chickendrumsticks
Senior Retro Guru
I think it's definitely an early frame, assuming it is a Viking, not one of the NI jobbies.
A Viking or not a Viking?
- Thread starter sjcprojects
- Start date
sjcprojects
Orange 🍊 Fan
I keep going back and forth in age with this, but looking at this (apparently) 1954 frame:
it does share the most features - no bottle cage bosses, same cable guides including the same style on the chainstay - and also no pump pegs or shifter bosses, which later ones tended to have. It would be exciting if it was from the 50s, as that would make it the oldest frame I own.
it does share the most features - no bottle cage bosses, same cable guides including the same style on the chainstay - and also no pump pegs or shifter bosses, which later ones tended to have. It would be exciting if it was from the 50s, as that would make it the oldest frame I own.
juvela
Old School Hero
Yes, confusingly, that is true. But the vertical spacing between the two is exactly right.
Also, with the frame number I wonder if it's a very faint letter 'L' before the numbers, which could make it one of the frames built in NI when Viking changed ownership, so after 1967. That makes more sense. I think...maybe...
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I also thought might be seeing a character there off to the left of the numerals.
Your eyes the ones on the scene.
Reassuring to think was not hallucinating.
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bikeworkshop
Old School Grand Master
sjcprojects
Orange 🍊 Fan
It’s got to be worth at least £3K!
sjcprojects
Orange 🍊 Fan
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I also thought might be seeing a character there off to the left of the numerals.
Your eyes the ones on the scene.
Reassuring to think was not hallucinating.
I’ll remove a bit more paint and take another look. Not that it will necessarily prove anything one way or another, mind you…
chickendrumsticks
Senior Retro Guru
Reverso Pic.
sjcprojects
Orange 🍊 Fan
Well, I think that could be a very faint '1' before the 0 - and from what I can tell, a 105593 serial would mean around 1961. The head badge with the same hole spacing as mine only started use in 1960, so it would have to be from after then, anyway (presuming it is a Viking).
I'll see if I can get a more definite date from the Viking FB group. This was definitely at one point someone's pride and joy, having been updated with quality parts through the years, like the more modern Cinelli bars and stem, and a Brooks Professional Select saddle (sadly with a rivet head pretty much gone, and generally looking sad, but I will try and restore it to some extent). The wheels were those pretty common (but still rather nice) Normandy high flange hubs with Rigida rims.
This will get restored at some point, but not for quite a few years, I would think. I have a soft spot for classic British bikes, and this one definitely fits the bill – in the early 60s it was the top of the Viking range, as I understand.
I'll see if I can get a more definite date from the Viking FB group. This was definitely at one point someone's pride and joy, having been updated with quality parts through the years, like the more modern Cinelli bars and stem, and a Brooks Professional Select saddle (sadly with a rivet head pretty much gone, and generally looking sad, but I will try and restore it to some extent). The wheels were those pretty common (but still rather nice) Normandy high flange hubs with Rigida rims.
This will get restored at some point, but not for quite a few years, I would think. I have a soft spot for classic British bikes, and this one definitely fits the bill – in the early 60s it was the top of the Viking range, as I understand.
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