can anyone provide info on this ?carlton frame

[riddim-track]

Hi everyone,

Don't get on here much these days since the arrival of second child but just hoping you guys can shed a bit of light on this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/151909898661? ... 1436.l2649

I'm looking for a cheap steel frame for a winter fixed gear conversion and stumbled across this, don't really know much about carlton, my initial thoughts are that it looks a bit gas pipe but there's something about it I like.

 

[Midlife]

Wrapround seat stays and what look like Crespera lugs makes it a Carlton, likely from the early 70's as that's when the Crespera lugs were commonplace.

Tubing will be Tru-Well, not 531 but there again certainly not gas-pipe. The forks don't look right, the rake looks a little wrong for a Carlton and it should have a lamp boss if it was a 70's era carlton.

Seat post shouldn't be 27.2, Tru-Well was a bit thicker than 531 so the seat post diameter was less. 26.8mm rings a bell.

£20 would be my starting point?

Cheers

Shaun

 

[Midlife]

Just had a look on a different screen and I can see the outline of the lamp boss and the crown and It looks like it belongs, as a bit more to the 20 quid

Shaun

 

[riddim-track]

Hi Shaun, thanks for the info, I'm going to get in touch with the seller and ask for a couple of close ups, the fact it doesn't appear to have any bosses for mechs and levers appeals as a fixed conversion it's also perfect size for me (if measured correctly). However I'm a bit concerned about the possible weight of it living in a hilly area, not heard of the tube set before, any idea how it would compare. Also would I be right in guessing the rear spacing as 126mm or less?

 

[riddim-track]

Sorry another q, is it likely to take allen bolt brakes? I'd ask the seller but just noticed there's no question facility on the listing page.

 

[Spokesmann]

A nice, but pretty standard 70s frame. no later than 77.

 

[Midlife]

The brakes will be 100% nutted and not allen key. Rear spacing will be 120mm standard 5 speed and there will be no bosses for a gear lever or a gear hanger.

I raced a chrome version of that frame (Cobra) back in the early 1970's so no heavyweight. Tru-Well is nice tubing for a mass manufactured frame

Shaun

 

[riddim-track]

Nice one shaun, yeah I should have guessed about the brakes from the age really, pity I've only got modern shallow drop allen bolt brakes here, something else for the shopping list.

Cheers for the other info, it seems pretty well suited for a fixed/ss conversion

 

[keithglos]

Re:

You should get the headset and bracket set, they are 26 TPI, Raleigh size.
Alternative arrangements for the bottom bracket are possible.

Better by far to get a complete bike. Someone has sold off the bits that you will need to buy and it will make the bike expensive.

Keith

 

[riddim-track]

Re: Re:

You should get the headset and bracket set, they are 26 TPI, Raleigh size.
Alternative arrangements for the bottom bracket are possible.

Better by far to get a complete bike. Someone has sold off the bits that you will need to buy and it will make the bike expensive.

Keith

Mmm yeah, I guess there's pros and cons here to weigh up, I've no experience with anything older than mid 80s so a cheap winter build might end up being an expensive learning curve. Also given I've got parts here suitable for a later frame is making me think twice. There's a few 80s-90s 531 frames on ebay which I've an eye on so might be better with one of them.

So would it be fair to say I'll need:
a non 27.2mm seatpost, BB, HS, nutted brakes... anything else obvious?

Thanks for the tips so far