what frame is this?

[Archieboy]

has anyone got any idea who or what this frame is?

[Brucey]

the rear brake cable routing is to allow a nicer run to a centre-pull brake (eg mafac) provided you are happy to drill the seat pin and not move it again. I don't remember who did frames like this, someone might know or then again it might have been a later modification.

The BB shell looks like a Nervex one, a bit like this



so the long number is the angle information on the BB shell, and the three digit number is the frame number, with a (presumably later) hole drilled through it.

Whoever made that frame it is clearly not a dirt-cheap one judging from the seat lug ears. Head tube, dropouts, braze-ons etc may give more clues, but it would be difficult to see the most beautiful frame ever beneath those ghastly scuds of thick paint.

Occasionally you will find the original head badge rivet holes in the head tube, or even an original head transfer beneath the paint. The blue paint looks like household gloss in which case it may come off with a heat gun leaving what is behind it largely intact, which may give you a chance of finding transfers. The head badge rivet hole spacing can sometimes narrow the range of possible makers if not identify a maker quite accurately.

cheers

[Cyril Haearn]

More pictures please, general view, lugs, dropouts

[Ugly]

Back in the 70s a pal of mine had a Grandini frame, built by Youngs of Lewisham, with similar routing for the rear centre pull brake. It wasn't new then in fact it was his fixed wheel winter hack.

[Archieboy]

More pictures please, general view, lugs, dropouts

[Brucey]

Back in the 70s a pal of mine had a Grandini frame, built by Youngs of Lewisham, with similar routing for the rear centre pull brake. It wasn't new then in fact it was his fixed wheel winter hack.

nice write-up on those here;

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/youngs-builders.html

but unfortunately no pictures of the same cable routing

more here about 'Bill' Philbrook

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/builders/philbrook-clarke-builders.html

the rear dropouts on the mystery frame look like they might be one-offs from the same hand?

cheers

[PT1029]

I recall Cycletouring had a review of a bike with the rear brake cable going through the seat tube/seat post. The name Shotton comes to mind, but I might be wrong on this.
A neat design in some respects, but a pain to move your saddle 2 or 3mm though!

[wirral_cyclist]

I recall Cycletouring had a review of a bike with the rear brake cable going through the seat tube/seat post. The name Shotton comes to mind, but I might be wrong on this.
A neat design in some respects, but a pain to move your saddle 2 or 3mm though!

I'd doubt a slightly longer 'slot' of a couple of mm would make much odds strength wise?

[tatanab]

I recall Cycletouring had a review of a bike with the rear brake cable going through the seat tube/seat post. The name Shotton comes to mind, but I might be wrong on this.
A neat design in some respects, but a pain to move your saddle 2 or 3mm though!

I doubt it was Dan Shotton. He built for only a few years in the early 80s from a very small workshop in Bristol. He was quite innovative with a willingness to try almost anything. Since it was such a small operation with a small turnover I doubt one appeared in Cycletouring. Obviously I was a fan of his work.

[Archieboy]

been given this by the previous owner he says it was in the frame when he got it

[Brucey]

that is what you would expect to find if the brake cable routing is to work as intended.

cheers

[Archieboy]

scrapping some paint off uncovered lots of layers of paint but what seems like a green and white bike

[iandusud]

Something not right with the headset.

[Archieboy]

Something not right with the headset.

in what way?