MiloFrance

I've been trying to work out what this frame is for years... literally. For the first time, a couple of weeks ago I noticed there was a single hole for a badge in the HT and what looks like a fairly square surround where the badge would be. French BB, nicely made, has been the subject of another thread a long time ago!
Any ideas from the knowledge bank? Thanks all...
Milo

non-fixie 

If glue and hole are related to the same badge (which they might not be), my guess would be that it would have been a badge similar to this one, with a small "pin" on the back that fits the hole to facilitate correct placement.

T-Mar

+1, it appears to be for an adhesive backed badge with an alignment pin. These were typically used by the major brands, so I'd expect a serial number that may aid in identification. The investment cast bridge with tangs suggests a higher grade frame though the finishing looks rough on the chain stay ends. Also, the the dropouts are either Simplex 4264/65 (with eyelets) or 4266/57 (no eyelets) which makes it no older than the 1981 model year. Simplex was a shadow of it's former self after the 1985 bankruptcy, so it's most likely 1981-1985. For instance, even Peugeot, who had a very close relationship with Simplex, had it's USA product range diminish from seven Simplex models in 1984, down to two Simplex equipped models in 1985 and zero Simplex equipped models in 1986.

MiloFrance

Now you say that, it does look much more like a locating pin hole than screw hole.
So, when I first got it, it had Gitane decals, and @verktyg identified it as a Non-Gitane. This album is how it was when I bought it, and here's the thread on Gitane USA.

Serial 9123003.

You lot are pretty darn good at this stuff. Thanks!

non-fixie 

At first glance, all circumstantial evidence seems to point towards an early eighties Peugeot PX10, known as the "Super Competition" (the PV10 also carried that name, but had mudguard eyelets).

I have two, one with just a sticker on the head tube, but this one has the plastic badge, similar to the Motobecane item above:

MiloFrance

OOh that would be a good thing! LOL... Is your white steed simplex dropouts? Looks like it and the short point lugs as well!. Looking at it the chrome fork fits but mine has partial chrome on the rear end. Is it by any chance Simplex/Spidel equipped?

non-fixie 

Yup, Simplex dropouts on the ones I have. Parts are a mix of MAFAC levers, Weinmann brakes (called "MAFAC 605" in the catalog ) and Stronglight cranks. Here's my other (slightly nicer, albeit with a Shimano 600 EX transmission and chain set) PX10:



I haven't got any better pics currently, and both are in storage, so I can't easily get to them. However, you should be able to find lots of detailed pics online, if you haven't done so already. The chrome rear could be a case of just chroming the ends for durability and painting them over. I have seen that before.

MiloFrance

Thank you non-fixie, I've been looking at pics and I've found a match for the fork, lugs and chrome. Looks like a PY10. I also looked back at the original gitaneusa thread and I think Chas had it spot on. The pic of the seatstay caps is deceptive, they are flat. At least one pic I found also has the 531p decal, so all very good! Sleep now, more research tomorrow...

MiloFrance

Well there we go. Coffee this morning and a 22 page thread about PY10s. The serial number fits, the lugs and chroming fit, seatstay tops are the same, so I can peel the rest of the Gitane decals off and think about what to do with it. It may be the recipient of the very good condition 600 arabesque group I recently acquired. I'm waiting for approval on the French forum to be able to post it, but i'm fairly convinced it's a December '79 for the 1980 model year. On my Strava profile this frame was called The Old Git. I'll have to rename it.
Have a fine weekend folks.

non-fixie 

PY? Of course, the chrome. Cool! Enjoy!

verktyg 

@MiloFrance

The more that I look at your frame the more questions come up.

It has Nervex Dubois lugs which Peugeot used plus late model Simplex dropouts. It looks like a Peugeot Reynolds 531SL fork from that era. In 1982 Reynolds changed the name from 531SL / 531 Super Legere to 531P or 531 Professional. But, bike manufacturers probably had old decals so there could be some overlap.

The big question is the seat stay tops. I've never seen those fluted plugs on a Peugeot.

Motobecane used this style plug from 1977 until the 1980's. They never used Nervex Dubois lugs.




It could have been a frame that came out of Peugeot's Prestige custom/team/special order shop?

Also, I have Peugeot and Motobecane plastic head badges and there is no pin sticking out the rear.

verktyg

MiloFrance

Chas ( @verktyg ) As mentioned, the photo is a slight illusion. Here is the side by side from the PY10 thread linked above, and my blue thing you helped me with in 2014... I think it's pretty darn close

verktyg 

Oh ya, it's a Peugeot alright. The frame is probably Reynolds 531 SL and was most likely built at the Prestige Frame Shop in Beaulieu where they made the team frames and special order bikes using light gage tubing.



Some info on those PY frames:

ipernity: 1982 Peugeot Pro-10 - by Peter Kohler
Peugeot PY10 1980 - finished | Retrobike

Mystery solved!

verktyg

MiloFrance

Now I have 99% certainty of what it is, I've just treated it to a wipe over and the paint is not good in a lot of places. Some of it came off with the peeling of the Gitane decals, and the metallic blue is so thin that the white primer is showing in others.
As it's not original, I'm thinking it's not that big a deal to repaint. I have a lot to do so it might take a while, but quite tempted to try the home powder coat method in the wooden box.
Either way, as was my answer on another recent thread, I like tube sets and provenance, and I now have both on this one.

MiloFrance

I've decided, I'm going to repaint it. I have a plan which may take a while, but I'll try and document it for a separate thread.

MiloFrance

Well. The repainting plan with Spray.bike didn't go to plan. If you didn't see the thread, my bodyshop owning friend took matters in to his own hands. This is what he sent me last night.

MiloFrance

And this is what it looks like on camera. In person it's gobsmacking. The white is pearlescent, as are the red and blue, and when the light hits it it's utterly gorgeous. I had spinal frissons when I was admiring it...

Aubergine 

Hudson308 

Very nice!

MiloFrance

Phyoomz

Now that's just lovely!

uncleivan 

Looks great so far.