One for the Carlton Experts

[BigFoz]

Got a serious case of lust for this, but one small hesitation: it says it's a Pro - but has mudguard eyes. I thought Pros were race only and did not come with eyes? Can one of the Carlton experts comment?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1971-Carlton- ... 234c3efce9

 

[Midlife]

Spokesmann can probably tell you more but doesn't look like any pro I have come across, Damn fine looking frame though.

I'd plump for a late 60's Continental variant ............

Shaun

 

[daccordimark]

Carlton Pros did indeed come with mudguard eyes but this doesn't look like one to me. The ones I've lusted after have the fastback stays and fully sloping internal fork crown.
As Shaun says if Spokesmann comes a visiting he'll put us straight.

Mark.

 

[Midlife]

Ah! happy days 1972 ............you mean this absolute beauty and one to die for (mudguard eyes and all)

and it's stablemate the export Raleigh Pro Mk IV

Shaun

 

[daccordimark]

Well done Shaun, that's the beastie!
A few months back there was a frame only going for 80 quid or something which had been badly resprayed and mis-identified by the sellers. Wish I'd bought it now but I thought I'd never find the matching forks. Alas I can't remember the website I saw it on and their prolific eBay auctions seem to have dried up. They had loads of frames on there at one time.

Mark.

 

[BigFoz]

And of course, if it's not a pro, is it 531? That's a lorra lorra money for a gas pipe frame. The frame number is F8277 which I would expect to have a "W" prefix for Worksop on a Pro? So WF8277 would make sense but not a Pro without the W. Also didn't Pros have slotted BB Shells? My other one does, but does not have mudgard eyes.

 

[Midlife]

Carlton numbers between 1968 and 1972 went a bit pants. In 1973 they got their act together and started the "W" prefix for Worksop.

The F prefix on that frame I think is 1967-68 but that's from memory.

More modern W prefix pros from the later 70's have no mudguard eyes, no chrome (too expensive) oversize Raleigh type seat stay caps, cc cutout or slotted bottom brackets, almost universally in pro team silver and one of the finest frames for the price ever produced. Ninety quid or less back in 1978 ....

Shaun

 

[Midlife]

Hi Mark, yep, I keep a lookout too . There was a Raleigh frame on here that went for a sing yesterday, instead of posting how I thought it was good value I should have bought it and dressed it up as a earlier pro!

There's a blue Raleigh lookalike on USA eBay at the moment but too small!!

Shaun

 

[Midlife]

Quick check and f prefix probably 1971 so with all that Nervex chrome it cold be a very late course de primes or a contre la montre...

Shaun