Here I think I have something really special indeed - just arrived from a well-known dealer. It's Raleigh SBDU SB1452 (H250) which makes in back end of 1976 or early 1977 from what I can find elsewhere on the site. Some cutie pie has over-painted it badly in silver and black but it looks to have been pearl white originally, which is visible in places, with a black seat tube band. The rust spots are superficial and the frame seems sound on first inspection. It has the rather rare 'Capella' style lugs which would have been a special order (hence the H code) and the four slots in the BB shell which was pretty standard for Ilkeston at the time. Also, unusally, it has clearance for mudguards but no eyes. The frame weighs in at a gnats under 1800g and the fork 600g so pretty light for a 56cm square. Dropouts are drilled campag. It's light enough to be 753 I feel but it doesn't seem right. It takes a 27.2 mm seat post (i'd expect 26.8 mm for 753 of this age) and I think I recall reading that the 'capella' lugs were only available for 531 diameter tubing, so quite possibly 531 SL, which came in around 1976 - I'd value your opinions on that. The gold and black Raleigh decal could be original but the heron badge has long gone.
I wanted a cheap-ish beater to go with a Shimano 600 Arabeque group that I had doing nothing but this seems much too nice for that now...
I wanted a cheap-ish beater to go with a Shimano 600 Arabeque group that I had doing nothing but this seems much too nice for that now...