Steel fork question

[sawston_vulcan]

I have some steel forks that look very nice but no decal to identify it....It came to the UK from the Netherlands and was sold to a fellow forum member by rih. It has chromed but unbranded dropouts. It has a lovely fork crown which is very thin and looks like a Batavus forks, it has no tang on the inner legs of the forks but unlike most 531 or columbus steel forks these weigh 857g but. it does not have a massive steerer [188mm]..why is it so heavy [relatively speaking]....any ideas as to what tubing the forks are made from? Link to the forks is below:

The second pic shows the fork crown quite clearly.....and they are definitely not Gazelle forks.....any help in identifying either the fork or the tubing would be much appreciated but it is likely that it is not possible to identify either.....but note i have come across Reynolds 501, 525 and Columbus Aelle forks lighter than these.

 

[daccordimark]

I have a pair of Miyata forks made from HM-1 tubing which weigh 887g. Like yours they have a nice slim crown and un-branded dropouts but it does say Tange - Made in Japan on the steerer.

They look good but do seem heavy compared to SL or 531. Perhaps yours are a similar lower grade steel - I assume HM-1 was nothing special.

Mark.

 

[sawston_vulcan]

Mark...They do look good....and about 100-150g heavier than 531 or SL....there are no distinguishing marks anywhere on the forks...or on the steerer....i will sell them but don't want to mislead anyone.....fair to say steel forks of unknown tubing with a weight of 857g in good condition!

 

[pondlife]

i'd recognise that fork crown from a mile away (maybe) it's a personal favorite (sad?)
i have one on a set of Peugeot forks from 1990 775grams 208mm steerer

 

[sawston_vulcan]

i'd recognise that fork crown from a mile away (maybe) it's a personal favorite (sad?)
i have one on a set of Peugeot forks from 1990 775grams 208mm steerer

If you are correct what are your Peugeot forks made from? Only difference is my forks are 857g and 188mm steerer....so...your forks are 82g lighter and your steerer is 20mm longer....so not quite the same.....see, i can match you for being sad!

 

[pondlife]

my frame was/is R531, i never thought the forks were, they wern't stickered anyway. are yours chromed completely?

 

[pondlife]

Bad news
it looks like that fork crown is available 'off the shelf' if you know where to look,
your forks could have been built by anyone with a torch

 

[sawston_vulcan]

Bad news
it looks like that fork crown is available 'off the shelf' if you know where to look,
your forks could have been built by anyone with a torch

Probably made in Belgium/Netherlands and i don't think it is fully chromed as the little chip don't look shiny silver underneath the chip.

Yet the bell like sound when the fork blades are tapped means something or nothing?

 

[Elev12k]

The Batavus Professional uses Cinelli aero crown and Campagnolo ends. The pics are not very informative, but because of the ends it seems we can eliminate option Batavus Professional. If it were a Batavus fork, it would have been a Reynolds one, not Columbus, because of the domed blade ends.

Koga (Full)Pro forks have Miyata FM-1 tubing, own Miyata ends, chrome, engravings on top the crown and no domes. We can eliminate this option.

I don't know what it is, but there are so many options.

 

[AndyPA]

If the fork blade ends where it meets the drop out are domed they are reynolds.
That crown is used by many companies/builders,ive probably brazed a thousand + of them