Are eBay prices nuts at the moment?

[Diamant_Don]

Ta Johnsqual! It's a tricky business, this gas pipe identification from photographs business.

Just acquired a lovely 80s Ian May in 531 tubing - it's got forged Tange dropouts (so win on that score), but the seat cluster is pretty plain, the seat stays having flat cutoffs, not wraparounds... so is this half semi-gas pipe?

 

[Johnsqual]

Re:

Ah, no, sorry maybe that photo was confusing, I meant the bit at the very very top of the seat tube where the seat post goes into the seat tube lug.

On better frames, there is a lip at the front and back of the seat tube lug, and the lug curves down around the seatpost at the sides.

On a cheaper or very old frame, the top of the seat post lug is flat where the seatpost goes in the frame (see photo...).

Like I say, I still don't know why this is. Maybe it makes the seat post lug stronger/stiffer at the points where it gets more stress...?

 

[Diamant_Don]

Ah I see what you mean... cheers, it was me I think being stupid back there. :facepalm:

 

[The History Man]

Not always the case though.