greggk34

Hey All,

I work for a non-profit in the SF-SJ Bay Area that takes donated bikes and repurposes them to those in need. Sometimes, when we get something nice, we will put them for sale to help fund the org (buy tools, accessories, pay rent, etc...)

We recently received this blue and white lugged steel bike with no markings. The head badge has been lost or removed.

It almost looks "Rivendell-ish" in the ornate-ness of the lug work, but we think it is a true older (possibly vintage?) model, not a newer take on an old bike.

It's got Mafac brakes, Huret RD, and one sole Campy part = the downtube shifter cable guide. And Sachs QR.

Sorry for the absence of a side profile view, I will try and get this later.






Any ideas?

Thanks experts!

bikemig 

Old and quite likely French. The seat stays remind me of a Gitane. Stronglight 99 crank, Phil Wood hubs, mafac brakes. A picture of the drive side would be a big help. Likely a repaint by the looks of it.

lostarchitect 

Looks like it's been powdercoated. Is there a serial number? Hard to say what it is from these photos. I was going to say maybe a Raleigh International, but the dropouts don't look right for that, so maybe something French.

juvela

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hello greggk34,

thank you for sharing this mount

rudimentary information which might assist readers -

tube diameters, threading of headset and bottom bracket, saddle pillar diameter

this information would at least help to narrow down the possible national origins

agree with others that frame certainly "appears" french although from the information given CH and BE might be possible origins as well...

this model of dropout was not used a great deal and did not enjoy a long production life so it may prove a helpful clue to the right reader...

we are certainly in the 1960's here, should think

you mention head emblem has gone walkabout; are any fastener holes for it yet showing?

bottom bracket assembly slightly puzzling as it is a sealed cartridge unit yet exhibits what is probably an OEM lockring, ring looks like it may be a REWAX MD item which would support the suggestion of frenchness

two views we do not as yet have are complete machine as seen from drive side & fork crown

lower head cup suggests set may be a Stronglight Competition V4, if so it is likely to be one of the machine's few original bits

MauriceMoss

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greggk34

Hey all, thanks much for the info so far. Here are a couple more photos that should help. Driveside profile, shot of the headtube sans badge (with two holes), and there is a strange "F" on the TT/ST lug, shown in close-up.

Any more guesses?

francophile 

I agree, feels French. The stay treatment smacks of Gitane, as does the fishmouth stay end treatment. However, Nervex lugs with the spacing on the missing headbadge maybe would lean towards Geminiani, which were Gitane-made at some point, IIRC?

francophile 

Some comparisons:, and mind you, not all Geminiani had the creased stay caps.

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...og-search.html

Geminiani gold touring bike

Geminiani Special frame

MauriceMoss

I completely agree. You can even see the faint outline of the frame number on that solid Huret dropout, something that a lot of Geminianis of this period had:



greggk34 - What's the spacing on those head badge rivet holes? Center-to-center, I think Geminiani badges were something like 49mm (or was it 48?) apart. I thought I had this written down somewhere but can't find it now. Maybe juvela knows?


The fork looks like it's a replacement.

I would be really, really surprised if this isn't the same frame that another member posted about a couple of times. That one had a serial that looks like it might be 49266.

Initial post: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-need-i-d.html
After the repaint: https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...s-s-debut.html

francophile 

Huh, I may've cracked the nut on this being a Geminiani/Mimco frame, but I think you nailed it and there's no question this is the same bike capnjonny posted in that thread. Here's pictures of both bikes, OP's and the one from the other thread. I'd say it's the same bike. "It's a small world"

greggk34

Wow, thanks for all the great detective work, guys. You are all a vast sea of knowledge!!

And yes, Cap'n Jonny is one of our most active and helpful volunteers. I apologize for the duplicate post, I wasn't aware Jonny had already posted it.

I'll keep you guys posted if/when it sells.

Thanks again.

-g