Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Classic & Vintage
Reload this Page >

Mystery Touring Frame: Campagnolo and Reynolds 501?

Notices
Classic & Vintage This forum is to discuss the many aspects of classic and vintage bicycles, including musclebikes, lightweights, middleweights, hi-wheelers, bone-shakers, safety bikes and much more.

Mystery Touring Frame: Campagnolo and Reynolds 501?

Old 02-20-14, 05:48 PM
  #1  
Sizzle-Chest
The Brutally Handsome
Thread Starter
 
Sizzle-Chest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Siberia
Posts: 508
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
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?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMG_0783.jpg (96.4 KB, 94 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_0784.jpg (91.4 KB, 136 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_0785.jpg (96.8 KB, 125 views)

Last edited by Sizzle-Chest; 02-21-14 at 07:40 PM.
Sizzle-Chest is offline  
Old 02-20-14, 06:13 PM
  #2  
juvela
Senior Member
 
juvela's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Alta California
Posts: 14,326
Mentioned: 414 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3783 Post(s)
Liked 3,288 Times in 2,148 Posts
that is one big brake bridge!
juvela is online now  
Old 02-20-14, 06:46 PM
  #3  
3speedslow
Senior Member
 
3speedslow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 9,339

Bikes: A few

Mentioned: 117 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1937 Post(s)
Liked 1,043 Times in 627 Posts
What size tires does it fit ?
3speedslow is offline  
Old 02-20-14, 06:58 PM
  #4  
unworthy1
Stop reading my posts!
 
unworthy1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,959
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Liked 1,038 Times in 769 Posts
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.?
unworthy1 is offline  
Old 02-20-14, 08:56 PM
  #5  
Sizzle-Chest
The Brutally Handsome
Thread Starter
 
Sizzle-Chest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Siberia
Posts: 508
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by juvela
that is one big brake bridge!
Yeah, the seatstays are rather bulky as well.

Originally Posted by 3speedslow
What size tires does it fit ?
700c

Originally Posted by unworthy1
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.?
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.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
IMG_0789.jpg (93.0 KB, 61 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_0794.jpg (91.1 KB, 48 views)
File Type: jpg
IMG_0795.jpg (88.0 KB, 58 views)
Sizzle-Chest is offline  
Old 02-20-14, 09:19 PM
  #6  
3speedslow
Senior Member
 
3speedslow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 9,339

Bikes: A few

Mentioned: 117 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1937 Post(s)
Liked 1,043 Times in 627 Posts
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.
3speedslow is offline  
Old 02-20-14, 09:34 PM
  #7  
JohnDThompson 
Old fart
 
JohnDThompson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,936

Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.

Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3571 Post(s)
Liked 3,368 Times in 1,916 Posts
Originally Posted by juvela
that is one big brake bridge!
It just looks like a piece of the seat stay salvaged from trimming them to length.
JohnDThompson is offline  
Old 02-20-14, 09:40 PM
  #8  
Sizzle-Chest
The Brutally Handsome
Thread Starter
 
Sizzle-Chest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Siberia
Posts: 508
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by 3speedslow
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.
BB is a Hatta, hadn't noticed that, thanks for pointing it out!
Sizzle-Chest is offline  
Old 02-20-14, 11:35 PM
  #9  
Sizzle-Chest
The Brutally Handsome
Thread Starter
 
Sizzle-Chest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Siberia
Posts: 508
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
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?
Sizzle-Chest is offline  
Old 02-21-14, 06:31 AM
  #10  
The Golden Boy 
Extraordinary Magnitude
 
The Golden Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,640

Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT

Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2597 Post(s)
Liked 1,678 Times in 926 Posts
I Pity The Fool that doesn't dig the brake bridge on my signature B.A. Baracus Touring Machine.


__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*

Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!

"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
The Golden Boy is offline  
Old 02-21-14, 10:28 AM
  #11  
unworthy1
Stop reading my posts!
 
unworthy1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,959
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Liked 1,038 Times in 769 Posts
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).

Last edited by unworthy1; 02-21-14 at 10:47 AM.
unworthy1 is offline  
Old 02-21-14, 11:19 AM
  #12  
Sizzle-Chest
The Brutally Handsome
Thread Starter
 
Sizzle-Chest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Siberia
Posts: 508
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by unworthy1
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).
Just measured the BB drop, it's in the low 60's which is indicative of a cross frame. A touring frame would typically be in the low 70's. Also, the chainstays are about an inch shorter than most touring frames and the fork looks less raked than the typical touring frame. One more thing, the seat tube is 53cm but the top tube is 56cm! That's extremely aggressive for a touring frame. I could be wrong about all that, but for the sake of argument let's just say it's a cross frame, that would further support a European origin.

Last edited by Sizzle-Chest; 02-21-14 at 11:31 AM.
Sizzle-Chest is offline  
Old 02-21-14, 04:05 PM
  #13  
Sizzle-Chest
The Brutally Handsome
Thread Starter
 
Sizzle-Chest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Siberia
Posts: 508
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Another curveball: the stronglight headset and steerer are standard, but the fork threads are filed flat French style. Crazy!
Sizzle-Chest is offline  
Old 02-21-14, 05:54 PM
  #14  
3speedslow
Senior Member
 
3speedslow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 9,339

Bikes: A few

Mentioned: 117 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1937 Post(s)
Liked 1,043 Times in 627 Posts
The Hatta name rings a bell. I pulled one off of a Canadian built 90' Raleigh Montage. Maybe this is a Canadian marque ?
3speedslow is offline  
Old 02-21-14, 07:42 PM
  #15  
Sizzle-Chest
The Brutally Handsome
Thread Starter
 
Sizzle-Chest's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Siberia
Posts: 508
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
Originally Posted by 3speedslow
The Hatta name rings a bell. I pulled one off of a Canadian built 90' Raleigh Montage. Maybe this is a Canadian marque ?
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.
Sizzle-Chest is offline  
Old 02-21-14, 08:21 PM
  #16  
unworthy1
Stop reading my posts!
 
unworthy1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,959
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Liked 1,038 Times in 769 Posts
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.
unworthy1 is offline  
Old 02-21-14, 09:26 PM
  #17  
ultraman6970
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,859
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 2 Posts
French? Dutch maybe?
ultraman6970 is offline  
Old 02-21-14, 09:55 PM
  #18  
3speedslow
Senior Member
 
3speedslow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 9,339

Bikes: A few

Mentioned: 117 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1937 Post(s)
Liked 1,043 Times in 627 Posts
I'll go see if I find that BB on any of my Superia's.
3speedslow is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
omgar
Classic and Vintage Bicycles: Whats it Worth? Appraisals.
17
05-26-18 05:36 AM
cirp
Classic & Vintage
14
01-18-18 05:45 PM
pflippo
Classic & Vintage
6
04-21-17 11:55 PM
sisddwg
Classic & Vintage
12
03-02-12 10:39 PM
3alarmer
Classic & Vintage
50
11-28-11 08:23 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.