Need help on a frame identification and age please

[speedthing]

Ok i went to Malvern flea market today and walked away with quite a nice vintage race bike. The chap i got it off reckoned it was Italian but I'm pretty sure its French. Ive looked all over the frame and can't find any manufacture markings apart from Simplex on the rear and front drop outs and no frame number. It does have some very nice lug work with what looks like gold hand painted accents around the edges but no head badge. Any of you bike guru's out there know who built it.

cheers Alun

 

[speedthing]

Its got Loytad pedals Nerver chain set Mafac racer centre pull brakes and levers and Simplex gears and Mavic tubler wheels.

 

[t47b]

Re:

Whilst you wait for the guru...

I think it's French, cos of the three circles blu white and red

The crossover seat stays with the coach lines and a crease - I have seen these on a French bike made by St Etienne.

 

[speedthing]

Well thank you for replying Sir
I will look them up on google and see if i can find anything out. I have done a search and did find very similar lug work on bikes made by Lejeune but didn't find any pics of ones with hand painted accents around the lugs. Also anyone ever seen that sticker on the seat tube on any other frames?

cheers Al

 

[t47b]

Re:

The St etienne frame I had in mind..

 

[speedthing]

Wow thanks for the pic that looks almost identical do you know any more about them? do they have any more identifying marks on the frame mine has no frame number and no other stickers on the frame apart from the one on the seat tube. But i have noticed that there was a sticker that was just under the simplex shifters and it sat on top of the down tube you can see the out line of where it used to be. it was about 13cm in length 3cm in width and had round ends.

Thanks for the help

 

[speedthing]

I don't think its anything exotic ive checked the seat tube and its about 25-25.2 so not Reynolds but it is a very nice bike it rides really nicely and has quite crisp handling. I thinks its very late 60's or very early 70's from what i can make out i only payed £60 for it. ;-)

 

[daccordimark]

Yes, with all those French components on I'd say you're right. The brazing doesn't look particularly good especially around the top head tube lug which could support your theory about not being exotic but it does look like a pretty decent bike.

You'll have to strip the bottom bracket out or measure the steerer to know if it's French for sure I guess. I think it's a rare frame indeed that was made with French threading outside of France.

It's a handsome beastie and well worth your £60.

Mark.

 

[speedthing]

Thanks Mark i just think its a real honest untouched bike real time warp stuff the main reason i bought it was that it fits me quite nicely its a 20.5 inch frame. The guy i got it off was saying how its Reynolds 531 tubing and its a nice Italian frame etc etc. I was thinking here we go how much is he going to hit me for when he said £70 and its yours. Well i had to knock him down LOL. The tyres look to be original they are Wolber Strada 80's they still have loads of grip left on them don't look like they've done more than a 100 miles from new.

 

[speedthing]

But i don't think that bar tape is original looks a lot later. Forgot to say the stem is 22mm Vive La France LOL.