billkilpatrick
Dirt Disciple
Is it possible to establish which metallic element or elements were used in manufacturing bicycle frames?
Alloy
- Thread starter billkilpatrick
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Chopper the ex Copper
Alpinestars Fan
With a mass spectrograph, yes.
Alternatively, some frames carry a decal informing us of the type of steel/alloy and Google tells us what the ingredients and proportions within that alloy are.
Alternatively, some frames carry a decal informing us of the type of steel/alloy and Google tells us what the ingredients and proportions within that alloy are.
It's pretty simple to check between steel, aluminium or titanium. Beyond that you need a lab.
For steel frames, it also pretty easy to work out whether it's decent tubing simply by weighing it. But whether it's Cro-Mo or Mn-Mo steel; or the difference between 6/4 and 3/2.5 Ti then no.
For steel frames, it also pretty easy to work out whether it's decent tubing simply by weighing it. But whether it's Cro-Mo or Mn-Mo steel; or the difference between 6/4 and 3/2.5 Ti then no.
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billkilpatrick
Dirt Disciple
That's what I was hoping. There's a number on the frame of this Bianchi I bought recently but I can't find anything online to explain what it means. Only thing I found suggests it (the frame) was made in 1965 but the kid I bought it from said his family bought the bicycle new in the mid-1980's. I've already replaced and upgraded most of what was on the frame so ... the frame's the thing.
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billkilpatrick
Dirt Disciple
I have a Claud Butler road bicycle from (I think) 1961 with a 531 decal on the frame. The Bianchi I bought recently has almost identical parts and it - the Bianchi - feels much lighter.
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frkl
Retro Guru
Just a question as to why the particular metal alloy is important? I am super detail oriented so would understand just needing to know as a legit reason, but it seems like you like the bike a lot and whether it is a or b or c tubing might not be so vital, should it be possible to figure out anyway.
Bianchi of course made lots of high value bikes about which there is a ton of info, but also a lot of mid to lower range ones as well, where there is less. The pics aren't super high res, but it looks like a dropouts are pressed/cut, and the lugs are fairly long. This would indicate a mid range bike. It may be hard to pin down which one.
Have you tried posting a thread like "help me identify my bianchi?" Some high res drive side shots would help.
frkl
Retro Guru
Hey, sorry if my post came across wrong about "mid range" bikes. I have nothing against tham and in fact have and love a "mid range" Bianchi. Couldn't afford a sought-after model even if I wanted to replace it
It's just in my experience there is less motivation out there for people to collect and make available info on these than the bikes that have obvious market value. So that, and the fact that there are usually more kinds of models in this category than the high end stuff, just makes it tougher to research.
billkilpatrick
Dirt Disciple
Understood - no worries. Cost and the "nickability" factor for the more beautifully finished cycles ("nice lugs!") keeps them well out of reach. Plus, there's an egalitarian factor O like about any mass produced item that's well designed, "cheap" and efficient - the peoples cycle. Tech has its appeal but I'm glad I'm not riding around on thousands of pounds of it - monuments to conspicuous consumption.Hey, sorry if my post came across wrong about "mid range" bikes. I have nothing against tham and in fact have and love a "mid range" Bianchi. Couldn't afford a sought-after model even if I wanted to replace it
It's just in my experience there is less motivation out there for people to collect and make available info on these than the bikes that have obvious market value. So that, and the fact that there are usually more kinds of models in this category than the high end stuff, just makes it tougher to research.
frkl
Retro Guru
Very true. I had and unfortunately sold a very mid range Motobecane once. Two things that i really liked about the frame were the inexternal brazing, which was 100% a cost-saving mass production technique before welding took over, so both inexternal and "inartisnal", and the press-cut dropouts. To me they were each an important part of the artifact and pointed to a specific moment in cycling history, where companies were really trying to adapt to a big market and changing manufacturing processes.
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