what headset for this?

[grogee]

I'm picking this up in a few weeks, I think all I need is a headset.

Don't want to pay £££ for Campag so what would people recommend as a suitable period correct headset?

At a guess it's an early 80s frame, so 1" headset and threaded.

Actually, can anyone tell me the provenance of 'MB' bikes?

 

[David B]

I'm picking this up in a few weeks, I think all I need is a headset.

Don't want to pay £££ for Campag so what would people recommend as a suitable period correct headset?

At a guess it's an early 80s frame, so 1" headset and threaded.

Actually, can anyone tell me the provenance of 'MB' bikes?

Tange (Levin or Passage in chromed steel, and the Falcon in alloy) & Stronglight (alloy A9) both still make good 1" threaded headsets that work well and have the right "retro" look about them.

MB Cycles was based in Dronfield which is in Derbyshire between Chesterfield and Sheffield. I believe the "B" of MB was Vernon Barker who's still trading under his own name. If you want a really thorough restoration job as well as some info on your frame, could be worth getting in touch with him: http://www.vernonbarkercycles.co.uk/contactus.htm

Hope all of the above proves useful.

David

 

[Old Ned]

That is an 'M&B' frame (Middlemiss and Barker) from Dronfield between Sheffield and Chesterfield. You seem to have lost the seat and down tube transfers. There have been other examples on here and the company still exists under the 'Vernon Barker' name. Good frames, ridden by Malcolm Elliott for one in his amateur days, and lots of other good riders in the Sheffield etc. area in the 80's. I had a lovely racing tandem built by them in 1986.

You can get Tange headsets now that are similar to older Campagnolo ones.

EDIT!! - I don't know, how come somebody always beats me to it!!

 

[nammonk]

M and B refer to the surnames of two frame builders --- see http://www.retrobike.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=172161
Dronfield is near Sheffield.

If you don't want to shell out for Campag headset, you could go for a Tange. There's a good chance that this will have had a Campag on originally, and the stack height was quite low on them (check velobase); Tange have similarly low stack height and are still available for reasonable prices at SJS Cycles. I've had quite a few Tange headsets, and my personal experience with them has been uniformly good. They're not flashy, but they look the part for a frame this age as well.

Edit: Old Ned beat me to it again...
Edit 2: Oh yes, missed David's post. Sorry, David wins. At least we're all consistent...

Nick

 

[grogee]

thanks all, very useful. I've dropped an email to Vernon Barker about a respray.

I was looking at Tange Levin headset, seemed like a suitable look at an affordable price.

And it's steel, so less chance of me mucking it up when I come to fit it... :roll:

 

[Midlife]

Another vote for Tange, clean looking and don't stick out as much as something like an EDCO.

Older Tange Falcon's were steel but later ones had alloy cups

http://www.cyclebasket.com/m9b0s400p248 ... d_Headset_

Shaun

 

[David B]

Edit 2: Oh yes, missed David's post. Sorry, David wins. At least we're all consistent...

Nick

Hooray! I win!!

Although I was never sure if the company was referred to MB or M&B (in the latter case, not to be confused with the West Midlands purveyors of god-awful Brew XI bitter).

David

 

[nammonk]

Having lived in Stourbridge briefly (in a Banks' pub), I could quite happily go to my grave never seeing a pint of M&B or Banks' again (2" head and all).
Nick

 

[nammonk]

grogee: if you need someone to take it over to Vernon's, let me know. If I'm not mistaken, the frame is currently in Sheffield (contemplated buying it for my sister but decided she wasn't worth it after all ).
Nick