Mystery Touring Frame: Campagnolo and Reynolds 501?
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Mystery Touring Frame: Campagnolo and Reynolds 531?
I just picked up a mysterious touring bike and was hoping someone might have some ideas what it is.
First of all, it has Campagnolo dropouts and fork tips, but frame decals that say Reynolds 501. I highly suspect the frame has been repainted because it looks like a thick, sloppy powder coat, so I'm wondering if someone just used some old 501 decals. Can anyone recall a touring frame made from 501 with Campagnolo dropouts?
Another clue is that the bottom bracket shell has the number 11 stamped on it. The "headbadge" appears to be painted on so it's not much help. And the components are all over the map, from a swaged Sugino crankset, to Mafac cantilever brakes and 600 wheelset.
Any guesses?
First of all, it has Campagnolo dropouts and fork tips, but frame decals that say Reynolds 501. I highly suspect the frame has been repainted because it looks like a thick, sloppy powder coat, so I'm wondering if someone just used some old 501 decals. Can anyone recall a touring frame made from 501 with Campagnolo dropouts?
Another clue is that the bottom bracket shell has the number 11 stamped on it. The "headbadge" appears to be painted on so it's not much help. And the components are all over the map, from a swaged Sugino crankset, to Mafac cantilever brakes and 600 wheelset.
Any guesses?
Last edited by Sizzle-Chest; 02-21-14 at 07:40 PM.
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that is one big brake bridge!
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interesting...no idea at this point but the brake bridge (with mounting points for rack?) and the "boxed" canti bosses all seem like custom touches. I believe those are BCM lugs, but could use some clear detail pix...interesting forkcrown too. Most 501 was snapped up by Peugeot and Trek, if that decal is true (not betting on it) I don't think it's either of those marques.
interesting...what's the BB threading and seat post dia.?
interesting...what's the BB threading and seat post dia.?
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Yeah, the seatstays are rather bulky as well.
700c
My digital caliper is out of batteries so I can't check seatpost diameter right now but I can check on BB threading in a bit. I don't believe it's a Trek as their name was typically pantographed on the bb shell and/or seatstay ends. I'm not very familiar with Peugeot but I haven't seen one with downtube cable stops like these. Perhaps these shots of the lugs will be more revealing? I also just noticed the headset is a Stronglight if that helps.
The lugs look a bit like a couple Gitane frames I've owned, any chance that's what it is? I guess they had more detailed serial numbers now that I think about it.
700c
interesting...no idea at this point but the brake bridge (with mounting points for rack?) and the "boxed" canti bosses all seem like custom touches. I believe those are BCM lugs, but could use some clear detail pix...interesting forkcrown too. Most 501 was snapped up by Peugeot and Trek, if that decal is true (not betting on it) I don't think it's either of those marques.
interesting...what's the BB threading and seat post dia.?
interesting...what's the BB threading and seat post dia.?
The lugs look a bit like a couple Gitane frames I've owned, any chance that's what it is? I guess they had more detailed serial numbers now that I think about it.
#6
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Looking at the BB I see some writing that will be the makers name. I have seen them before, I just can't remember the name. Too late to go out to the shed. BB should be standard. If you pull the seatpost it will tell you what size it is, if it can be read.
No mistaking the brakes though, I would love to find some MAFAC canti's.
No mistaking the brakes though, I would love to find some MAFAC canti's.
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Looking at the BB I see some writing that will be the makers name. I have seen them before, I just can't remember the name. Too late to go out to the shed. BB should be standard. If you pull the seatpost it will tell you what size it is, if it can be read.
No mistaking the brakes though, I would love to find some MAFAC canti's.
No mistaking the brakes though, I would love to find some MAFAC canti's.
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More clues!
I unstuck the seatpost and it's 27.0
The bottom bracket is standard 68mm
The cable guides are also Campagnolo
I noticed there's only one set of bottle bosses, located on the downtube. Hardly standard for even an entry level touring frame, much less something potentially custom. Could this be a cyclocross frame?
I unstuck the seatpost and it's 27.0
The bottom bracket is standard 68mm
The cable guides are also Campagnolo
I noticed there's only one set of bottle bosses, located on the downtube. Hardly standard for even an entry level touring frame, much less something potentially custom. Could this be a cyclocross frame?
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I Pity The Fool that doesn't dig the brake bridge on my signature B.A. Baracus Touring Machine.
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stranger and stranger...Those are indeed BCM (Bocama) lugs, yes Gitane used them but so did many others. The other details aren't ringing any bells, but I doubt it's a CX frame (you can measure the BB height and compare, touring will be lower than standard road, CX will be higher). A lot of it makes it smell like it might be French (such as the lugs, the HS and so on) but the Hatta BB points to either a Japanese frame, or ...wait for the bombshell...
something from Benelux. I'm going to guess Belgium or Netherlands, but still no name I can supply.
The 27.0 seatpost also supports it not being FR, since that wouldn't be a size found with metric tubing...it could be Reynolds (plain gauge, 531 or perhaps 501) but could be something Japanese (Tange or Ishiwata), too.
Looking twice: the forkblades look like "Reynolds" oval, and the fork crown is either Vagner or Nervex (I can't remember which without looking it up).
something from Benelux. I'm going to guess Belgium or Netherlands, but still no name I can supply.
The 27.0 seatpost also supports it not being FR, since that wouldn't be a size found with metric tubing...it could be Reynolds (plain gauge, 531 or perhaps 501) but could be something Japanese (Tange or Ishiwata), too.
Looking twice: the forkblades look like "Reynolds" oval, and the fork crown is either Vagner or Nervex (I can't remember which without looking it up).
Last edited by unworthy1; 02-21-14 at 10:47 AM.
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stranger and stranger...Those are indeed BCM (Bocama) lugs, yes Gitane used them but so did many others. The other details aren't ringing any bells, but I doubt it's a CX frame (you can measure the BB height and compare, touring will be lower than standard road, CX will be higher). A lot of it makes it smell like it might be French (such as the lugs, the HS and so on) but the Hatta BB points to either a Japanese frame, or ...wait for the bombshell...
something from Benelux. I'm going to guess Belgium or Netherlands, but still no name I can supply.
The 27.0 seatpost also supports it not being FR, since that wouldn't be a size found with metric tubing...it could be Reynolds (plain gauge, 531 or perhaps 501) but could be something Japanese (Tange or Ishiwata), too.
Looking twice: the forkblades look like "Reynolds" oval, and the fork crown is either Vagner or Nervex (I can't remember which without looking it up).
something from Benelux. I'm going to guess Belgium or Netherlands, but still no name I can supply.
The 27.0 seatpost also supports it not being FR, since that wouldn't be a size found with metric tubing...it could be Reynolds (plain gauge, 531 or perhaps 501) but could be something Japanese (Tange or Ishiwata), too.
Looking twice: the forkblades look like "Reynolds" oval, and the fork crown is either Vagner or Nervex (I can't remember which without looking it up).
Last edited by Sizzle-Chest; 02-21-14 at 11:31 AM.
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Another curveball: the stronglight headset and steerer are standard, but the fork threads are filed flat French style. Crazy!
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The Hatta name rings a bell. I pulled one off of a Canadian built 90' Raleigh Montage. Maybe this is a Canadian marque ?
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Cool, I'll try some searches. I just pulled the fork and under the paint found the numbers 531, so now I can say for certain the decals are incorrect.
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OK, I'm half convinced that it's a CX frame
and even tho the filed flat thing is more typical of French, I have seen a number of other forks from England treated like that, I bet they did it elsewhere, too.
They loved the Hatta brand in Benelux...if it had a Hatta Swan HS I'd say it's practically a 100% clinch for a Dutch or Belgian bike...but the Hatta BBs were a little more widely used.
and even tho the filed flat thing is more typical of French, I have seen a number of other forks from England treated like that, I bet they did it elsewhere, too.
They loved the Hatta brand in Benelux...if it had a Hatta Swan HS I'd say it's practically a 100% clinch for a Dutch or Belgian bike...but the Hatta BBs were a little more widely used.
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