a good quality unknown vintage bike

[capella lugs]

My friend Mike bought this bike (hey that rhymes !) about a year or so ago. It came through an online auction site, so there was no chance to question the previous owner. Both he and I have spent hours and hours online trying to match the various lugs, attachments , profiles etc - so far without success !
I have linked some images, but would also add that the bike is very light, and the frame feels quick in the steering (almost 'twitchy' ) , - the seat stays are very thin, and as seen, it has Nervex lugs, fairly unusual 'caps' at the top end of the seat stays, and a little 'roller wheel' for the rear derailleur cable (maybe this makes it 50's ?)
Any info would be gratefully received.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/99752202@N ... otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99752202@N ... otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99752202@N ... otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99752202@N ... otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99752202@N ... otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99752202@N ... otostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99752202@N ... /lightbox/

Cheers
Julian

 

[oonaff]

hi, i could not help noticing the way the seat stay is spear pointed ,could be common. i saw it on a pic of one
1949 hill special but the lugs etc are not the same.

 

[oonaff]

mm its good isnt it ! [ thumb twiddling and low toned whistling] mm prhaps i should be riding m bike ?

 

[capella lugs]

:roll: - Very good - anyway - on with 'the quest ' - any suggestions, leads, whatever - gratefully received ! Cheers

 

[oonaff]

Hi i would contact a few other sites as well . if you get two or three matching id's then you will know for certain.
classic rondezvous , or hilary stone are your best bets. there are some sites on google that use combinations of the words lightweights, classic, vintage steel. no bother to try them as well as london
fixed gear and single speed... some one there is building a rather nice bates at the mo.
i would love to restore a bike like yours one day. quite a few frame id requests become non concluded
but yours looks like it has a lot of clues and please do an update on this thread when its concluded :|

 

[keithglos]

My best guess is very early 1950s. Looks like the Campagnolo rear end from 1951 with a bit filed off, the gear hanger is further forward. Very early for Campagnolo, must have been a class frame, well finished metalwork.
The seat stay top eyes make it look earlier.
Must be numerous builders who could have done it, Rotrax perhaps?
Keith

 

[capella lugs]

Thanks for that Keith - thats a make I hadn't followed - but have had a look at the Rotrax material on Hillary Stone , and Classic rendezvous - its possible it is a Rotrax , but the Nervex Lugs I see there aren't a match - and similarly cant see any of those those "bullet ends" on the seat stays, - But, Rotrax appear to have made quite few different models- so Rotrax cant be ruled out. I appreciate the info. Cheers

 

[oonaff]

i would contact hilary stone and rotrax and email more pics [inc bb shell]
those seat stay ends are a clue . its a delight there is 0 rust but a bike ith no maker's name is like a man with no soul theres got to be an identicle one out there even if hilary says' it looks like a' that could be the link you need.

 

[oonaff]

another good site to email photo's off for id ing is' classic lightweights uk'

 

[capella lugs]

Okay thanks for that - In the next few days , I'll get a photograph of the Bottom Bracket , and post it here with the others as well as giving classic lightweights a go. Cheers