I believe this is the first one presented on the forum
A French classic machine as its best :idea:
I was lucky enough to find it a short while ago in a barn ( hence the dirt !)
First I saw this
then
this
Initially I thought, how can a Rene Herse be out of Reynolds 753
Well , I learned that the tubing went out in 75 or 76 and this machine is 77
The welding was tricky so only "masterbuilders" were given the "goods" by the factory.
« Ti Raleigh would have been the first team to get 753 frames in the mid-70's. The original 753 was very "trick" for the time, and the frames experienced a number of failures. It was also difficult to braze - the original Reynolds certification "test" was taken seriously by framebuilders, and there are anecdotal stories of skilled builders who had been brazing for years building their certification frames in low light to be able to see the flame and control the heat better. Later, Reynolds made some changes that increased the margin for error and durability of 753, and the certification became more of a formality, with much less brazing required to pass the test.”
It was actually welded by the son in law of Rene Herse as Herse himself died in 1976. But he learned the tools of the trade with the "master".
The details are for the most part usual features
- center pull cable stop welded to the seattube
- distinctive Herse pulleys for these calipers
- Specific Herse crankset , who I believe was coming from Specialites TA ( it varied according to the period as Herse engraving is not always the same - sometimes in a rectangle - sometimes in a 'Kydney' , sometimes "alone".
- specific front derailleur hanger with only half of the usual Jubile collar used
- front rack with slots for a battery torchlight I unfortunatly miss
- Back light on battery
Some features are an evolution of the Herse work - such as the fork crown
Heine shows a machine of 1980 which incorporates some evolutions too.
https://janheine.wordpress.com/page/19/
The most amazing is the weight ! Could not believe my brains when I lifted it from the ground !
The machine with the pedals, the heavy brooks saddle, the fenders and front rack, the bottle cage is 9.910 kg :shock:
I played with another french "weightweenie" there
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=308106
but this one is also a success in that regard
Clearly , it was meant to be light, being only built with 2 rings but with a rather small lower chainring for mountain "climbing", no dynamo and a lot of very light parts - such as the Jubilee mechs and finally tubulars on the so fluid Maxi Car hubs.
Later I will tell you the "story" of this nice machine :idea:
Cleaning has started and 30 years of dirt and grime are really painful to eradicate :roll:
but I don't complain too much
A French classic machine as its best :idea:
I was lucky enough to find it a short while ago in a barn ( hence the dirt !)
First I saw this
then
this
Initially I thought, how can a Rene Herse be out of Reynolds 753
Well , I learned that the tubing went out in 75 or 76 and this machine is 77
The welding was tricky so only "masterbuilders" were given the "goods" by the factory.
« Ti Raleigh would have been the first team to get 753 frames in the mid-70's. The original 753 was very "trick" for the time, and the frames experienced a number of failures. It was also difficult to braze - the original Reynolds certification "test" was taken seriously by framebuilders, and there are anecdotal stories of skilled builders who had been brazing for years building their certification frames in low light to be able to see the flame and control the heat better. Later, Reynolds made some changes that increased the margin for error and durability of 753, and the certification became more of a formality, with much less brazing required to pass the test.”
It was actually welded by the son in law of Rene Herse as Herse himself died in 1976. But he learned the tools of the trade with the "master".
The details are for the most part usual features
- center pull cable stop welded to the seattube
- distinctive Herse pulleys for these calipers
- Specific Herse crankset , who I believe was coming from Specialites TA ( it varied according to the period as Herse engraving is not always the same - sometimes in a rectangle - sometimes in a 'Kydney' , sometimes "alone".
- specific front derailleur hanger with only half of the usual Jubile collar used
- front rack with slots for a battery torchlight I unfortunatly miss
- Back light on battery
Some features are an evolution of the Herse work - such as the fork crown
Heine shows a machine of 1980 which incorporates some evolutions too.
https://janheine.wordpress.com/page/19/
The most amazing is the weight ! Could not believe my brains when I lifted it from the ground !
The machine with the pedals, the heavy brooks saddle, the fenders and front rack, the bottle cage is 9.910 kg :shock:
I played with another french "weightweenie" there
viewtopic.php?f=23&t=308106
but this one is also a success in that regard
Clearly , it was meant to be light, being only built with 2 rings but with a rather small lower chainring for mountain "climbing", no dynamo and a lot of very light parts - such as the Jubilee mechs and finally tubulars on the so fluid Maxi Car hubs.
Later I will tell you the "story" of this nice machine :idea:
Cleaning has started and 30 years of dirt and grime are really painful to eradicate :roll:
but I don't complain too much
