Mystery Ebay Purchase Help Wanted With Serial Number V8813

[Bananasplit]

Hi good afternoon guys, just wandering if you can help me out with a bike frames true identity?
It was bought on eBay, as they usually are, with poor pictures and no maker description.
The frame number on the bottom reads V8813, which I think maybe either an Argos built frame or a Condor?
Any help from the masters of all things retro would be great.
Cheers Ant

 

[lastpubrunner]

I don't know who built it, but it looks a very classy frame; it shares certain features (stays) with my Raleigh SBDU frame, which you can see on his page :

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=138231&start=10

Your serial number is not one that I can ascribe to a particular frame builder, but hopefully someone will be able to help you.

Don't you know the weight of the frame and forks ?

 

[Cefnbikie]

In the 1960s and 70s Condor frames that had identification starting with a V indicated that they were built by Vic Edwards. Back then, the last two numbers of the frame number was the last part of the year the frame was built. For example, my Condor Baracchi has a frame identification V469, indicating that it was the 4th frame built by Vic Edwards in 1969.

It is pure conjecture on my part, but I wonder whether Condor may have changed their frame numbering around, so that yours was the 13th frame built in 1988 by Vic Edwards (I am assuming that Vic Edwards was still building frames then). The frame has a look of a Condor, particularly the shot-in seat stays, although I have only seen that feature on the lugless Baracchi.

Apparently, Condor have kept no records of their earlier frames, but e-mailing some pics to them could hopefully shed some light on whether your frame is a Condor. Even if it isn’t a Condor, it is a lovely frame.

 

[Midlife]

Nice looking frame . Forks look a little out of place, are the dropouts front and rear matching?

Shaun

 

[Bananasplit]

Re:

Hi good morning guys, thanks for the input.
I'am 99.9 sure this could be an Argos build, as the frame is virtually identical to my "84" 753 TT bike
The serial numbers are very similar, 8428 on the 753 as apposed to be mystery framed 8813
The only real difference between the two, is the rear drop outs which leads me to believe the mystery frame could be 531, i'll get some pictures of both frames over the weekend in better light.
Cheers Ant.

 

[Bananasplit]

Re:

The forks on the 753 are also the same as those on the mystery frame, again isn't concrete but leads me to Argos.
I have emailed them with some images and the frame number, so fingers crossed they reply.