Strange frame

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone out there could give me some information on a frame I have knocking around in me shed. All I know is it's old, the lugs dating it to the late 40s/early 50s, yet the sketchy info I got off the guy who originally had the bike said it dated from the 70s. Any help would be appreciated as I am planning to respray this frame up, ideally in original colours if possible.

http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8585887/
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8585888/
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8586602/
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8586607/
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8586611/
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8586614/
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8586617/

Storm

It doesn't look 40's or 50's to my eye. The angles aren't shallow enough - on most bikes since the 60's the seat tube and headstock have been very upright. On earlier bikes they were much more laid down. I'd say there's not enough curve in the fork either. Older frames used to have much longer headstocks as well. The rear drop-outs also look too modern. No braze-ons so it's not 80's. Probably would have had a steel stem in the 40's and 50's, not an alloy one, and probably no chrome for a 40's one. I think it's more likely to be a 70's frame, maybe very early 80's.

The lugs say it's a better quality frame. To say more about it you need to measure a few things. Measure the size of the seatpost. If it's 25.4mm then it's normal steel; 26-26.4mm then it's something like Reynolds 501; 27-27.2mm and it's Reynolds 531 or maybe a Columbus grade. The frame weight will also give it away. If it's around 2.5kg then it's almost certainly Reynolds 531 and the other grades are a bit heavier.

Can't tell from the photo - what's the number on the bottom of the bottom bracket shell?

Looks late 50's perhaps 60's, but standard quantity produced frame, I don't
think the makers would have used light tubing, check the seat pillar size as suggested, and look down the seat tube for an elecric weld seam.
Could have been made by Sun about when they were dying.

A bit of a cunundrum...........frame looks 60's or earlier looking at the lugs and seat stays. Forks look 70's or later because of the fork rake.

Shaun

Shaun, I saw the fork rake, about 2.25 inches, perhaps before the law on pedal to front wheel clearance which made all those mass produced raleigh Carltons we get on here so ungainly compared to continental bikes of the age. Also the cheap pressed crown looks right for the frame.
Keith

Don't forget the coke trick. I did it yesterday. Handlebars upside down on a bucket and pour the coke down . Make sure stem is completely loosen off, yes the coke pours through but just block it first with tape and keep topping up so bottom of stem is always submerged. Takes a few hours but once it moves it moves.

Thanks guys, I'll have a look at the bb shell shortly, nd I've never tried the coke trick, I guess the cheaper the coke, the better? I've since found out the lugs are Nervex and date from the late 40s/early 50s, this style going oit in 1955 when the horns were dropped in favour of a fishtail in the middle.

Frame number by the way is 71511, no lettering or other numbers and it is orientated across the underside of the BB shell