HELP. When was the “Little Gypsy”, a Gitane Junior Race bike, made?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,707
Bikes: Stevenson Custom, Stevenson Custom Tandem, Nishiki Professional
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 196 Times
in
128 Posts
HELP. When was the “Little Gypsy”, a Gitane Junior Race bike, made?
This bike came via serendipity, as a forum member saw it on offer for sale by another forum member and knew of my building bikes for my granddaughters in France and soon grandsons state side and said go look. So I did. Off and on I looked and looked and then thought of my next to youngest granddaughter, but really? I was toast when I saw not only is this bike complete, but the original chain guard in very very good condition has survived nearly ….50 years? How many obviously well used children’s bikes survive…let alone decades, but how many decades?
There’s the question: When was this bicycle made?
First I will list all that I can find on the frame/components of this Junior Race bike and then follow with pictures in hopes this information will help members. My thanks to you all for your help.
Components
Stem: PIVO
Handlebar: Unkown 23mm wide, best guess cloth handlebar tape wraps all the way to the stem.
Down Tube Shifter: Huret (no numbers found)
Rear Derailleur: Huret (no numbers found, stamped and riveted construction0
Rims: DEA Super Chrome Made in France (steel and no visible rust-amazing)
Brakes: Wiemann Type 730 (side pull)
Brake Levers: Wiemann (but levers are child sized and have bronze (?) spacers in the brake lever body to shim the levers to a child’s hand)
Head Set: Unknown (no markings observed)
Bottom Bracket: Unknown (no markings observed)
Freewheel: Cyclo 72 Made in France (three speed freewheel)
Head Tube Lugs: Bottom lugged clearly marked “BCM” top tube can see the “M” under the paint. Back left side of the bottom head tube lug has stamped “61”. Bottom bracket lug has either “R” or “B” stamped on the bottom of the lug for the down tube. There are no serial numbers on the bottom bracket or found anywhere else on this bike. Suggestions? Other Places to look?
Hubs: Unknown (no numbers/marking found)
Seat: Either “UCA” or “IUCA” stamped on side of plastic seat, still pliable no cracks, but right rear corner has been cleanly cut away, no idea if this was as is, or, modified, if modified done perfectly.
Seat Post: Unknown, separate seat post and clamp on top of seat post seat attachment hardware.
Tires (on it/new): Kendra-on it/Michelin-replacement 37-440
Handle Bar Tape: Cotton, plastic handlebar plugs use non-phillips, straight bolt head to tighten.
Bike Stand: “REG” “Italy” “98”
Crank Arm/Chain Ring: Crank Arm “130” no other marking, no marking on chain ring.
Decal Set
Top Tube: “La bicyclette de France championne du monde” followed by checkered flag with yellow “S” above “C” in the body of the checked flag and then the blue world symbol. This is a plastic decal. Have learned the “S” and “C”stands for “Service Course” and it is my understanding this was reserved for the TDF racing bikes? Please correct if wrong or add more if more to the story. Thus this child at least in decals rode what the real racers rode?
Seat Tube:Foil Gitane decal with world champion colors and world decal.
Down Tube: Foil large Gitane decal with world champion colors, country of France in blue, not found another quite like it.
Head Tube: Foil Gitane over world with world champion colors, but without band to wrap around the head tube, again not found one similar to it.
Fork: Non-foil, plastic with “Gitane” in outlined in black with gold/green interior color, below it the sailing red ship and then narrowing dart of the world champion colors ending in a point.
Again, my thanks.
And for perspective, how small is small, against my two Panasonic bikes.
There’s the question: When was this bicycle made?
First I will list all that I can find on the frame/components of this Junior Race bike and then follow with pictures in hopes this information will help members. My thanks to you all for your help.
Components
Stem: PIVO
Handlebar: Unkown 23mm wide, best guess cloth handlebar tape wraps all the way to the stem.
Down Tube Shifter: Huret (no numbers found)
Rear Derailleur: Huret (no numbers found, stamped and riveted construction0
Rims: DEA Super Chrome Made in France (steel and no visible rust-amazing)
Brakes: Wiemann Type 730 (side pull)
Brake Levers: Wiemann (but levers are child sized and have bronze (?) spacers in the brake lever body to shim the levers to a child’s hand)
Head Set: Unknown (no markings observed)
Bottom Bracket: Unknown (no markings observed)
Freewheel: Cyclo 72 Made in France (three speed freewheel)
Head Tube Lugs: Bottom lugged clearly marked “BCM” top tube can see the “M” under the paint. Back left side of the bottom head tube lug has stamped “61”. Bottom bracket lug has either “R” or “B” stamped on the bottom of the lug for the down tube. There are no serial numbers on the bottom bracket or found anywhere else on this bike. Suggestions? Other Places to look?
Hubs: Unknown (no numbers/marking found)
Seat: Either “UCA” or “IUCA” stamped on side of plastic seat, still pliable no cracks, but right rear corner has been cleanly cut away, no idea if this was as is, or, modified, if modified done perfectly.
Seat Post: Unknown, separate seat post and clamp on top of seat post seat attachment hardware.
Tires (on it/new): Kendra-on it/Michelin-replacement 37-440
Handle Bar Tape: Cotton, plastic handlebar plugs use non-phillips, straight bolt head to tighten.
Bike Stand: “REG” “Italy” “98”
Crank Arm/Chain Ring: Crank Arm “130” no other marking, no marking on chain ring.
Decal Set
Top Tube: “La bicyclette de France championne du monde” followed by checkered flag with yellow “S” above “C” in the body of the checked flag and then the blue world symbol. This is a plastic decal. Have learned the “S” and “C”stands for “Service Course” and it is my understanding this was reserved for the TDF racing bikes? Please correct if wrong or add more if more to the story. Thus this child at least in decals rode what the real racers rode?
Seat Tube:Foil Gitane decal with world champion colors and world decal.
Down Tube: Foil large Gitane decal with world champion colors, country of France in blue, not found another quite like it.
Head Tube: Foil Gitane over world with world champion colors, but without band to wrap around the head tube, again not found one similar to it.
Fork: Non-foil, plastic with “Gitane” in outlined in black with gold/green interior color, below it the sailing red ship and then narrowing dart of the world champion colors ending in a point.
Again, my thanks.
And for perspective, how small is small, against my two Panasonic bikes.
#2
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,707
Bikes: Stevenson Custom, Stevenson Custom Tandem, Nishiki Professional
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 196 Times
in
128 Posts
Now I will post pictures of the components mentioned above.
Examples of the lug work on the fork and frame, with one of the hangers for a frame pump (where to find a vintage 12" frame pump?).
Look closely and you can see the "B" in the "BMC" stamping that is on the upper and lower head tube lugs.
Examples of the lug work on the fork and frame, with one of the hangers for a frame pump (where to find a vintage 12" frame pump?).
Look closely and you can see the "B" in the "BMC" stamping that is on the upper and lower head tube lugs.
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,707
Bikes: Stevenson Custom, Stevenson Custom Tandem, Nishiki Professional
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 196 Times
in
128 Posts
Shift lever and derailleur for three speed free wheel.
#4
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,707
Bikes: Stevenson Custom, Stevenson Custom Tandem, Nishiki Professional
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 196 Times
in
128 Posts
Seat with neatly sliced off right rear corner, OEM from factory, it's way too precise for someone doing a hack job?
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,707
Bikes: Stevenson Custom, Stevenson Custom Tandem, Nishiki Professional
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 196 Times
in
128 Posts
Bronze (?) shims inside brake lever body to extent brake lever back to the reach of a child's hand?
Stem
Pinned crank arms and that lovely chain guard.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,707
Bikes: Stevenson Custom, Stevenson Custom Tandem, Nishiki Professional
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 196 Times
in
128 Posts
Now the decals.
Part of the unique top tube decal, not found one like it, note: the "S" "C" in the decal body.
Foil seat tube decal.
Foil down tube decal.
Foil head tube decal.
Part of the unique top tube decal, not found one like it, note: the "S" "C" in the decal body.
Foil seat tube decal.
Foil down tube decal.
Foil head tube decal.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,707
Bikes: Stevenson Custom, Stevenson Custom Tandem, Nishiki Professional
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 196 Times
in
128 Posts
Sorry for the picture with the shakes, this one's a little better.
Likes For since6:
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,707
Bikes: Stevenson Custom, Stevenson Custom Tandem, Nishiki Professional
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 196 Times
in
128 Posts
Not to be forgotten the pedals.
One is marked "D" and the other "G".
More rust on these than on most of the rest of the bike combined, but again amazing all four reflectors remain and are unbroken.
A well loved little bike.
One is marked "D" and the other "G".
More rust on these than on most of the rest of the bike combined, but again amazing all four reflectors remain and are unbroken.
A well loved little bike.
#10
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
Photo of brake calipers, please! The writing on those is a useful chronological diagnostic. Starts out large block letters in the 30's, smaller block letters in the 50's, smaller block letters in the 60's, finally tiny block letters in a rectangle by the late 70's.
That said my guess is bike boom, early 70's.
The damage to the saddle looks like someone dragged the bike across some asphalt or concrete pavement on its saddle. Doh!
That said my guess is bike boom, early 70's.
The damage to the saddle looks like someone dragged the bike across some asphalt or concrete pavement on its saddle. Doh!
Last edited by rhm; 09-14-19 at 06:14 PM.
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,707
Bikes: Stevenson Custom, Stevenson Custom Tandem, Nishiki Professional
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 196 Times
in
128 Posts
rhm here are the brake caliper and brake lever body stampings. Hope this helps, thanks.
Last edited by since6; 09-14-19 at 09:01 PM.
#12
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
Thanks for the photos! Those brakes are typical 70's stuff. I don't know when that style was first introduced, though. Could be late 60's for all I know. Later (late 70cs?) They started using a black plastic nut on the pivot bolt.
I'm still thinking early 70's for that bike.
I'm still thinking early 70's for that bike.
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Lacey, WA
Posts: 1,707
Bikes: Stevenson Custom, Stevenson Custom Tandem, Nishiki Professional
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 367 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 196 Times
in
128 Posts
I agree rhm on early 70s. Does the stamping on the free wheel "Cyclo 72 Made in France" mean this was a 1972 free wheel, or, is "72" the model no. for this freewheel? Any "Cyclo' experts?
One additional thing I've been trying to find out is if Gitane was the bicycle ridden by the World Champion in the late 60s/early 70s due to the decal on the top tube proclaiming that this French bicycle was a World Champion bike.
LOL, not "this" bike, but that a Gitane was ridden by a World Champion rider. Does anyone know?
One additional thing I've been trying to find out is if Gitane was the bicycle ridden by the World Champion in the late 60s/early 70s due to the decal on the top tube proclaiming that this French bicycle was a World Champion bike.
LOL, not "this" bike, but that a Gitane was ridden by a World Champion rider. Does anyone know?
#14
Newbie
Join Date: Nov 2020
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Resurrecting old thread....
I had one of these mini Gitane bicycles when I was a child. I was born in 1967 and I'm fairly certain that I got the bicycle brand new in 1975 in 3rd grade. Mine was red, had the same components as described. The only thing I think that might have been different on mine was that I think my bike had secondary brake levers under the tops of the bars. I know that my right side brake lever snapped off when I had a fall.
That seat was stock, I always thought it was called "Luca" -- I seem to recall that it had 2 holes in the top of the saddle?
I was very short growing up, so that bicycle enabled me to ride something that looked much cooler than a normal kids bike. I went everywhere on that thing...
I had one of these mini Gitane bicycles when I was a child. I was born in 1967 and I'm fairly certain that I got the bicycle brand new in 1975 in 3rd grade. Mine was red, had the same components as described. The only thing I think that might have been different on mine was that I think my bike had secondary brake levers under the tops of the bars. I know that my right side brake lever snapped off when I had a fall.
That seat was stock, I always thought it was called "Luca" -- I seem to recall that it had 2 holes in the top of the saddle?
I was very short growing up, so that bicycle enabled me to ride something that looked much cooler than a normal kids bike. I went everywhere on that thing...
Likes For jeffwe:
#15
Junior Member
Join Date: Nov 2023
Location: Wessex UK
Posts: 102
Bikes: Vintage Raleigh and more modern Roberts
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 53 Post(s)
Liked 143 Times
in
56 Posts
I cannot help with dating only to say the Weinmann brakes probably have a date on the back but will say the 8 year old me would have been greener than that paint job with envy had I seen one of those back in the day, some of our children's bikes has SA 3 speeds but none had a derailleur.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Binky
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
13
10-16-17 07:01 AM