Early 70s Carlton. Nervex. 531

[AndyMart]

Picked this up yesterday another frame that I've been unable to identify. Frame number is also stamped on the fork which makes me think it was special order. E7163 is the frame number which I believe to be 1970. 2.1kg frame 750g fork. Zeus ends rapid taper stays. Any ideas? It's had paint and parts probably at some point in the 80s.

 

[AndyMart]

Re:

As purchased.

 

[Midlife]

Seat stays are Flyer style; just not meeting in the middle, you could order the flyer with nervex lugs if you didn't fancy the Flyer lugs.

 

[AndyMart]

These special order frames are the most frustrating! I may get strung up if I called it a flyer. But I take your point, it's a full 531 frame nicely finished so not much else it could be really. I plan to add some colour to the head and seat tubes and apply period decals. I'll omit the flyer one though...

 

[AndyMart]

It came from oop north btw, and has Denton cycles decals on the wheels, it may of being purchased 2nd hand there by the previous owner.

 

[AndyMart]

Re:

Then I find what looks to be exactly the same frame on here...

 

[Midlife]

If either of those bikes came into our workshop for repair in the 70's with flyer wraparound and no decals they would have been identified as Carlton Flyer on the work ticket

 

[Wheelnut]

Is the frame number on the rear dropout? It should be on there and on the steerer. An E prefix dates it to late '50s, I believe. D ran from approx 1955 to 1957.

Brass man on bike head badge is another indicator, as I think they changed to alloy later on. An earlier frame should have the 'CC' style badge, although these were often changed by later owners for the newer type.

 

[Spokesmann]

Is the frame number on the rear dropout? It should be on there and on the steerer. An E prefix dates it to late '50s, I believe. D ran from approx 1955 to 1957.

Brass man on bike head badge is another indicator, as I think they changed to alloy later on. An earlier frame should have the 'CC' style badge, although these were often changed by later owners for the newer type.

To confuse things, Carlton used letter prefixes still on higher end machines, in the late 60s/early 70s. The period 68-72 is when it all went a bit tits up, numbering wise.

 

[Wheelnut]

Ah! Didn't know that. My knowledge and interest is with the earlier machines.

I have been looking for an early Flyer in 24in for a while. Found one at Ripley last month with an A prefix (pre war) and bought it, but had to return it to the buyer as I found the top tube was bent near the head, as it had been crashed. The search continues.