Fork Crowns: Let's see yours!
03-22-22, 09:07 AM
#26
feros ferio
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The Siegers, like yours, have a more ornate crown:
Repainted Cap Sieger frame, serial number very close to that of my other Sieger, so who was I to say no to it?
I owe you a closeup of fork crowns on my two Siegers.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
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03-22-22, 09:18 AM
#27
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03-22-22, 09:20 AM
#28
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I got to ride about 50 miles with a fellow on a late '80s Strawberry with the monostay and that beautiful crown. (While I rode my sport Peugeot turned into a low budget road fix gear. Bridgestone(?) fork, beautiful red paint job, big block letters "TEAM DUMPSTER" on the DT, neat script "Jessica" on the TT. Inspiration for the bike of my logo photo.)
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03-22-22, 10:16 AM
#30
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03-22-22, 11:43 AM
#31
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Great thread! Thanks for starting it. This is one of my favorite places for builder bling on a bike, and so it's not surprising that most of my bikes have something interesting to offer.
This is the best picture I have of the crown on my Stella. It's hard to get a proper picture of the interesting bit, which is the absurdly long tang on the inside of the fork. The orange bit you see inside the chrome here is a reflection of the other fork blade.
My 1974 Masi GC is a repaint, and I'm told I'm missing a stripe here.
The fork crown is the most distinctive feature on the 3Rensho-built Allez.
This seems to be the same crown as several from earlier in this thread, just with different pantographing.
1973 De Rosa
No coins on my 1983 Gios Professional
1969 Raleigh Competition -- Is this the same crown as on the early Internationals?
1989 Bianchi Mondiale
Serotta
1987 Pinarello Montello
This is the best picture I have of the crown on my Stella. It's hard to get a proper picture of the interesting bit, which is the absurdly long tang on the inside of the fork. The orange bit you see inside the chrome here is a reflection of the other fork blade.
My 1974 Masi GC is a repaint, and I'm told I'm missing a stripe here.
The fork crown is the most distinctive feature on the 3Rensho-built Allez.
This seems to be the same crown as several from earlier in this thread, just with different pantographing.
1973 De Rosa
No coins on my 1983 Gios Professional
1969 Raleigh Competition -- Is this the same crown as on the early Internationals?
1989 Bianchi Mondiale
Serotta
1987 Pinarello Montello
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03-22-22, 12:42 PM
#32
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A couple of bikes that I have long since sold to @Andy Antipas deserve to be represented in this thread, and since I have pics of the crowns I'll share.
One is the 1969 Urago which Andy has recently finished restoring and shared in this thread.
The other is this 1984 Pinarello Gran Turismo.
And, while I'm sharing pics of bikes that are no longer in my stable, how about this 1976 Austro Daimler that I sold to @daverup? (Sadly, auto-focus seems to have let me down.)
And finally, there's the 1976 Takara that I re-painted for last years Clunker 100 Challenge. The fork crown was originally all painted, but when I stripped it down and saw the chrome beneath I had to let it shine.
One is the 1969 Urago which Andy has recently finished restoring and shared in this thread.
The other is this 1984 Pinarello Gran Turismo.
And, while I'm sharing pics of bikes that are no longer in my stable, how about this 1976 Austro Daimler that I sold to @daverup? (Sadly, auto-focus seems to have let me down.)
And finally, there's the 1976 Takara that I re-painted for last years Clunker 100 Challenge. The fork crown was originally all painted, but when I stripped it down and saw the chrome beneath I had to let it shine.
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03-22-22, 12:54 PM
#34
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And, while I'm sharing pics of bikes that are no longer in my stable, how about this 1976 Austro Daimler that I sold to @daverup? (Sadly, auto-focus seems to have let me down.)
And here's a late 70's Raleigh Grand Prix,
and a 78 Super Le Tour,
03-22-22, 02:20 PM
#35
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1987 Marinoni Sports Tourer. Seems like that this fork crown design was adapted by several builders in the late 80’s, but this one has has nicely wide spacing (takes up to 650x42’s!)
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03-22-22, 03:58 PM
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Is that this one?
It reminds me of the distinctive Iglehart fork crown, but his don't seem to be so much a crown as more tubes mitered together.
It reminds me of the distinctive Iglehart fork crown, but his don't seem to be so much a crown as more tubes mitered together.
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03-22-22, 04:01 PM
#38
blahblahblah chrome moly
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Coppi-Fiorelli
'Coins' for the Coppi thimble crown
Ekla (Belgian?) for D-section blades
Fischer (Swiss), used by Masi et al.
Bottom one is an early-'80s Cinelli OR that I modded, adding some here, machining away there, lighter overall.
Showing why the Nervex Pro is so lightweight — very hollow. Still plenty strong though. I like 'em!
Another Fischer, this one for D-section blades. '50s maybe? Note how hollow these are, nice and light. Sand-cast rough, so it's a lot of work to make 'em look nice.
Mod DP+ is my fave, classic! Someone already posted their teal-and-white Motobecane Le Champion with that one, beautiful.
Two Zeus 2000 road, different logos but same model.
Zeus 2001 Track
I think ten is the limit so I'll send another post with more
Mark B
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03-22-22, 04:04 PM
#39
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03-22-22, 04:07 PM
#40
blahblahblah chrome moly
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That could be a MER by Takahashi. Davidson used a couple thousand of those on their Impulse model ('80-'90s). Later those were knocked off in Taiwan and the knockoffs are pretty faithful, can be hard to tell from an original made in Japan. Ritchey had his own knockoff but with the Ritchey logo cast-in.
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03-22-22, 04:10 PM
#41
blahblahblah chrome moly
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I'll see your triple plate and raise you one!
Faux 2-plate, on a Gillott
Here's that Gillott crown in the raw. Round blades.
Fischer Track — probably — there are a lot of similar-shaped crowns, like Davis (England) and Tange (Japan). Can be hard to tell.
Pegoretti. Dario, you left us too soon.
Raleigh (Carlton) '74. Scan from the catalog. That's the Davis that's like a Fisher. Tangs added by Carlton
Ritchey '90s (Bridgeston MB-1)
Early Ritchey
Early Salsa (Ross Shafer). Incredibly, it is NOT two plates! (see next pic)
Salsa machined from 1 piece of steel. Imagine the pile of chips that makes!
This is not nearly all my pictures of fork cowns, not even a quarter of them. Not to mention the dozens (a hundred maybe) different crowns I have collected but haven't taken pictures of.
Mark B
Last edited by bulgie; 03-22-22 at 10:00 PM.
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03-22-22, 04:39 PM
#43
blahblahblah chrome moly
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Saba crown on my wife's 1990 road racer. One of the lightest crowns ever, then I machined it down some more. Fork weighs under 1 pound.
My own 1990 road racer. Crown started out as a Takahashi HNR (Hitachi-Nagasawa-Road), then I drilled it out and machined the top down making it a lot lighter, but still stronger than Laurie's Saba cuz I'm a big boy.
Barra 1940's, gas-welded aluminum!
Bontrager. Tange licensed the idea and called theirs Switchblades, because you could switch blades.
Caminade 1935, bolted aluminum!
Flema titanium, early '70s (before Teledyne)
Grenzi circa '73. Note no brake nut in back — brake centerbolt is brazed to the front of the crown.
Helyett '51. Ekla crown
Herse tandem. Tapered steerer! OS (28 mm) at the bottom, normal 25 mm at the top
A.D. "Art" Stump (USA), late-'70s
OK it's sunny out, that's quite enough of that! Thanks to everyone else for all the wonderful crown pix!
Mark B
03-22-22, 07:24 PM
#44
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1980S MONGOOSE ATB
03-22-22, 07:26 PM
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Not my fork but I saw it online while searching for a fork for my Bertin.
Thought it was worth showing .
Almost bought it but 10mm too short darn it !
Thought it was worth showing .
Almost bought it but 10mm too short darn it !
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03-22-22, 07:29 PM
#46
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This thread is awesome. Wish I had something cool to contribute.
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03-22-22, 07:37 PM
#47
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CCM. Track, Delivery and Roadster.
85 Norco Bigfoot
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03-22-22, 08:32 PM
#48
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I guess I'm not the only one who enjoys a chromed or flashy fork crown! Fun!
My fun fork crowns include a '82 Olmo Competition...
a '74 Raleigh International....
and a Hetchins Magnum Opus.
for reference, this is a fairly restrained version of the Magnum Opus. They offered a version with lots of chrome in addition to this set of lugs and crown.
Steve in Peoria
My fun fork crowns include a '82 Olmo Competition...
a '74 Raleigh International....
and a Hetchins Magnum Opus.
for reference, this is a fairly restrained version of the Magnum Opus. They offered a version with lots of chrome in addition to this set of lugs and crown.
Steve in Peoria
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03-22-22, 08:40 PM
#49
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My Klein's paint and fork crown were the reasons why I bought it.
03-22-22, 09:02 PM
#50
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DiNucci.
Brent
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