My 50's Flyer doesn't have top tube cable stops for rear brake.
Badge looks like its been chromed over. Good spot.
It has Italian-style lugs, so may help on which model it is. These became more common in the mid-late 60's afaik.
Carlton Chrome Frame query
- Thread starter winjohn
- Start date
My 50's Flyer doesn't have top tube cable stops for rear brake.
Badge looks like its been chromed over. Good spot.
It has Italian-style lugs, so may help on which model it is. These became more common in the mid-late 60's afaik.
F prefix places this at about 1959.
Thanks for all the replies. There seems to be some debate around the age but I think I have solved the puzzle on that question.
I found this website.
http://carltoncycles.uk/dating-carltons-frame-numbers/Which indeed gives the "F" prefix with four digits as used in 1957/8 BUT this was stamped on the rear drop out.
The website then gives this info:
1966 – 1973 High-End Lightweight Numbering System
A new number system was introduced in 1968 for the Mass Production of bicycles. From 1966 the existing system remained for the high-end frames such as Reynolds 531, with an alphabetical character placed at the beginning of the serial number, followed by four sequential serial numbers. The characters were marked on the underside of the bottom bracket or, in the case of some track frames, on the left (non-drive) side rear dropout. Often the numbers included the additional custom order number for bespoke frames.
So it would seem that this is a 1971, high end lightweight frame. I assume that means Reynolds 531.
Any thoughts?
I found this website.
http://carltoncycles.uk/dating-carltons-frame-numbers/Which indeed gives the "F" prefix with four digits as used in 1957/8 BUT this was stamped on the rear drop out.
The website then gives this info:
1966 – 1973 High-End Lightweight Numbering System
A new number system was introduced in 1968 for the Mass Production of bicycles. From 1966 the existing system remained for the high-end frames such as Reynolds 531, with an alphabetical character placed at the beginning of the serial number, followed by four sequential serial numbers. The characters were marked on the underside of the bottom bracket or, in the case of some track frames, on the left (non-drive) side rear dropout. Often the numbers included the additional custom order number for bespoke frames.
| 1966: S | 1970: E |
| 1967: U/W/Y | 1971: F |
| 1968: B/C | 1972: G |
| 1969: D | 1973: A/H |
So it would seem that this is a 1971, high end lightweight frame. I assume that means Reynolds 531.
Any thoughts?
Have you weighed just the frame? 2000g > 2075g would indicate 531.
A chromed Cobra model was made from Tru-wel which weighed a ton, well not a ton but a good 2550g or so.
High end stuff of the very late 60s/early 70s was mainly Flyers, Contre La Monte, Professional and Giro models. This frame looks earlier.
I will have to strip it to do that but it feels reasonable lightweight.
Aren't the lugs a bit plain for a 1950s Carlton? What about the frame makes you think it is earlier? It may not be the original fork I suppose.
non-fixie
Senior Retro Guru
My 1950's flyer has Zeus dropouts. Unless they were later ad-on's i don't know.
My bad. I wasn't clear. The actual statement, in a discussion about a 1967 Carlton, was "The manufacturer employed the Zeus Gran Sport dropout set on several different quality models in the ~1965-70 time."
So that doesn't exclude the use of Zeus ends in other periods and models.
