Help Identify Frejus Bicycle
 

Hello,To All.
Well I’ve picked up this Frejus bike and haven’t been able to locate any information on bike.There are no # on the down tube only under BB which are 05231 and in center of BB is 31.Any help? Thank You.I’m send pictures.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d90b2deb1.jpeg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...814fe1f2b.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9cd888fc6.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8145f5d93.jpeg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...e18ee0a5b.jpeg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...4e9a9536f.jpeg

Can’t help you with the dating, but that’s a beauty!

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Hello CTony,

Likely dates from very close to 1970.

City of Oakland bicycle licenses granted for a term of three years so an expiry date of 12/31/73 suggests it may have been licensed in 1970. Examine the frame for the Oakland "oak tree" stamping symbol - resembles a mushroom and is about 7mm across.

Original fittings include Way-Assauto headset, chainset, Sheffield pedals, Universal 61 brakes, 3TTT stem & bar set, saddle pillar and seat binder.

Wheels & gear ensemble may be upgrades.

You can get a specific date from the inner faces of the axle locknuts on the Campag hubs; do not be surprised if they are later than the 1970 date mentioned above -


https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...890b069cdc.jpg

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the cycle's Sheffield pedals are the Corsa model nr. 655 -


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f475922fa2.jpg

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the Zeus tubular tyre carrier is item Ref. 19 and is an accurate copy of the Vittoria Fulmine:


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...190876cd7.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...594506b6e.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...2b7a5ac049.jpg

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importer for the cycle was almost certainly the John W. ("Jack") Murphy Co. on Shipley Street in San Francisco, California. it was purchased from Velo Sport Cyclery when they were on Grove Street in Berkeley, California. (Grove Street was later renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Way)

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tip -

a wonderful enthusiast resource for information on Emilio Bozzi products is the condorino website - http://www.condorino.com

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Thank you for all your informationThe wheel set that’s on it know in photos I had laying around.Originally wheel-set wheels Fiamma tubulars hubs had no name

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hubs without name were likely Gnutti

unable to make positive ID on chainset from photos but it looks like it may be a NERVAR

cycle likely one or two models up from the base within the range of the day

frame tubing may be Falck plain gauge, if so saddle pillar diameter is likely to be 26.2mm

hope this assists you a little bit ;)

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Correct on chainstet.I’m change out to Campagnolo.Thank you for your time.

the shop I worked at in the 70s sold the Zeus tire carrier. the rubber straps were usually rotten
straight out of the box!

I would like to get more. I have one and replaced the rubber with large O rings.

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the cycle's stem appears it may be the FIAMME allen key model of the 1960's

these are not often seen and are quite nice


https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b8fbdf9c18.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...3a21bc6957.jpg

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the black oxide finish mounting plate for the bicycle's Campagnolo Record rear gear mech appears to be a replacement with 32mm centres

the stock mounting plate would have had 26mm centres

the change is sometimes done to give the mech the opportunity to handle a larger large cog on the gear block

it does have the downside of slightly worsening shifts on the smaller cogs

given the apparant size of the gear block presently on the cycle its length is not needed

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Juvela, Correct on stem I’m researching for a shorter stem.Also,you mentioned hanger for rear derailleur will the one on bike work with freewheel 14/28T? I’ve have read articles on Campagnolo record derailleurs using a Freewheels 14/28T thats about there limits>

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stem -

FIAMME stems were offered in sizes 8,9,10,11 & 12cm

finding another would be something of a challenge as they are fairly rare

it would also likely be costly

its clamp size is 26.0mm

if you wish to reuse the bar that is on there you would want a period plausible stem with a 26.0mm clamp

two possibilities would be an Ambrosio Champion and a Tecno Tubo Torino (3TTT) Gran Prix

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Record rear gear mech -

yes, 28T is the generally accepted largest cog

with the mounting plate that has been put on there would expect it could handle a bit larger cog

anecdote -

one day in 1973 was speaking with a mechanic at a local bike shop

he had a Record model rear mech on his machine

it was paired with a surprinsingly large gear block of at least 31T and possibly larger

asked him about it and he showed me how it easily shifted on and off the large cog

do not know what he had done to get it to perform like that...

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"do not know what he had done to get it to perform like that..."
Was using it on a 40 tooth chain ring? :>

My catalog reprint likely pre-dates this bike and the models changed over time, but given the stamped rear dropouts and other clues it looks similar to the entry level model called "F-4" Sport Racer in my catalog. Next model up was the "Torino", but that model had forged dropouts as I remember. Perhaps not.

I consider the Frejus to be one of the finest bikes of its era.

That was a very informative post

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blog post discusses history of Prodotti Bozzi in North America -

https://condorino.com/2017/09/17/the...and-paul-kent/


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Your Velo-Sport shop sticker may have a serial number on it that could help date your bike. The photo below is the Velo-Sport sticker from my '74 Raleigh International and has # 02673.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f29f9b0f1d.jpg

I think having a Velo-Sport shop sticker adds a little class to your bike. It was a significant shop in the development of cycle racing in the USA.

https://www.berkeleyside.com/2018/07...le-racing-boom
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Bik.../VeloSport.htm
https://www.cyclingnews.com/features...om-the-saddle/