Build #1 and some help ID on old frame

Hi guys, been on here for a month or so and have already bought some parts of a couple of members and its been 100% top notch so far

So this is my first build on here, not done this before other than one on my vw corrado vr6 turbo project on a car forum.

Some history on this frame then.......

It was purchased over 15 years ago by my older brothers friend from our local "specialist" bike shop.

he built it up using good quality components of the day, a mix of xt/xtr/x-lite/middleburn
Then he got injured and it sat in his shed for a year or so and he sold off some of the major parts until I convinced him to part with it as I was getting into my MTBing quite a bit at the tender age of 15

Anyway, fast forward quite a few years and after selling the bike,buying it back and selling it then buying it back again then stripping it for the parts it sat in the back of my shed for a long while unloved......

Well here we are today and I know where im going with the rebuild, but I have 1 confession...

The make :facepalm:

So heres some pictures and maybe someone will be able to shed some light











So theres the naff phone pictures so far, despite the condition it is sound with no dents or cracks.
Im looking to get it striped and powder coated, but don't think I am going to be able to get the paint style matched.

Anyway, thoughts, ideas, info all welcome

Townsend Oberon, they came in red and black, and blue and black, they may have shared the same name, my memory fades regardless the frames were identical.. This same frame was used by many.

I have to be honest, you would have a far superior build and ride quality from the frameset in the picture behind.

My thoughts exactly,I too would build the Orange,and put the Townsend frame back into storage.
Claud Butler used similar frames for some of their early alloy mountain bikes,as they are part of the same group of companies.

Interesting, didn't think it was a townsend frame, umm well I'm going to keep on with it due to the years I have had it, its lasted this long I guess!

With regards the orange frame in the back ground, that's my other build, keep your eyes open, it may be a love/hate ;-)

Give it a basic build with STX or similar

Been thinking about this, and now I have a name/make I did a bit of googling, found a thread on the same frame but diferent colour posted on here a few months back.

To be honest its not a bad frame, and if you put into context the age, (92-94ish) and the amount of use and abuse its had over the years, its still straight,dent and crack free, unlike some other massively expensive retro dream machines out there that suffer cracks at various points on the frames (KLIEN to name but one)

So im going to hold off stripping the paint job and build it back up using parts I have or bargain bits I can pick up.
I know its not going to be worth a fortune so not going to spend a fortune, just have fun with it to re live some memories :mrgreen:

unit3":2qmqcyd2 said:

Been thinking about this, and now I have a name/make I did a bit of googling, found a thread on the same frame but diferent colour posted on here a few months back.

To be honest its not a bad frame, and if you put into context the age, (92-94ish) and the amount of use and abuse its had over the years, its still straight,dent and crack free, unlike some other massively expensive retro dream machines out there that suffer cracks at various points on the frames (KLIEN to name but one)

So im going to hold off stripping the paint job and build it back up using parts I have or bargain bits I can pick up.
I know its not going to be worth a fortune so not going to spend a fortune, just have fun with it to re live some memories :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

It came in many guises as has been previously suggested, Coventry Eagle, Townsend, Al carter, British Eagle etc.

They were actually sold with different varying specs right down to Shimano GS models. They were also sold Unbadged from retail price points from £49.95 to anything up to £175 dependant on the how much the dealer felt he could achieve.

I appreciate you "keeping it in Context" point of view, but with respect your comparison is a little unfair, given the Tube manipulation and lengths brands like Klein went to, to benefit the rider with advantages such as reduced weight, and ride feel/characteristics.

Low grade plain guage aluminium these Brands were not, and to be fair to them..... at the upper echelons you are taking about, at the time they weren't Expected to last more than a certain period of time given there actual intended use. (predominantly the XC racing and cross country enduro.)

You have had it a while, so I can appreciate your sentimental value, and I think you are doing the right thing in building it as you have suggested, eventually I suspect "IF" used in anger/or the gears are not adjusted correctly you will inevitably damage the NON replaceable rear gear hanger.

I think the best advice you could be given right now, is to use this frame as a spring board, use it as a base and use retro bike at its best.
There are plenty of members using aluminium, and many many frames can be bought for not much money.
Experiment try some new frames, a basic klein Pulse for Example can be bought for as little as £50.00 and whilst it may be under the Trek banner, it will still have a Gradient frame with a Chehalis made rear end, and im confident it will surprise you if you decide to take this sort of Journey.

What have you got to loose...?

Think there may have been a slight missunderstanding over the comparison thing, I ment more for the price it was in when new, its lasted well I think

trust me I would like very much a klien but I need to finish this and the others I have in the shed at the mo (orange c16r and GT lts)

I will start a build log on them shortly :mrgreen: