This thread features not one but two Dave Quinn mountain bikes, one that came to me as a 531 frame to which I've added bits. The other came to me as Karma courtesy of top man Andy (@KondratievsBike).
DQ1 was a very rusty frameset. A lockdown project inspired by a few threads featuring Dawes Rangers and the like. It featured in this brief thread (https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/anyone-know-anything-about-1980s-dave-quinn-mtb-frames.430748/) as I tried to work out who’d made it for Dave Quinn’s shop in Chester, based on the frame number DD342.
@Gtpulse suggested the frame number could point towards Rick Powell. After some further research, this looks likely. DD was ‘DD Enterprises’. Rick built frames under this banner after working at Carlton from the 1950s until 1981, including with Gerald O'Donovan, with DD then in operation from 1981 until 2003 (http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/Powell_Rick.htm).
Though I've not heard of DD Enterprises building MTB frames, the two small Ds on the frame number are consistent with Rick's frames. If it is, based on dated numbers (DD200=1985; DD207 = 1986; DD823 = sometime after 1989), this puts it 1986 at earliest. The oversized seat stay caps also have a very Raleigh SDBU look about them and are similar to other DD frames.
These threads were my reference points.
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/rick-powell-giant-cyclocross.402205/https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/vintage-rick-powell-frame-columbus-sl-campagnolo-sold.352871/https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...rame-marker-model-please.391011/#post-2893087https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/rick-powell-531c.372270/
DQ1 was a very rusty frameset. A lockdown project inspired by a few threads featuring Dawes Rangers and the like. It featured in this brief thread (https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/anyone-know-anything-about-1980s-dave-quinn-mtb-frames.430748/) as I tried to work out who’d made it for Dave Quinn’s shop in Chester, based on the frame number DD342.
@Gtpulse suggested the frame number could point towards Rick Powell. After some further research, this looks likely. DD was ‘DD Enterprises’. Rick built frames under this banner after working at Carlton from the 1950s until 1981, including with Gerald O'Donovan, with DD then in operation from 1981 until 2003 (http://www.classicrendezvous.com/British_isles/Powell_Rick.htm).
Though I've not heard of DD Enterprises building MTB frames, the two small Ds on the frame number are consistent with Rick's frames. If it is, based on dated numbers (DD200=1985; DD207 = 1986; DD823 = sometime after 1989), this puts it 1986 at earliest. The oversized seat stay caps also have a very Raleigh SDBU look about them and are similar to other DD frames.
These threads were my reference points.
https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/rick-powell-giant-cyclocross.402205/https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/vintage-rick-powell-frame-columbus-sl-campagnolo-sold.352871/https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads...rame-marker-model-please.391011/#post-2893087https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/rick-powell-531c.372270/