tonyfourdogs

Hi folks

I was hoping that some of you fine people might be able to help me identify this frame I picked up the other day. I have a feeling it might be something a little bit special, but I can't find any identifying marks on it other than on the bottom bracket lug.

It does have 597mm rims/ tyres though, which leads to me to believe it could quite possibly be a 1950s British bike (I'm in the UK) but apart from that, I don't really know where to begin.

Pictures attached, and any assistance very gratefully received.

She's a beaut, eh?

Never seen these numbers stamped on a BB lug before...


No braze ons for front mech cable

Nice lining

cudak888 

The elements appear British and the lamp bracket is in the right place for it too. The smattering of French parts is interesting though.

What diameter is the tubing and have you had a chance to check the threading?

-Kurt

tonyfourdogs

Hi Kurt, thanks for your reply. Those are good questions to which I don't have answers, nor the tools to provide them... Of course, a right hand lamp bracket is a strong identifier, thanks for the info!

juvela

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markings on shell are its specifications (not a serial)

lug pattern is NERVEX 86 bis/158

pump pegs appear British rather than NERVEX

mudguard stay eyelets on taper tubes appear they may be NERVEX Ref. 890

pretty clear we are in the 1950's here

because of date could have been designed for multi-plateau drive train with manual ("suicide") front mech

seat binder is Gripfast

GB Hiduminium stem/bar set likely original to cycle

chainset and pedals look as though they may be original, or at least contemporaneous with cycle

pedals appear they may be Phillips Grande Vitesse model No. 49





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MauriceMoss

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nlerner

If British, I'm surprised it doesn't have a single shifter mount for a Cyclo lever (though the chain stay cable stop shows it was built as a geared bike). What size seatpost? As others have said, confirming that the threading is NOT French, would be helpful.

juvela

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dunno why a frankish machine would place a lamp boss on the right blade

...then there are features such as a GB Hiduminium stem/bar set and a Gripfast seat binder...

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nlerner

Oh, I'm just a gawker on the internet making WAGs, that's why. But a repaint, which it seems to be, could also include a replacement fork. I'd like to see more clues rather than more speculation.

3speedslow

Always nice to see a grease port on the BB shell.

tonyfourdogs

Wow, thanks for your detailed and interesting responses folks! Great to know a lot of the bike is likely to be original or at least period correct.

Like I said, I don't have calipers, but I've had the seatpost out and measured it to the best of my ability with a metal rule, and it's around 26mm. No idea if that is useful in any way?

Excited to have a bike so old in such good condition. My hunch is that the sachs huret levers and derailleurs are a more recent addition?

juvela

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thank you for this update

pillar size - your measurement of 26mm tells us it is likely either 26.2 or 26.4mm actual size, this would tend to suggest it is constructed of a quality plain gauge tube set such as Reynolds 531 plain gauge, Accles & Pollock or Truwell

yes, the Sachs items are very much later than the cycle

you may be able to find a date on them

they began date marking their products in 1978 with a four digit numeric code

the first two digits refer to the week within the year of manufacture and the second two to the year:


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tonyfourdogs

Thanks Juvela

Good to know about the Sachs Huret parts for future reference too.

Guess I better give this thing a test ride then!

tonyfourdogs

I decided to have one last look for any identifying marks, and just noticed that the non drive side rear drop out is stamped P1238. I wonder if that means anything to anyone?

Thanks again for all your helpful replies