otg 

Hi folks, I have a Holdsworth frame I'm looking for information about. I'm certainly not a very good photographer, but I have some fair pictures. The bike has Campy dropouts and the headbadge is riveted on. Paint is fairly plain, but it has "Worthy" on the seat tube decal and Reynolds 531 tubing. The bottom of the bb has "pos" and the number 7272 stamped into it. Here are my feeble pictures.


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Any help would be appreciated. I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with this one, but I think it might be a keeper. Leaning toward a tripple with a 7 speed Suntour freewheel, bar ends and a Brooks. Again, sorry about the lousy pictures and thanks for any input.

flash2070

Beautiful! Congratulations.

Flash

unworthy1

Not sure of an exact model, but given the clips for TT brake cable, the metal badge and some other frame details: curved brake bridge, full-sloping crown and full-wrap stays...I'm going to guess it's a late '70s Super Mistral. Might be when this model transitioned to more of a "touring" model from previous "sport-touring" slot, and might be that the 7272 is not a serial number but actually the frame angles (72º parallel), which you could verify.
This was most likely a Holdsworthy (factory-built) frame, and since they did a fair amount of "custom" work it might not be a stock model or stock paint-scheme.

otg 

Interesting, thanks.

otg 

Here is something I found searching, 1977 Super Mistral. Looks pretty similar, I think you have it. Thank you.



And mine:

unworthy1

Yep, it's very close, but notice that the headlugs on the blue frame are the more-typical (for Mistral models) Prugnat "I" lugs and this frame also has a straight brakebridge where yours is curved. I believe yours has Prugnat "S" lugs.
That's why I'm not 100% sure of the "Super Mistral" ID for yours, but it could be a year or so earlier or a "custom order".

otg 

OK, I took a closer look at the stamping on the bottom bracket today. It is stamped PDS, not POS, as I originally read it, then the number 7272 underneath that. I took the fork off and found the same number, 7272 stamped on the inside. So I'm guessing 7272 is the serial number and not an indication of 72º parallel frame geometry. Still not quite sure what I have, but it is my size and definitely a keeper.

otg 

I spent a bit of time mocking up the Holdsworth. Here is an idea of what it will be when finished.

rootboy 

Saw that frame in person a couple days ago. I have no idea what model, but it sure is nice.

My, but, that rear rim is awfully far from the seat tube, OTG. Was it built for 27's?

Oldpeddaller

Probably - here's my 1970 Holdsworth Mistral with 700 tubulars - similar situation. They were built like this with mudguard (fender) clearance for British weather and roads!

aixaix 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/2816407...7625472336707/
Here's a Mistral from the mid-1970s I owned for a while.

rootboy 

Ah! makes sense. Thanks.
And SMART. Not enough bikes were built with enough clearance, IMO.

Oldpeddaller

NICE! A little bit newer than mine, the same fork crown and similar colour scheme to otg's - not the same frame, by any chance?

aixaix 

No it isn't. I thought so at first, but the brake bridge is different and the top tube on mine was slightly damaged.

On closer inspection, it could be. The top tube on OTG's might have the same small dent. Can't tell from the photo.

Yup, I think it is. There are many marks that seem identical, such as on the head tube lower right above the down tube lug.

rootboy 

That's kind of weird. Or, maybe not. You get the frame from a forum member, OTG?

I tell you, if that frame had been a few cm's taller I would have been trying to distract
you so I could've thrown it in my truck. Love that color scheme.

otg 

That's creepy! it is the same frame. I checked the top tube, I knew there was a small dent there, and there is a small area just behind it that looks like it has been touched up. Definitely the same frame. I got the frame from a guy named Peter Koskinen, owner of PRKBIKES LLC. He lives in Easthampton CT. I'd be interested in any history you might have on the frame, aixaix. I've been trying to identify it for a while. I guess it's a mid 70's Mistral! Funny thing is, I'm from CT, about 15 miles from the seller, and we both drove to the Trexlertown PA swap last week, where I bought the frame. Here's a picture of the top tube I just took:

and here is the picture from aixaix

Same bike for sure. Spooky.

John E

That was the style well into the 1960s, until tube angles got steeper and stays got shorter.

I really like your Holdsworth!

otg 

Started building it up today, I have to wait for some parts to get here to go much further.

aixaix 

Need calipers? I have the MAFACs that came with it. They have the cute little wingy-thingies for guiding the wheel home. I have no idea what model they are, but I suspect they were made for Peugeot. There's a depression in the outer lever where a label would fit.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/2816407...7625472336707/

PM me if you want 'em.

otg 

Thanks for the offer, but I think I've got the brakes I need for it. If they don't work out, I'll send a PM.

Oldpeddaller

Those are Mafac Competitions - the ones with the 'unobtainium' tiny ball-ended straddle cables! Actually there are one or two pairs of these straddle cables posted on e-bay every now and then, but too expensive for me so I made my own, with bullet ends that fit and work well. I made a mould by drilling and Dremel grinding the shape in the join of two aluminium blocks held in a vice, with a channel to the side to take a section of gear cable with the very tips of the strands splayed. Poured in a tiny amount of molten mixed lead/tin alloy (I make my own fishing weights so have all the kit) and we're back in business. Keep those original straddles safe

23skidoo

I love synchronicity. What's the dog's name, otg? Here's a pic of my unknown model year Mistral I picked up from a forum member a couple years back that's still in the build queue. It's had some mods to the frame including canti posts for 700C wheels and the bb shell has been chamferred to accept a Mavic sealed bb. The paint's not nearly as interesting but id does have a similar ding in the top tube.

otg 

Looks good, that will be real nice when it's finished! Mine didn't have any water bottle bosses when I got it. I took it to a frame builder and had some added. The closest I can come to figuring what mine is is "mid 70's Mistral", and I'm still not sure about that yet. All the ones I've seen pictures of have guides for the rear brake cable housing either on top, like yours, or on the right side of the top tube. The dog is Chuck, my son found him about ten years ago, fed him, and he never left. Good old dog.

otg 

Updating this build, it is probably about 90% finished. I am building this up as a tourer and hoping to retire next year and put many miles on it! This is how it sits today:



Brooks Professional pre softened.


Suntour 7 speed accu-shift barcons.


Suntour derailleurs.


Blackburn rack.


Tektro dual pivot brakes.


I'm hoping to get this one finished before the bad weather gets here and got a few shakedown rides in this year. Thanks for looking.

Oldpeddaller

That's looking really good, Otg! Are those the standard mounting bolts for the Tektro brake callipers, or have you modified an allen-key fitting to accommodate the bolt-through frame mounting points? (The front thread looks rather long). It'll be a brilliant tourer - mine seems to 'float' along.