Mystery Vintage Bike
02-16-19, 04:48 PM
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Mystery Vintage Bike
Hello all,
I picked this up at an estate sale today, and have no idea what make it is! The most distinguishing characteristic is the seat stays wrapping around the seat post, I’ve never seen a frame like this! Can anyone help!
02-16-19, 05:20 PM
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No photo as yet but it sounds British - very rough guess.
02-16-19, 05:24 PM
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I'll guess Falcon.
02-16-19, 05:31 PM
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I'm no expert here, but I also believe it is British - Mercian is my guess...
02-16-19, 05:53 PM
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02-16-19, 06:16 PM
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Combination of lugs, seat stay plug and dropouts is consistent with Falcon.
IIRC dropouts are one of the Cyclo patterns.
Would expect tubing to be at least three-tube 531 plain gauge. May be three-tube 531 DB.
Serial may offer a clue to assist forum experts.
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Combination of lugs, seat stay plug and dropouts is consistent with Falcon.
IIRC dropouts are one of the Cyclo patterns.
Would expect tubing to be at least three-tube 531 plain gauge. May be three-tube 531 DB.
Serial may offer a clue to assist forum experts.
-----
02-16-19, 09:23 PM
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The frame details I see are all very much like my early 70's Falcon, which is straight gauge 531, 3 tubes of it. Your fork is different, so maybe a higher model.
I'm assuming you have standard BB and fork threading?
Do you know the seat post size?
I'm assuming you have standard BB and fork threading?
Do you know the seat post size?
Last edited by rhm; 02-17-19 at 02:42 PM.
02-17-19, 08:20 AM
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I have a Falcon with wrap around stays, this looks like there bronze color. Raleigh and Holdsworth also had wrap around stays.
02-17-19, 04:50 PM
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Thank you for the very good serial images.
Might be of interest to check steerer to see if it there repeats. Falcon used full sloping crowns on several models in the early seventies. Possible fork may be original.
Our @T-Mar is very knowledgeable on Falcon products (just like everything else!
).
Would be interested to read his observations on the frame.
Roger, AFAIK Raleigh/Carlton did not employ these dropouts.
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Thank you for the very good serial images.
Might be of interest to check steerer to see if it there repeats. Falcon used full sloping crowns on several models in the early seventies. Possible fork may be original.Our @T-Mar is very knowledgeable on Falcon products (just like everything else!
).Would be interested to read his observations on the frame.
Roger, AFAIK Raleigh/Carlton did not employ these dropouts.
-----
02-17-19, 05:49 PM
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Falcon Olympic 76.
02-17-19, 07:38 PM
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Very likely a Carlton produced bike. Many Carltons and Worksop Suns' had the wrap around seat stays.
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02-17-19, 08:08 PM
#17
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Components
The frame also came with a bag of components, Huret front and rear derailleurs, Huret cable guide, and a pair of Dia Compe Gran Compe calipers, no one knew anything about the frame or if the components even went with it, but I gladly took the bag! The components are in great shape, considering the condition of the frame I doubt they were on it.
02-18-19, 08:25 AM
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Do you have a good pic of the Headtube ? Some here can tell by the, "naked",, screw or rivet holes. If the headtube badge is long gone. cheers
02-18-19, 09:49 AM
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I'll cast my lot with the Falcon crowd. 3-D dropouts, mass production characteristics and lack of braze-ons suggest a lower mid-range, post boom model, possibly an Olympic. Seat post diameter will help determine composition of main triangle. I suspect the fork is not OEM. Definitely not Carlton, as noted by USAZorro.
02-18-19, 12:04 PM
#21
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My guess is it is a Raleigh Grand Prix frame with an aftermarket fork.
Wouldn't the serial number remove all doubt (if we had a resource to check it against)?
Wouldn't the serial number remove all doubt (if we had a resource to check it against)?
02-18-19, 12:39 PM
#22
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Just don't see the head lugs as Gran Prixish. Too long for that model. Does not look like a Raleigh serial number, either. Wrapped stays hint Brittish origin.
02-18-19, 12:52 PM
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Here's a few Falcon photos if anyone wants to compare some details.
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02-18-19, 01:05 PM
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Nope. Serial number is wrong. Rear dropouts are forged - GP's through the late 70's were stamped.
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02-18-19, 02:16 PM
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Well, the dropouts on the OP's bicycles aren't forged either. They're a version of stamped dropouts that are commonly called 3-D. The raised flat on the outside of the dropout is actually a stamped offset. If you look at the inside face of the dropout you'll see a recessed flat. The thickness of the dropout is constant. It just looks thicker around the axle slot because of the offset. The outside edges have ground to eliminate the sharp edge but if you look at the triangular opening you'll see that the edges are square and you can even see the tear distortion that starts about halfway through the thickness of the metal. This distortion is indicative of a sheared or stamped out metal part. However, I agree, based on the serial number and other features, it's not a Nottingham or other Raleigh product.