1950's Frejus project thread - heavy patina content
#51
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Record hi flange hubs that date from the 60s are available on eBay. They're nice hubs and they'd look good on your bike. Personally I wouldn't lose any sleep on using parts from the 60s but the purists here would. I'm going to do a resto mod on a '58 Claud Butler with some newer parts that will look right on an old bike.
#52
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Record hi flange hubs that date from the 60s are available on eBay. They're nice hubs and they'd look good on your bike. Personally I wouldn't lose any sleep on using parts from the 60s but the purists here would. I'm going to do a resto mod on a '58 Claud Butler with some newer parts that will look right on an old bike.
As much as I can appreciate the "purist" perspective (which I'd be more ardent about if this were not to be a "rider") I'm all about functionality with perhaps some compromise in purity. I think if the aesthetics suit the build, I'm OK with being off by a half generation - especially on small things like hubs (for example, I will probably get a new Brooks or Berthoud saddle for it - I don't want some worn out, sweat-infused saddle from that era).
Said another way, I'd prefer period correct if I can find it in safe condition, but I'm not averse to getting something slightly out of the date range, as long as it fits aesthetically (is not obviously out of place).
Good stuff, folks! Keep the comments coming.
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#53
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in one of member non-fixie 's outstanding trip reports there is an image from a swap meet held in conjunction with a vintage ride event he attended
on one of the tables is a memorable photo of a vendor's display. on the table there are trays of parts for quality three-piece hubs divided up into flanges, barrels and axle sets
suspect that member amirinisrael would be able to share with you some sage counsel on this subject...
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in one of member non-fixie 's outstanding trip reports there is an image from a swap meet held in conjunction with a vintage ride event he attended
on one of the tables is a memorable photo of a vendor's display. on the table there are trays of parts for quality three-piece hubs divided up into flanges, barrels and axle sets
suspect that member amirinisrael would be able to share with you some sage counsel on this subject...
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Nice bike!
juvela you'll have to help me here. I am sure your memory is correct. However, I am also sure those hubs were not the main reason for taking that particular picture, so I haven't a clue where to look. Belgium? Italy? France?
#54
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Ah! This one perhaps?
Taken at the swap meet in Gaiole in Chianti, October 2017.
I actually have been able to identify this trader, and they are on Facebook: Vitesse Vintage Lab.
Taken at the swap meet in Gaiole in Chianti, October 2017.
I actually have been able to identify this trader, and they are on Facebook: Vitesse Vintage Lab.
#55
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Ah! This one perhaps?
Taken at the swap meet in Gaiole in Chianti, October 2017.
I actually have been able to identify this trader, and they are on Facebook: Vitesse Vintage Lab.
Taken at the swap meet in Gaiole in Chianti, October 2017.
I actually have been able to identify this trader, and they are on Facebook: Vitesse Vintage Lab.
I'm excited about this project.
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#56
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canyoneagle that is a really nice frame. I have looked at it a couple of times over the past few days, thinking my usual "Nice bike!" post would do it injustice. But I haven't come up with anything better, and since I am here now anyway:
Nice bike!
juvela you'll have to help me here. I am sure your memory is correct. However, I am also sure those hubs were not the main reason for taking that particular picture, so I haven't a clue where to look. Belgium? Italy? France?
Nice bike!
juvela you'll have to help me here. I am sure your memory is correct. However, I am also sure those hubs were not the main reason for taking that particular picture, so I haven't a clue where to look. Belgium? Italy? France?
I am grateful to have found this Super Corsa. I love the patina, and it looks to be in very good overall condition. The frame/drivetrain is still enroute from Torino, and I'll definitely post more pics once it arrives.
The Universal Mod.51 brakeset arrived yesterday, and looks to be in great shape overall, including what appears to be NOS or replacement hoods. The calipers do not appear to have any cracks, etc, but I'll definitely need to replace the pads.
Bars also arrived yesterday (Ambrosio Champion) and the stem is enroute.
Bit by bit it is all coming together.
I'm eager to build up the wheels, but it looks like I need to keep my patience intact to get suitable hubs and rims.
I'm assuming wheels of this era utilized straight gauge spokes, correct?
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Ah! This one perhaps?
Taken at the swap meet in Gaiole in Chianti, October 2017.
I actually have been able to identify this trader, and they are on Facebook: Vitesse Vintage Lab.
Taken at the swap meet in Gaiole in Chianti, October 2017.
I actually have been able to identify this trader, and they are on Facebook: Vitesse Vintage Lab.
your photo so impressed me that an enthusiast would be taking apart three-piece hubs in order to offer the pieces separately that i immediately saved it to me HD
alas, most o' me files have become gone/lost/unsearchable in recent weeks. dunno if it are a case of being "eaten" by malware or some simple computer glitch...
so thanks again to taking the time to retrieve it!
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Last edited by juvela; 03-02-21 at 04:18 PM. Reason: spellin'
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FB 3-piece low-flange hubs branded Frejus would be most appropriate.
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Ah! This one perhaps?
Taken at the swap meet in Gaiole in Chianti, October 2017.
I actually have been able to identify this trader, and they are on Facebook: Vitesse Vintage Lab.
Taken at the swap meet in Gaiole in Chianti, October 2017.
I actually have been able to identify this trader, and they are on Facebook: Vitesse Vintage Lab.
with all those loose flanges, maybe I should look for a loose drive side large flange and build up a Hi-lo, those flanges are a handsome design.
finding Frejus stamped hubs is possible, but how long is one willing to take to assemble the parts?
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I’m thinking I may well plan to build a couple of wheelsets. The first being “close enough” but not 100% period correct. This would be more of the non-event wheelset for getting the bike out on sunny days. The other would be the period-correct setup for events.
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I kinda like "non-event wheelsets". But that might be a definition thing.
Never mind.
Never mind.
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images of a L. Magistroni - Frejus marked chainset courtesy of Mark, creator of the https://www.condorino.com web site:
Mark writes that the L. Magistroni name came into use in 1946 with a reorganisation of the company by the Giostra family
earlier Magistroni products were marked simply Magistroni
the L. stands for Luigi
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images of a L. Magistroni - Frejus marked chainset courtesy of Mark, creator of the https://www.condorino.com web site:
Mark writes that the L. Magistroni name came into use in 1946 with a reorganisation of the company by the Giostra family
earlier Magistroni products were marked simply Magistroni
the L. stands for Luigi
-----
Last edited by juvela; 03-06-21 at 02:27 PM. Reason: addition
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images of a L. Magistroni - Frejus marked chainset courtesy of Mark, creator of the https://www.condorino.com web site:
Mark writes that the L. Magistroni name came into use in 1946 with a reorganisation of the company by the Giostra family
earlier Magistroni products were marked simply Magistroni
the L. stands for Luigi
-----
images of a L. Magistroni - Frejus marked chainset courtesy of Mark, creator of the https://www.condorino.com web site:
Mark writes that the L. Magistroni name came into use in 1946 with a reorganisation of the company by the Giostra family
earlier Magistroni products were marked simply Magistroni
the L. stands for Luigi
-----
thanks for sharing this info.
The bike is in customs in NY now, so I should receive it this week.
I look forward to breaking it down and assessing condition, etc.
Out of curiosity, are these steel cottered cranks prone to any failures? I’ve read about a few instances where failure occurred where the cotter hole is.
I’m 6’2 and about 200 lbs at present, 185 when “lean”.
Also, any thoughts on brake pads for the Universal 51’s? Can I source blocks for the holders, or just source the complete assembly?
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wrt chainset -
have not heard tell of failure you mention
the Y-adaptor pieces seen on the set in the photos were produced both in steel and in alloy
have seen failures in the alloy ones but not with the steel
iirc the Y-adaptors were produced by Simplex of Italy
Simplex had a plant in Italy at one time; do not know its years of operation
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wrt chainset -
have not heard tell of failure you mention
the Y-adaptor pieces seen on the set in the photos were produced both in steel and in alloy
have seen failures in the alloy ones but not with the steel
iirc the Y-adaptors were produced by Simplex of Italy
Simplex had a plant in Italy at one time; do not know its years of operation
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Also, prior to WW2, most OEMs did not carry their brand on what they produced. If Siamt made a crank for Frejus, it was marked Frejus. If Siamt made a "generic" crank, it carried no mark. I have been told that the Fascists had a law saying as such prior to WW2, but I do not have any definitive proof of this.
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Arrival day
The bike arrived today, safe and in perfect condition.
I also got a pair of NOS Regina BX 5 sp 14-24 freewheels with it. Good to have if I have trouble finding something from the 50’s.
teasers:
I also got a pair of NOS Regina BX 5 sp 14-24 freewheels with it. Good to have if I have trouble finding something from the 50’s.
teasers:
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tip on working with the Campag fittings shown in above image
these band clamps have a narrow area which does all the bending if one pulls apart the "ears" for the bolt
when easing them onto or off of a frame tube try to get the wider part of the band to do some of the bending as well
otherwise they are only good for three or four mountings/removals before the bands fail at the narrow point...
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tip on working with the Campag fittings shown in above image
these band clamps have a narrow area which does all the bending if one pulls apart the "ears" for the bolt
when easing them onto or off of a frame tube try to get the wider part of the band to do some of the bending as well
otherwise they are only good for three or four mountings/removals before the bands fail at the narrow point...
-----
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tip on working with the Campag fittings shown in above image
these band clamps have a narrow area which does all the bending if one pulls apart the "ears" for the bolt
when easing them onto or off of a frame tube try to get the wider part of the band to do some of the bending as well
otherwise they are only good for three or four mountings/removals before the bands fail at the narrow point...
-----
tip on working with the Campag fittings shown in above image
these band clamps have a narrow area which does all the bending if one pulls apart the "ears" for the bolt
when easing them onto or off of a frame tube try to get the wider part of the band to do some of the bending as well
otherwise they are only good for three or four mountings/removals before the bands fail at the narrow point...
-----
Sounds similar to the 70’s band shifters that I had many years ago, but I’ll be particularly careful with these.
The stem has landed in customs, ETA very soon.
I’m still chasing options for hubs and rims, as well as brake pads.
The frameset is beautiful - enough natural patina to have “the look”, but no rust that I can see.
The cranks spin super smooth - good sign that the BB bearings and races are in good shape.
I’m assuming the BB is a standard cup/cone affair, but feel free to chime in with any tips or tricks on the process. It’s been 40 years since I’ve dealt with cottered cranks, and this bike is more than 10 years older than anything I’ve wrenched on.
#72
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Photos as shipped
Here are some baseline shots of the frameset as received. Overall, it looks like it is in great condition.
the seat tube looks like it has a greasy/dirty coating for most of its length - way better than rust 😜
the seat tube looks like it has a greasy/dirty coating for most of its length - way better than rust 😜
#73
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Stem arrived today
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Rebuilt. Fresh grease (Phil Wood, of course). Smooth.