Frame Identification - I give in :-)

Hi all, I am in need of help identifying a frame and forks.

I know my way around 1980s Raleighs and Carltons but this frame was an impulse buy. I'm happy with the purchase but would like to know more about the manufacturer.

The first thing I do know is that is is "NOT" a Cinelli, sadly.

It does however have Cinelli stamped lugs and a Cinelli Supercourse bottom bracket.

I was informed from the buyer that is made from Reynolds 708 and thats about where the guidance stops. I have seen a few makes associated with the above facts but nothing concrete.

The attached pictures show the key features of the frame and I am hoping someone may recognise the makeup.

Any help is much appreciated

Mark

The seat cluster detailing (especially the flat top seatstay) looks like my Witcomb, but it would be odd if the bottom bracket was Italian.

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That is a name I have not heard of....another one to research, cheers

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If it is 708 it will look like this down the seat tube:



Developed in 1992 by Reynolds, only produced for a few years (I've come across nothing later than 1998 but others may know better). Distinguished by having 8 flats running the lengths of the main tubes, just about visible in the photo (obviously not full length in the seat tube). If you put your fingers inside the main tubes from the BB shell you can just about feel the flats.

Peugeot and Raleigh used it, amongst others. Prized by some tourers but a light frame.

Here's Reynolds brochure of the time (afraid poor quality but if you google around you may find the same image):





In terms of weight, my Peugeot 56 cm frame weighs 1869 g and the forks 689 g. Only recently acquired, still 'renovating' the frame and not sure when will get round to building it up. This tubeset had some good fans but relatively little known.

Good luck.

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Really good information thanks, I had read about 708 and the unique construction but now I will be able to check and confirm either way thanks to your picture.

Peugeot was one of the Manufacturers that popped up in my Googling efforts and there is something about the small bottle bosses that remind me of a classic Peugeot I worked on last year.

I will check the frame when I get back to the workshop .

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The "spoiler" BB shell is certainly an early 90s thing. Is it English or Italian thread? The seatstay caps are very distinctive.

Frame number could indicate a 1991 build.

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Thanks for the input

I thought that the Super Corsa bottom bracket was an early 80s development and the date stamp on the BB indicates 1983 but I may have misinterpreted the numbering format.

Its taking some figuring out for sure.

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Following up on the info provided I have been able to confirm a few more points about the frame.

The inside of the main tubes do have 8 flat sections running longitudinally inside the main tubes so I believe this narrows it down to Reynolds 708 or 731 which in turn points towards a frame built in the 90s.

The bottom bracket is standard UK threading and the seat tube diameter is 26mm.

So the research continues

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Nigel Dean? Right era and he sometimes used 708 and Cinelli lugs.

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If the flats extend up beyond where the bottle cage bolts fit in the seat tube then it is 708 and not 731. Flats for the latter are clearly visible only in the lower part, like this:



It's tricky getting these shots! Fortunately this is of the Bob Jackson, fresh back from BJ, all clean inside and waiting before being built up again.

Hope you can now be certain which frameset this is.

Good luck.