FrejusFlyer

I was wondering if anybody had any insights into the make or age of my mystery track bike. No badge or decals. The bottom bracket is marked "GBL" and "A2931". I'm guessing it's a late 30's/40's vintage due to some of the components. Persons 4 rail Track Racer saddle which was in their 1915 catalog, but was a very popular saddle in the 30's, Constrictor's "Conloy" (aluminum) rims which they introduced around 1927, a BSA crank, headset and stem. The block chain and skip-tooth crank don't give much of a clue to the age as they had these on track bikes at least into the 50's. I think the inserted style of headset wasn't used until the late 30's and became more popular in the 40's. Pretty sure it's not a BSA (BSA BBs were well marked) and while there are some makers like Carlton and BSA that used an "A' prefix on their serial numbers, they were stamped on the dropouts and not the bottom bracket.

noglider 

That's a gem!

Markeologist

Looking at the finish on your various parts, it seems pretty clear that they are not all original to the bike. As such, identifying and/or dating the bike by the parts is a questionable approach. Furthermore, the presence of the reverse dropouts does not necessarily indicate a track bike as they were commonly used when bikes were all single speeds. I think you have a single speed bike that somebody cobbled together with a collection of parts to resemble a track bike (the adjustable stem and bars being the most obvious). I happen to have that same stem but in a finish that better matches the rest of the bike.

FrejusFlyer

Thanks very much for the input. I think this bike is too modern to date to the time period of the single speed bikes with the reverse dropouts you are referring to due to the headset.
The stem on the bike looks very nice, but you can see plenty of rust on the inside of the extended bar. It may have been re-chromed. I don't see much of a difference in condition on the rest of the bike. The early aluminum alloy bars and rims have a slight powdery patina on them, but being aluminum, you wouldn't expect them to show any oxidation.

bikingshearer 

The BSA (Birmingham Small Arms) cranks could mean it's a BSA frame as well. Just a thought, and I could be 100% wrong.

Fun find regardless. I note that the slack head tube angle is noticeably steeper than the even slacker seat tube angle. I expect to see you riding this on a third-Saturday rum to Folsom. If you do, I might finally have some company on the slog up the Johnny Cash Trail.

FrejusFlyer

Thanks, Tom!

FrejusFlyer

Hey Rich! Yep. it could be a BSA for all I know. I didn't notice that weird geometry! My fixed gear skills are non-existent and with no brakes, going up and down those hills would be a real thrill!

JulesCW 

It looks like it might have had a front end collision -- hard to tell for sure, but the top tube looks bent where it enters the head lug, and in another photo the down tube appears to have a bit of a bow -- if that's the case it could explain the steep-ish head tube angle.

Still a cool bike, though!

FrejusFlyer

I noticed that when I first saw the photo. In person, I can't see it (even though I keep looking!) The camera was doing some strange things. The stem looks like it's bent down and if you look at the squares on the garage door the horizontal lines above the top tube look bowed.

Biketiger

Cool bike. I collect track bikes. I am not an expert on frames from that era but it sure looks like a track bike to my eye.
The front fork is not drilled for a brake and even though the seat tube is very laid back that's how it was back in the day.

FrejusFlyer

Thanks for the information, Biketiger!

billytwosheds 

Agree with most of the above comments.

I'd page iab who might know more. This era is beyond many who frequent the V&C.

PhilFo 

That's a 3/16" inch pitch roller chain, not a block chain. The short rear fork ends point more towards this being a coaster brake bike than a track bike, as does the 23 tooth ring which was standard for single speeds and roadsters, as track bikes commonly had/have taller gears. Definitely looks like the frame is bent.
Bikes from this era would also have rod brakes and a fender could be attached to the fork using a draw bolt, so no drilling needed. Is the seat stay brace drilled? That seat cluster looks lower end as well.

FrejusFlyer

Hi and thanks for the information! No, the seat stay brace is not drilled. I'm pretty familiar with rod brake bikes from this period and they are usually very heavy. This bike, surprisingly, is a featherweight.

Rick_D

Chainwheels seem ginormous compared to the OP bike which, while having never gone to the dentist seems to be 48-tooth(?) equivalent.

I do love a mystery and the subject bike offers a whole bundle. Unused to seeing aluminum rims on very old bikes, as a random example.

SwimmerMike 

My only input is that it looks pre-war to me based on the angles. I have a 1940's British bike and the angles are not nearly as slack.

FrejusFlyer

Yep, I didn't know what "Conloy" was until I Googled it.

WaveyGravey

WOW! I have no knowledge of track bikes but that is a very cool vintage bike.

PhilFo 

The 23 tooth inch-pitch is the equivalent of a 46 tooth standard half-inch chain.

PhilFo 

This period of bikes is of particular interest to me, so I keep coming back to this thread. I also love "bike forensics". I'm wondering what is under that black paint. Possibly more black paint, but someone may have done a rattle can job (unless you can see brush strokes) since the top headset cup was painted over. It should be chromed or nickel plated.

John D

Conloy a pioneer in aluminium alloy rims. Ad from Classic Rendezvous.

FrejusFlyer

There's lots of chipped paint all the way to the metal. I don't think I see any color but black, but take a look below. It does look like the chain stays are chromed in some areas where the paint is missing. There's definitely been some sloppy re-painting in areas as you can also see paint half covering the oil port on the BB. Here are a few close-up pics of the rear dropouts, which are interesting.

FrejusFlyer

It's crazy that they made those rims from 1927 to 1960 and now they're virtually unknown.

Fahrenheit531 

Really digging this thread. Can't contribute much more than "hey, that's a supercool bike."
Contribution made.

FrejusFlyer

Appreciated!