Mystery Frame

[fullbasement]

Hi, I picked up this bike at the local dump shop, mainly because it was cheap and I wanted the tyres. I have since found out that it is a 27" frame with 700c wheels on it, there is no serial number that I can find and it has been suggested that it might be a Bertin frame, any help to identify the frame is appreciated.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

RGF is the brand of the bottom bracket shell. A nice frame, made for bar end shifters. Is the seat post and handlebar stem free and not seized? Frame looks to be 1960s, possibly 50s but I don't think so. Modern bottom bracket has been fitted which is why the left hand cup sticks out. Edit, needs a lock ring which will cover most but not all of the cup. Modern shell standard is 68mm the older shells ranged from 64-65mm. Put a spacer on the right hand cup when re fitting. Wish our tip sold bike. A nice find with some nice parts.

 

[Canuk]

It's a nice quality frame, RGF well known investment cast bottom bracket. Identifying a frame without decals/badge or a relatively standard serial number is a challenge. But not impossible

Our local dump gives bikes away (they've got an open back van goes round the town once a week collecting) - which is why I never go there!

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

RGF bottom bracket shells are not investment cast.

https://classicrendezvous.com/country-of-origin/france/rgf/

 

[Canuk]

Hi, I picked up this bike at the local dump shop, mainly because it was cheap and I wanted the tyres. I have since found out that it is a 27" frame with 700c wheels on it, there is no serial number that I can find and it has been suggested that it might be a Bertin frame, any help to identify the frame is appreciated.

Having a look at the seat stay caps and the RGF bracket, it does put me in mind of a quality Raleigh from the 1970s (Raleigh used these caps and the brackets on a number of models), which has perhaps been modified later on with braze on additions. Heres the seat stay cap from an Raleigh road frame. What's the frame number?

 

[Canuk]

RGF brackets and Nervex lugs were also a very common feature on French quality frames from 1940s-1970s.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

One thing this bike isn't is a 1970s Raleigh. If it's French then bottom bracket will be french thread, quill stem will be 22.0mm as opposed to the English 22.2mm. Tube size's differ also.

 

[Canuk]

I'm pretty firm on a British bike - there's not a single piece of french equipment on it, and the headset looks a standard Shimano 105, again likely British threaded. It does have the look of a few Flying Scots I've seen (and owned), here's an A registered (1951) Flying Scot with very similar lugs and fork crown, they also used this pattern of seat stay cap and regularly sourced RGF brackets for earlier builds. You'll find the frame number under the bracket and/or behind the fork crown on the nut side