Another frame what is it? 1970s Holdsworth? Mercian? Denton?

[Hillwalker]

Well I landed this frame from eBay this week. Some of you may have seen the listing. Should have bought it last week when it failed to sell at the opening bid :!: . Never mind, I reasoned that anyone prepared to have Argos respray this in a rather complex scheme must have thought the frame was worth it, given the expenditure involved in doing so.

I think the frame details point to a 1970s frame

Here's the details:

Front and rear Campagnolo dropouts
Nutted brake mountings
Takes 27" wheels with fairly tight clearances (couple of centimetres clearance)
Nicely thinned Prugnat(?) lugs
Takes 27.2 seatpost so fairly sure it is 531 (frame is also nice and light)
The 531 decal is under the varnish so applied by Argos (presumably they wouldn't do this unless they were happy the tubing decal is appropriate?)
Serial on BB is 332875; also has a separate 33 marked on BB edge at 90 degrees to serial number wish is stamped across the BB underside
No evidence of drilling for headbadge - might this point to Mercian?

Looking online it seems that the serial no might fit the Holdsworth pattern?

I would welcome views, comments and suggestions.

HW

 

[Midlife]

Re: Another frame what is it? 1970s Holdsworth? Mercian?

Stays look too thick and the fork rake to near the ends of the forks to be a Mercian, not sure about a Holdsworth. They often had wrapover stays for their bikes with no mudguard eyes and then there are the pump pegs.

Looks sort of Carlton ish but there again not really Carlton-ish. Rear end does not look right for Harry Quinn, Bob Jackson, Ellis briggs, Woodrup or MKM.

Is there a makers name on the front mech cable guide on the bottom bracket?

Shaun

 

[Hillwalker]

Re: Another frame what is it? 1970s Holdsworth? Mercian?

Is there a makers name on the front mech cable guide on the bottom bracket?

Shaun

Hi Shaun

Thanks for your thoughts.

I looked at the front mech guide when the frame arrived. There is something there, but unfortunately the paint at that point is a little thickly applied so I can't make it out.

The chunky seat stays sent me down the Mercian route as they look very like the stays on my 1980s Denton (which may be Mercian built). They also led me to the Holdsworth idea too, but I'm not convinced.

HW

 

[Old Ned]

Re: Another frame what is it? 1970s Holdsworth? Mercian?

The '75' in the number could be the year. Those very chunky rear stays were becoming fashionable in the late 70's, I had them on a Dave Russell I had from around that period.

 

[anidel]

Re: Another frame what is it? 1970s Holdsworth? Mercian?

Not sure about Holdsworth either, but I am not an expert. My Holdsworth Mistral seat stays, albeit as chunky, do wrap around a bit:

 

[Hillwalker]

Re: Another frame what is it? 1970s Holdsworth? Mercian?

Not sure about Holdsworth either, but I am not an expert. My Holdsworth Mistral seat stays, albeit as chunky, do wrap around a bit:

Thanks for that shot; very helpful in terms of eliminating possibilities. Can I ask if your frame's serial no is a 6 figure job like mine or not?

HW

 

[anidel]

Re: Another frame what is it? 1970s Holdsworth? Mercian?

Need to find it out and will tell you.

 

[Hillwalker]

Re: Another frame what is it? 1970s Holdsworth? Mercian?

Thanks to all who have posted to help so far. No luck yet (but the search is challenging and enjoyable). I emailed Argos asking them; they replied but they don't keep records. Never mind.

Onwards!

HW

 

[anidel]

Re: Another frame what is it? 1970s Holdsworth? Mercian?

I remembered I had a picture of the serial: U59218

 

[Hillwalker]

Re: Another frame what is it? 1970s Holdsworth? Mercian?

I remembered I had a picture of the serial: U59218

Thanks; that would seem to rule out Holdsworth