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-   -   Trek ID: it's made from Columbus tubing, and is pre-socketed construction. (https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=1244892)

3alarmer 01-09-22 06:08 PM

Trek ID: it's made from Columbus tubing, and is pre-socketed construction.
 
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...other than that, it's new to me and I haven't seen many of these, here where I live in the Central Valley.

I can find no serial numbers stamped on the BB shell, which appears to be a welded one, definitely not Cinelli or the like. I haven't pulled the fork yet, so maybe there are markings on the head tube ? Anyway, it's road geometry, and Columbus sticker fragments are still left on the frame and fork. The crown is not full sloping, but it is interesting. Again, I do not know what the crown is. The longer point lugs have been thinned a little bit as they taper, but not obsessively. Campagnolo dropouts. metal head badge is attached with tiny screws.

Some sort of 93_ designated model ? It still has most of the original components, which are Gran Sport. The frame spacing is 100 front, 120 rear. Thank you for any clues or assistance. I'm gonna repaint it, and would like to get the correct graphics.
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https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...d0d8ab8cdf.jpg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...121cff4882.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f5ffb6becc.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ca71a779ad.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ec00d82d87.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7cc389cd0d.jpg
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...a2cb729b1e.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...09312f7295.jpg
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ad958ce81a.jpg

thumpism 01-09-22 06:24 PM

930 is my guess, back when they sold framesets with build kits.

RiddleOfSteel 01-09-22 06:39 PM

@3alarmer go take a look again and another photo. The serial number is on the BB and you just got it in the photo below. I'm getting a 7_9460 or something to that effect. I think it's old enough that it should be alternating numbers and letters, but that's the angle I have to work with. I agree that it's a 93x bike (from a 930 frameset). I'd also add that Trek wasn't really outgoing with "TREK" decal application in the early years, from what I've seen around here and the internet. The Columbus decals could very well be the only ones applied from the factory.

EDIT just after posting: 1978-1980 model 937 if the Gran Sport is original, per Trek catalogs.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...cef7c8b7e0.jpg

RiddleOfSteel 01-09-22 06:46 PM

Oh, and by the way, beautiful old Trek! I am looking for a 730 or 930 in a very low key manner. 25.5" frame size. 730 would likely be my preference due to 531's ride quality in other longer wheelbase Treks (among others). I did pass up on a 25.5" light blue 930 in Portland last year, but another BF member got it and was extremely happy to have obtained it. I had my gorgeous Chestnut brown 510 at the time, so I was willing to not hoard them. Which has me remembering that I passed on a black 25.5" 930 on ebay last year as well. Son of a biscuit. Oh well! Tis no matter, ultimately. I lack for nothing in good and special-to-me bikes. Enjoy yours!

cb400bill 01-09-22 07:10 PM

Didn't the 900s have fastback seat stays?

3alarmer 01-09-22 07:48 PM


Originally Posted by cb400bill (Post 22367680)
Didn't the 900s have fastback seat stays?


...I think many did, but those were the ones with Cinelli BB shells and/or fully sloping fork crowns.
This is a different animal, but the Columbus tubing construction was usually designated with a "9__" in the first position, from what I understand.

Good Trek frames are a mystery to me. They show up from time to time here, but not nearly as often as the high end Italian frames. The only other one I've had here that was a better frame is this one, from the much later period when they were using those socketed stay attachments.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fb49e3d042.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...43c7ab35d6.jpg

jeirvine 01-09-22 07:49 PM


Originally Posted by cb400bill (Post 22367680)
Didn't the 900s have fastback seat stays?

The '76/'77 TX900s did. '78 on 930s did not.

bikemig 01-09-22 07:54 PM


Originally Posted by jeirvine (Post 22367732)
The '76/'77 TX900s did. '78 on 930s did not.

Plus I'm fairly certain that a screwed on headbadge indicates a late 70s era Trek as well.

3alarmer 01-09-22 08:03 PM

1979 Trek 937


...another thread, with pictures. This looks pretty much like what I've got. Thanks for the help.

bikemig 01-09-22 08:40 PM


Originally Posted by 3alarmer (Post 22367752)

1979 Trek 937


...another thread, with pictures. This looks pretty much like what I've got. Thanks for the help.

For what it's worth, that's the exact same factory color that came on my TX900. Why are you painting it? It looks pretty good but pictures can be deceiving. Velocals has the decals you need.

seedsbelize2 01-09-22 09:15 PM

There is a 24" 79 Trek 930 hanging on the wall within spitting distance from where I sit. If there are any detail questions, feel free to fire away. The original paint is black, and it is in line to be repainted within the next month or so. Probably a dark green.

3alarmer 01-10-22 12:05 AM


Originally Posted by bikemig (Post 22367792)
For what it's worth, that's the exact same factory color that came on my TX900. Why are you painting it? It looks pretty good but pictures can be deceiving. Velocals has the decals you need.


Originally Posted by seedsbelize2 (Post 22367828)
There is a 24" 79 Trek 930 hanging on the wall within spitting distance from where I sit. If there are any detail questions, feel free to fire away. The original paint is black, and it is in line to be repainted within the next month or so. Probably a dark green.


...thanks. This one is a sort of metallic graphite too. I can just barely make out the outlines of the old seat tube graphics, and it looks like Velocals has this era well covered. This one is 24" too, so I'm guessing the Columbus decal was SP. It's really too bad about the paint damage on mine, because it looks like pretty solid Imron, but it's scraped off in so many places, with some rust that looks like it's probably traveled under the paint in those webbed blooms that happen, that I figure It'll be easier to paint the whole thing after strip and prep.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...fd8e7e1dda.jpg

Trakhak 01-10-22 03:13 AM

You might try checking with the oldest Trek dealership in your area for decals. The shop I worked for was the first Trek dealer in Maryland, and I remember having a bunch of seat tube decals in each of the various colors. No customers ever asked for any, back then at least.

area531 01-10-22 07:13 AM

Cool Trek-

There was a recent thread here discussing Velocals Trek seat tube logo sizing, which might be worth looking over:

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...l-opinion.html

SJX426 01-10-22 07:29 AM

I was under the impression that socketed seat stay showed up in '74.

cb400bill 01-10-22 07:34 AM


Originally Posted by SJX426 (Post 22368043)
I was under the impression that socketed seat stay showed up in '74.

Trek wasn't making bikes in 1974.

Vintage Trek - Steel Road Bike Timeline, Trek Bicycle Corporation

SJX426 01-10-22 09:17 AM


Originally Posted by cb400bill (Post 22368047)

LOL! When you get my age, decades get mixed up! I know that and I did know the forth digit was a 4. So lets try that again! 1984.

cb400bill 01-10-22 09:54 AM


Originally Posted by SJX426 (Post 22368177)
LOL! When you get my age, decades get mixed up! I know that and I did know the forth digit was a 4. So lets try that again! 1984.

I'm prolly not that far behind you...

JohnDThompson 01-10-22 12:45 PM


Originally Posted by cb400bill (Post 22367680)
Didn't the 900s have fastback seat stays?

The 1970s production TX900 frames had a fastback attachment. Later production went to the side attachment.

http://www.vintage-trek.com/images/trek/900Fback.jpg

JohnDThompson 01-10-22 12:52 PM


Originally Posted by cb400bill (Post 22367680)
Didn't the 900s have fastback seat stays?


Originally Posted by 3alarmer (Post 22367731)
...I think many did, but those were the ones with Cinelli BB shells and/or fully sloping fork crowns.

The Cinelli BB shells and fork crowns weren't used until the early 80s, and only for a couple years before being replaced by the Signicast shell and socketed seat lugs.


This is a different animal, but the Columbus tubing construction was usually designated with a "9__" in the first position, from what I understand.
Yes, that was the original scheme. 5nn designated Ishiwata 022 tubing, 7nn designated Reynolds 531, and 9nn designated Columbus (SL or SP, depending on frame size). That all fell apart in the late 80s, when model numbers were recycled to use on entirely different bikes, e.g. 930 used to be a racing geometry Columbus frame, but became a mountain bike frame, etc. Were they running out of numbers, or something?


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