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196? LeJeune Mishmash

Old 12-06-15, 11:54 AM
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kfreytag
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196? LeJeune Mishmash

Picked this up randomly yesterday at a garage sale while walking the dog.

After some back-and-forth with the seller's brother-in-law, I learned that his Ohio-based bike club had some "French fames" shipped over in "the 60s" due to the lack of available quality American frames. This particular bike was apparently ridden by Alan Marcosson to a Nation Prestige title (presumably in the late 60s) and somewhere graces the cover of Velonews (with Marcosson astride).

It's clearly seen better days.

The bottom bracket threads were stripped at some point in the past, so it's been tapped for Italian threads and had a Phil Wood sealed bottom bracket installed. The crank is 1st gen Dura Ace. Rear derailleur is Shimano Crane. Downtube shifters and front derailleur are Zeus. Levers and brakes are Galli.

Price was right, but what do I have here? Any insight would be appreciated.

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Old 12-06-15, 12:08 PM
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It's hard to see, but does the bike have forged dropouts with a derailleur hanger? Or is that a claw holding the rear derailleur in place?

Also, I doubt that a bike built in the 60s would have had brazed-on brake cable stops on the top tube.
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Old 12-06-15, 01:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Aubergine
It's hard to see, but does the bike have forged dropouts with a derailleur hanger? Or is that a claw holding the rear derailleur in place?

Also, I doubt that a bike built in the 60s would have had brazed-on brake cable stops on the top tube.
frame ends are Campag 1010's.

definite later sixties.

likely eleven tube 531 nominal. but steerer may be nervor.

our resident aircraft carrier will be putting into port shortly to give more and better help...
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Old 12-06-15, 01:54 PM
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Originally Posted by juvela
frame ends are Campag 1010's.
your eyes are definitely better than mine!!
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Old 12-06-15, 02:01 PM
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Not sure this could *be* grimier.

Drop-outs have a hanger (see attached):

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Old 12-06-15, 02:31 PM
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transfers not much help with dating as manufacturer had several styles which they seemed to use interchangeably.

CV-6 will be able to explain this far more fully when he puts in to port...

if you should have occasion to repack the headset you may discover a nervor stamp upon the fork's steerer.

frame may be the model which came kitted with the campag nr group.
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Old 12-06-15, 02:56 PM
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Not earlier than 69 as that is when they stopped being Sauvage Lejeune and became just Lejeune. Blue head tube indicates to me not later than mid-70s as that seemed to disappear from the catalogs by 72. Do recall that catalogs are not definitive. Looks like the remains of a 531 decal but cannot determine if it is full or main tubes only. Would like to see the seat stay caps. Nice frame and probably a great rider. The J is not capitalized in Lejeune.
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Old 12-06-15, 06:51 PM
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here is a link to a restored example dated 1969.

Lejeune Sonolor,1969, Vintage, Reynolds 531, Campagnolo Nouvo Record, L'eroica | eBay
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Old 12-07-15, 07:51 AM
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That would be an excellent candidate for an overpaint. Sand down the paint that's there, brush on matched color paint. Work around the existing decals.

Mytenspeeds.com has further instructions.

What size frame is that????

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Old 12-07-15, 10:31 AM
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@lynn -- thanks for the info (and fixing my intercapping of Lejeune).
@big -- The TT measures ~58cm c-t-c. I haven't taken the other measurements yet, but will do today.

Here are a couple of pics of the seat stay caps:

(apologies that they're rotated)

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Old 12-07-15, 11:11 AM
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@big - thanks for the site. Being completely new to vintage bikes, that site is extremely helpful.
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Old 12-07-15, 11:11 AM
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Seat caps are very Bernard Carre-esque.

Cool bike. Definitely worth some resto. Period Campy NR or a Stronglight/Simplex/Mafac group.
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Old 12-07-15, 12:05 PM
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@big - that's what I was thinking. Pull it apart, restore the frame, and source the "correct" period parts for it.

Now that I've seen the mytenspeeds.com hand painting articles, I'm thinking I'll try this slowly and in that direction.
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Old 12-07-15, 02:36 PM
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Originally Posted by kfreytag
@lynn -- thanks for the info (and fixing my intercapping of Lejeune).
@big -- The TT measures ~58cm c-t-c. I haven't taken the other measurements yet, but will do today.

Here are a couple of pics of the seat stay caps:

(apologies that they're rotated)

That is the remains of a full 531 decal. The seat stay cap seems a bit off for a Carré shop built frame. Too pointed and narrow at the ends. All I will commit to on it is that it is a top of the line Lejeune frame, likely to have a Nervor steerer and a seamed head tube despite what the decal says. Build it. Ride it. Enjoy it.
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Old 12-07-15, 03:15 PM
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Thanks, @CV-6. You're clearly the encyclopedia when it comes to Lejeune.

Would this frame have a model designation? (e.g., Pro, Champ du Monde, etc.?). The blue headtube suggests to me that it's not a Pro or Champ du Monde given the other pictures I've seen, but I know nothing about these bikes.
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Old 12-07-15, 04:36 PM
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Originally Posted by kfreytag
Thanks, @CV-6. You're clearly the encyclopedia when it comes to Lejeune.

Would this frame have a model designation? (e.g., Pro, Champ du Monde, etc.?). The blue headtube suggests to me that it's not a Pro or Champ du Monde given the other pictures I've seen, but I know nothing about these bikes.
Could be CdM or any one of a number of models. The equipment determined the model as much as the frame.
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Old 12-07-15, 05:04 PM
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Thanks, @CV-6. Whatever model it was designated, I'm gathering the important bit is that it is 531 throughout. I'll figure out the fork when I pull it apart.
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Old 12-07-15, 08:35 PM
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kfreytag-

It looks like you have a Bernard Carre built Lejeune. He was the builder of the top of the line Lejeunes for many years. The leaf pattern stay caps vary slightly over time but when taken with the fish mouth ends of the seat and chainstays on the rear dropouts it seems highly probable, almost to a certainty, that you have a Carre built frame. That would be a very good thing! Try here, here, and here for further images and here for a brief explanation of his career and style.
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Old 12-08-15, 10:07 PM
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@bertinjim - many thanks. It appears I've lucked on something worth restoring and treasuring. My daughter was quite frustrated at daddy looking at yet more bikes at a garage sale during our walk. Glad I did.
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Old 12-09-15, 06:51 AM
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Since I am right in the middle of rehabbing a 1973 LeJeune TDF, I am really excited to see the bike project you are undertaking. If it comes out anything the eBay pictures of the Sonolor you will,indeed, have a treasure. Plus your journey will be a treasure trove of info for my rehab. I'm really happy for you!
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Old 12-09-15, 12:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Aubergine
Also, I doubt that a bike built in the 60s would have had brazed-on brake cable stops on the top tube.

Common misconception. This was available as an option from better builders in the 60's. My '64 JRJ has them, and shifter mounts, too.
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