Motobecane & Witcombe info needed please...

[scooter]

Hi all, id like to find out some info on these two frames i have please,
One is a motobecane & the other a witcombe.

Does anyone know their ages going by the frame stamps? and which models etc.
Any info greatly appreciated,
Thanks Scott.

 

[torqueless]

Judging mainly from the tubing decals, I'd guess they're both late '70s.
The long number on the Motobecane bracket looks like it might be a post-code?

 

[NeilM]

SO20 is definitely a Hampshire postcode, outside Southampton.

 

[Midlife]

http://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/bu ... tcomb.html

witcombe likely to have been a one off rather that an off the peg jobby with a model name?

Looks like a 70's tourer built with canti brakes........very nice

Shaun

 

[scooter]

Agreed, the Motobecane Stamp is a postcode in Hampshire.
Theres no other stamps i could see anywhere, apart the no 63 and the letter B which looks like its been written into the paint or in the laquer when it was still wet?

The witcombe frame measures 63cm from centre of BB to the top of the seat tube so its a large frame.
I found this on you tube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3did2RUTBc
It would of been good to be able to find the stamp number in their records book to identify the year.
This probably confirms its a custom made aswell - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdtQ6smF0Rw
For someone 6ft plus most prob :xmas-wink:

 

[vcballbat]

Nice witcombe but i notice no mounting eyes for a rear rack :cry: saddlebags were all the rage on club runs in the 70's.

 

[Midlife]

Strange rear Simplex dropout on the Motobecane..........looks like someone has attacked it with a round file ?

Shaun

 

[scooter]

Use the same mudguard eyelets on the rear drops for racks vcballbat . and clamp on bracket up by the seat tube.

& yeah it looks like the Motobecane Rear dropout has been doctored with a file for some reason?

So are these 70's frames then? early or late 70's?

 

[vivelesalpes]

Strange rear Simplex dropout on the Motobecane..........looks like someone has attacked it with a round file ?

Shaun

Yes, as you probably know, Simplex rear dropouts did not have a thread on them because Simplex mechs were attached by and allen key bolt on the inside of the mech and a thread on the mech body acted as the 'nut'. (crap explanation sorry).

To get round this quicky hanger sans thread Huret produced rear mechs with built in hangers. Converseley Simplex produced rear mechs with hangers to use on fixie type frames (which ironically could not be used on frames with simplex dropouts due to this hanger was fabricated to fit under the dropout). (another crap explanation, sorry again)

 

[scooter]

Ok, think i get what you mean, at least that explains the rear drop out alteration.
Thanks