Help identifying this Elswick Hopper Frame

Peuf · Jul 1, 2017

Hello everyone !

I bought this frame on ebay and got extremely lucky as I was the only bidder. It is an Elswick Hopper frame and I don't have much info about it. I could find some pictures online but can't date the frame. The Reynold sticker was used on years 1977-1982 according to http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/co ... story.html.

It has Shimano LF ? dropouts, and on the frame you can find E0 and the number 1 on the bottom bracket. What does that mean ? Any ideas ?

Link to the gallery with pictures here:
https://imgur.com/gallery/qa1yR

Thanks !

Midlife · Jul 2, 2017

Lugs are Crespera so that's Raleigh / Carlton , Haden made some Crespera copies which tended to appear on Mercian frames but that would be numbered under the BB. Can't see it being an Elswick.

Looks like a Carlton that would originally have had the frame number on the rear dropouts which have been replaced. Usually for a bent hanger.

Carlton did flog off sets of lugs when they closed but that's a wild card.

Peuf · Jul 2, 2017

Hey Midlife, thanks for your response !
I've seen a lot of Raleigh/Carlton with the same lugs so it would make sense but are you sure that Elswick never used those lugs ?

So a Carlton frame that has been resprayed and rebranded as an Elswick ? The decals looks pretty used on the frame.
If this is true I guess I can't really trust the Reynold sticker either :/

Are you sure Elswick never used any lugs like this ?
I've seen this old gumtree ad which have a bike quite similar (Elswick Torpedo as it said)
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/vint ... 1142838893

Ans also this ad which picture an almost identical frame
https://www.gumtree.com/p/bicycles/vint ... 1165949592

What do you think ?

Cheers

keithglos · Jul 2, 2017

Re:

Looks unused to me, could well be Elswick. Nothing like a Raleigh/Carlton.
Certainly a frame from a mass production facllty. Were Elswick run by The Clements at the time?

My best thought: it could have been supplied to a retailer as a spare part to rebuild an accident damaged bike, but was just buried in a store room. Frames were normally supplied complete with head and bracket set, possibly this was never listed as a frame only.

A bit low end, but OK for £25.

Keith

Peuf · Jul 2, 2017

Thanks Keith for your response, I quite like your thoughts, this would make sense and join the Midlife comment.

Still happy with the frame and I am gonna build something cool with it

Peuf · Apr 17, 2018

Re:

A bit late on this but here is a picture of the bike I've built with this frame:

Help identifying this Elswick Hopper Frame

Peuf

Dirt Disciple

Midlife

Retro Wizard

Peuf

Dirt Disciple

keithglos

Senior Retro Guru

Peuf

Dirt Disciple

Peuf

Dirt Disciple

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