james_from_stoke
Retro Guru
Hello...
I'm new on here - thought it might be a good place to learn a bit.
On Friday I bought a 'NEW' bike, but I really don't know much about it.
The frame is a Townsend Proteus, in a fetching shade of purple, with 6Speed Shimano SIS and vuelta (?) wheels.
Now, I found it on my cycling club forum advertised by the neighbour of the man who wanted to sell it. Apparently the man (in his 80s) was given the bike by a relative (second hand?) and used it to ride to work in 1978. Now, when I went to collect it, the man wasn't there, only his wife, so I didn't get to ask any questions about the history of the bike. Not that I was complaining. £30!
There are a few things here that don't add up. The frame must be at least <1978, if his memory is correct, but shimano SIS came out in '84 (wikipedia). The frame branding mentions quite clearly that it has Shimano SIS (must have been quite revolutionary as it takes up the whole seat tube), so it wasn't a later upgrade. Also, the wheels have quick release skewers, which I didn't think were around at that time. That and the fact that the braking surface looks pretty good makes me think that maybe the wheels are a later addition, maybe 1990s.
I'm not too fussed about an estimated value or anything - I am quite attached already, but any info on Townsend frames (or why cadbury's purple is a good colour for a bike ;-)) would be much appreciated.
Thanks
James
I'm new on here - thought it might be a good place to learn a bit.
On Friday I bought a 'NEW' bike, but I really don't know much about it.
The frame is a Townsend Proteus, in a fetching shade of purple, with 6Speed Shimano SIS and vuelta (?) wheels.
Now, I found it on my cycling club forum advertised by the neighbour of the man who wanted to sell it. Apparently the man (in his 80s) was given the bike by a relative (second hand?) and used it to ride to work in 1978. Now, when I went to collect it, the man wasn't there, only his wife, so I didn't get to ask any questions about the history of the bike. Not that I was complaining. £30!
There are a few things here that don't add up. The frame must be at least <1978, if his memory is correct, but shimano SIS came out in '84 (wikipedia). The frame branding mentions quite clearly that it has Shimano SIS (must have been quite revolutionary as it takes up the whole seat tube), so it wasn't a later upgrade. Also, the wheels have quick release skewers, which I didn't think were around at that time. That and the fact that the braking surface looks pretty good makes me think that maybe the wheels are a later addition, maybe 1990s.
I'm not too fussed about an estimated value or anything - I am quite attached already, but any info on Townsend frames (or why cadbury's purple is a good colour for a bike ;-)) would be much appreciated.
Thanks
James
