Maxey

So I have another thread going about a different Manufrance I acquired a few weeks ago; another Manufrance has popped up in the same North Dakota town and I'm considering picking it up. It has the same exact decal scheme, so I figure it's probably a '72 or '73 like mine. It looks like it has a lower component level than mine -- cottered crankset vs cotterless on mine -- and I also see it's had the rear derailleur replaced with a Suntour. Surprisingly still sporting the Simplex on the front, though not sure if it's cracked yet (I'm learning, thanks to some of the French experts here!). My main question is about the wheelset, or more particularly, the rims. You'll see they have this dimpled pattern on the brake surface, and they sure do look shiny. My concern is that these wheels may be steel rather than alloy, but then again who knows the health of the hubs, so the wheels might need to be replaced in any case. I can't physically examine the bike for a while but can have someone pay the man and hold onto it for me. Seller is asking $80 which I feel is OUTRAGEOUS! as I scored my touring Manufrance for a measly $25. Just kidding, the price probably isn't out of line, but I got spoiled by the other deal. I think this is still in the right section as I'm not really looking for an appraisal or valuation. I think if I acquire this bike I will have virtually cornered the market for vintage Manufrances in N. Dakota. I suspect it will be lonely at the top. Any and all input and opinions welcomed!

Shot showing the wheel:

Maxey

Here's a better overall shot of the bike, also provided by the seller:

ehcoplex 

I'd bet money they're steel Rigida Chromolux rims....

ehcoplex 

Hmmm, neat looking bar-mount bottle cage!

Maxey

For sure, I want the bike for that alone, haha. Here's a better shot of it:

juvela

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the wheel rims are RIGIDA SUPERCHROMIX
they may exhibit a date marked in a small diamond symbol as here -



the cycle's chainset is SOLIDA brand
one chainwheel bolt has been replaced with a fractional self-tapping one which is too long
likely owner did not have access to the appropriate 7.0mm X 1.0 bolt required

its pedal set is Lyotard model 36R

it wheel hubs are the same NEW STAR as those on your cycle

saddle an immigrant from the orient, possibly Teihei brand

looks like you are now well on your way toward becoming the forum's Manufrance maven

with each new Manufrance query which comes up we can send the poster to you

this gold example appears to be the same model as me silver feller...


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Maxey

All good information as usual, juvela, thanks. I'll respond to some of your points here:

the wheel rims are RIGIDA SUPERCHROMIX
hey may exhibit a date marked in a small diamond symbol as here - Good information; probably decent rims as far as steel rims go, as opposed to some that were sold on some lower-quality bikes back then.

the cycle's chainset is SOLIDA brand - Yet another brand new to me.

its pedal set is Lyotard model 36R - They look the same as on my bike.

it wheel hubs are the same NEW STAR as those on your cycle - I also thought they looked the same.

looks like you are now well on your way toward becoming the forum's Manufrance maven - Probably best to describe me as a Manufrance enthusiast, as I think maven implies I'm some sort of expert, but with time, you never know!

with each new Manufrance query which comes up we can send the poster to you - Excellent. When you're ready to send it, I have my postal address at the ready.

this gold example appears to be the same model as me silver feller... - I don't recall if I've seen your bike before in all the Manufrance threads I've read.

juvela

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the pedals on your blue Manufrance are Lyotard model 460D

they have mostly alloy bodies while the pedals on the gold bicycle are all steel


https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...109&AbsPos=152

things better on your blue cycle than on this gold example:

frame tubing

chainset

saddle (BIG difference)

wheel rims

pedals

fork crown; the crown on the blue machine is forged and manufactured by the firm Vagner, the crown on the gold cycle is formed of stamped sheet and welded together

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my example

as mentioned previously it is not a complete cycle

it is a frame with some original fittings still attached

you have not seen a picture of it as i have made none - no digital camera

any images posted by me are ones found on the web

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1989Pre 

That's a great-looking color! Same MAFAC Professional 121 brake levers as on the blue one. What are the brake calipers on this gold one? Cottered crank might just mean older, rather than a lesser model. I hope you are just as thrilled about the ride of your Manufrance as I am at mine. I've done a 75-miler and a couple 60-milers on it already this season. The ride is sublime. The feedback, exalted. I was very surprised to learn what one B.F. member wrote: Manufrance made Bertin and Gitane cycles.

1989Pre 

Pictures are over-rated. I'd rather exchange ideas.

juvela

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no wonder have so little of substance to contribute

me cognition level rivals that of a turnip

well, i'll be headin' home back to the soil soon eno'


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Maxey

Juvela, thanks for pointing out the differences between the two bikes. How ever you know all this stuff it is impressive.

1989 Pre, here are pictures of the brakes on both bikes. They look to be the same, though juvela may tell us that one set is made of manganese alloy and the other of vanadium.

1989Pre 

Substance is over-rated, as well. Camaraderie is what it's all about.

bikemig 

I'd consider buying that bike for the water bottle cage . . .

juvela

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should you take in this auric individual to express companionship with the existing azurene chap on those cold winter nights in the garage you might wish to seek out a correct 7.0mm X 1.0 chainwheel bolt for him

someone has replaced such a lost bolt with a self-tapping fractional one which is too long

would be best to run a 7.0mm X 1.0 tap through first to "ease the ways"

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ND -

me mum was hatched in Bismarck...o' course this was back in the Oligocene...am much younger meself, a child of the Holocene


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bikemig 

I think of this as buying a water bottle cage with a free bike thrown in. That is a cool porte bidon.

Maxey

Thanks for the photos of the bottle cage. Even though it's not true I'm going to tell the uninformed that it's worth 10 times the value of the cycle, possibly more.

I didn't notice the chainwheel bolt initially, but did notice it when I posted the picture yesterday.

Interesting your mom was a Bismarcker; I live 100 miles to the west of Bismarck, in the 'city' of Dickinson, very close to the notorious badlands. My family arrived in N. Dakota in 1973 courtesy of the USAF, my mum born in Scotland, and my father a French Canadian of east coast origin.

Maxey

The bottle cage seems to be getting a lot of love, I'll have to do what I can to remove the surface corrosion it has. From this website it seems people are using a product called Evapo-Rust for something like this, but if anyone thinks that would be ill-advised for this astounding porte bidon (tin gate? Sorry my French needs some Evapo-Rust also).

I almost forgot to mention, I have indeed purchased the bike, well, I charged my stepfather with purchasing it for me, and he did just that last night. Now I just need to collect it, or alternatively I will think of excuses not to visit all summer so he's forced to store it for me. All I know is that bottle cage better still be on it when I go to get it.

bikemig 

Evapo rust works great.

juvela

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notice you employed something abrasive to lavande the jantes de monsieur bleu...that be a non-no nanette

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now ye shall needs be contact Specialitees T.A. to see if you can order the little red and gold label...


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Maxey

juvela, I was only kidding about my French being rusty -- it's more like non-existent, but after plugging your text into a translator, I understand you were saying I used an abrasive on the wheel rim. I used .0000 fine steel wool and non-abrasive metal polish, so any marks or scratches woudn't have been caused by that, they would've already been there. I've used .0000 steel wool on auto glass with windex as a lube to remove embedded water stains and it doesn't scratch the glass. I also use .0000 steel wool on alloy motorcycle parts and it doesn't scratch or cloud those at all. In any event, I hope my contradictions will not prevent you from any further communications about these fine old French bicycles, that is surely not my intent.

juvela

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mebbe all o' them thar scratches were snoozing beneath the soil awreddy...

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whilst monsieur auric be nearly all gaulique, save for his rear mech and saddle from Honshu, he dost carry one fitting hailing from pasta-land


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Maxey

Yes, sir, I believe that to be the case re: the scratches.

So you're saying the OrangeMan has an Italian part? I can't begin to guess what it is, please, do tell!

juvela

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shall leave it out for another reader to notice

should time pass without an identification have manufacturer display image can post...

if you are going to be opening a Manufrance dealership perhaps should send along me example

me very imperfect "memory" wishes to give his stature as LVIIIcm c-t-t

am presently escrivinatin' from a locus ~DCCkm separate from me velo junque pile


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Maxey

Fair enough, juvela. In my defense I still haven't seen the cycle in person yet, so maybe then I will be able to ID the little noodle you're referring to, though apparently you must've already spotted it in one of the photos.

I will keep an eye out for any 58cms I come across in the Manufrance quest, that would be just ever so slightly too big for me so you might be in luck.

Your last statement I am unable to translate to English. Maybe I will look online for a specialized juvela translator if one exists. I understood the part about the bike junk pile, the other part maybe means you are away from your pile of cycle junk?