Trek frame builder's marks
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Trek frame builder's marks
Hi all,
I asked this question in the "show your Trek" thread, but didn't get an answer.
I'm wondering if there's a list somewhere of the different marks that framebuilders used at Trek. I believe I've seen JohnDThompson used a Z; are there other marks that we can ID?
My recent acquisition has an F on the BB shell. I sent an email to the vintage trek site, but didn't get an answer.
Anyone know who "F" is?
I asked this question in the "show your Trek" thread, but didn't get an answer.
I'm wondering if there's a list somewhere of the different marks that framebuilders used at Trek. I believe I've seen JohnDThompson used a Z; are there other marks that we can ID?
My recent acquisition has an F on the BB shell. I sent an email to the vintage trek site, but didn't get an answer.
Anyone know who "F" is?
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It's been a long time, but "F" may have been Chris Fiorini. He left Trek around '83 or '84, IIRC, and went to the Paramount shop in Waterford. He may even still work at Waterford.
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My 84 Trek 660 all it has is numbers, no letters at all, but I think in 84 they went into robotic building of the frame and used brass braze instead of silver like they did on the Trek TX900 I originally had, not sure when they stopped hand brazing their frames.
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Resurrecting my own zombie thread.
Came across this Trek bottom bracket recently, which has both an A and a P. Assuming the A stamp is for Apple, what is the P for, and why are there two?
Came across this Trek bottom bracket recently, which has both an A and a P. Assuming the A stamp is for Apple, what is the P for, and why are there two?
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Wow, I'm really glad you revived this thread. I just went out to check my '79 Trek 930 that I picked up a few months ago. Sure enough, it has an 'F' that I never even knew was there. Totally missed it.
Bike in question:
Trek 930 and, point of fact, a 990 behind it
Also, thanks to JohnDThompson for helping field some questions regarding this bike before purchasing. Though far from original, it is being enjoyed and there are plans to return it back to stock Campy NR configuration.
A question for the experts out there: What models typically had these 'makers marks'? It may be easy to assume the 7xx and 9xx series, but any others?
Bike in question:
Trek 930 and, point of fact, a 990 behind it
Also, thanks to JohnDThompson for helping field some questions regarding this bike before purchasing. Though far from original, it is being enjoyed and there are plans to return it back to stock Campy NR configuration.
A question for the experts out there: What models typically had these 'makers marks'? It may be easy to assume the 7xx and 9xx series, but any others?
Last edited by AdventureManCO; 11-11-23 at 12:34 AM.
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While we're on the subject, my 1982 710 has an L above the serial number. Any information would be appreciated. There does not seem to be compilation of marks anywhere so maybe this thread should be it.
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I thought the same; I was surprised there was no comprehensive list on the vintage Trek website.
Never head or seen an L, if you're certain it's not an F for Fiorini.
The marks above are on a 610, so it would seem that builders but them on bikes all the way to the near bottom (unsure about 3xx or 4xx).
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There's a comment on one of the Vintage Trek pages indicating that a list might be in the works, but it does not seem to have come to fruition.
I looked at a bunch of old catalogs and articles - the company liked to publish photos of the framebuilders at work but did not often include names.
The frame was probably made in late 1981 but I believe was sold as 1982 model.
I looked at a bunch of old catalogs and articles - the company liked to publish photos of the framebuilders at work but did not often include names.
The frame was probably made in late 1981 but I believe was sold as 1982 model.
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Wow, I'm really glad you revived this thread. I just went out to check my '79 Trek 930 that I picked up a few months ago. Sure enough, it has an 'F' that I never even knew was there. Totally missed it.
Bike in question:
Trek 930 and, point of fact, a 990 behind it
Also, thanks to JohnDThompson for helping field some questions regarding this bike before purchasing. Though far from original, it is being enjoyed and there are plans to return it back to stock Campy NR configuration.
A question for the experts out there: What models typically had these 'makers marks'? It may be easy to assume the 7xx and 9xx series, but any others?
Bike in question:
Trek 930 and, point of fact, a 990 behind it
Also, thanks to JohnDThompson for helping field some questions regarding this bike before purchasing. Though far from original, it is being enjoyed and there are plans to return it back to stock Campy NR configuration.
A question for the experts out there: What models typically had these 'makers marks'? It may be easy to assume the 7xx and 9xx series, but any others?
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Moved onto the other startup, again two wheels but with badazz v-twins, at Eric Buell.
Buell struggled through the wringer with backing, financial and yanked around by Harley. They eventually closed doors. I don't know beyond that but he ended up at Harley in a lead position. Was at the Madison bike expo swap.
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I would like to also thank you, for reviving this thread. Just went out to check my 77 TX900, there is an A not lined up with the serial number.
Tim
Tim
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Way back in 2010 forum member unterhausen mentioned his mark was EK (or sometimes EEK). If he is still on the forum perhaps he can comment.
Does anyone have a first name for Apple?
Does anyone have a first name for Apple?
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Way back in 2010 forum member unterhausen mentioned his mark was EK (or sometimes EEK). If he is still on the forum perhaps he can comment.
Does anyone have a first name for Apple?
Does anyone have a first name for Apple?
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...rame-info.html
Also I believe I was thinking of the wrong member, who worked at Trek. It was Unterhausen, not CB400Bill, like the poster above mentioned.
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There were 135 Confentes, but only one...Huffente!
There were 135 Confentes, but only one...Huffente!
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I found the names of five framebuilders mentioned on the Vintage Trek website:
Mike Appel
Dick Nolan
John Thompson
Rick Faultersack
Kelly Gamble
Additional names mentioned by John in the thread linked by AMiC:
Joe Starck
Dave Tesch
Chris Fiorini
Mike Appel
Dick Nolan
John Thompson
Rick Faultersack
Kelly Gamble
Additional names mentioned by John in the thread linked by AMiC:
Joe Starck
Dave Tesch
Chris Fiorini
Last edited by albrt; 11-13-23 at 12:42 PM.
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Finally found my photos relevant to this. Of the pre-fastback Treks that have passed through my hands:
* '82 613, no idea, no photos of the BB shell, bike was stolen ca. 1990
* '84 420, Asian contract build with seat-tube serial number, N/A
* '82 710, re-sprayed and re-branded with '84-ish livery, a VERY faint strike of three characters (the thick respray doesn't help), possibly NK3? NR3?
'82 412 with some non-stock build quirks. Couldn't find the maker's strike, but the BB shell indicates a Tim Isaac design (vintage_trek claims the 60TSI is "rare" (shrug)):
His & Hers '82 730s, once again no maker's strike, but these two have the "58TSI" BB shell stamp.
I met Mike Appel a year or so ago; he answered my CL ad selling a seat post. Rode the '82 412 to meet him. Affable fellow; he told me he left Trek in '81 and came back some years later. He didn't know about the vintage_trek site or how the photo of him and Dick Nolan was featured on the home page. I totally spaced on asking him about his more recent frame building work.
* '82 613, no idea, no photos of the BB shell, bike was stolen ca. 1990
* '84 420, Asian contract build with seat-tube serial number, N/A
* '82 710, re-sprayed and re-branded with '84-ish livery, a VERY faint strike of three characters (the thick respray doesn't help), possibly NK3? NR3?
'82 412 with some non-stock build quirks. Couldn't find the maker's strike, but the BB shell indicates a Tim Isaac design (vintage_trek claims the 60TSI is "rare" (shrug)):
His & Hers '82 730s, once again no maker's strike, but these two have the "58TSI" BB shell stamp.
I met Mike Appel a year or so ago; he answered my CL ad selling a seat post. Rode the '82 412 to meet him. Affable fellow; he told me he left Trek in '81 and came back some years later. He didn't know about the vintage_trek site or how the photo of him and Dick Nolan was featured on the home page. I totally spaced on asking him about his more recent frame building work.
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Wow, kinda surprises me that he didn't know about the vintage Trek site. Such a treasure trove of information, but probably info he doesn't need to look up!
Also surprised by how many frames that have come my way with builder's marks compared to yours. Did they send them all to Portland?
Also surprised by how many frames that have come my way with builder's marks compared to yours. Did they send them all to Portland?
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Wow, kinda surprises me that he didn't know about the vintage Trek site. Such a treasure trove of information, but probably info he doesn't need to look up!
Also surprised by how many frames that have come my way with builder's marks compared to yours. Did they send them all to Portland?
Also surprised by how many frames that have come my way with builder's marks compared to yours. Did they send them all to Portland?
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'82 412 with some non-stock build quirks. Couldn't find the maker's strike, but the BB shell indicates a Tim Isaac design (vintage_trek claims the 60TSI is "rare" (shrug)):
His & Hers '82 730s, once again no maker's strike, but these two have the "58TSI" BB shell stamp.
I met Mike Appel a year or so ago; he answered my CL ad selling a seat post. Rode the '82 412 to meet him. Affable fellow; he told me he left Trek in '81 and came back some years later. He didn't know about the vintage_trek site or how the photo of him and Dick Nolan was featured on the home page. I totally spaced on asking him about his more recent frame building work.