay to dropout transitons are the correct style. It is fillet brazed due to the geometry, so there is no lugwork to examine but it doesn't appear to be up to Boston's workmanship standard. I'm not sure if he had different levels of finish, to hit different price points, like some custom builders offered. It would be interesting to see some detail photos of some of the joints, such as the seat tub/top tube/seat stay cluster, brake and chainstay bridges, etc.


The serial number would likely put the matter to rest. Boston frames that I've seen from this period have a recognizeable serial number format, stamped circumferentially, on the drive side edge of the bottom bracket shell.