Early 50s La Gazelle - Eau-de-Nil 🛠️ The Merlot Aftermath 🍷

How come the quality frame makers didn't file flush, what difference does it make? Sorry if stupid question

It's a good question. This is my take.

It's seems more relelated to good controlled filling the tube end around the drop-out by "just the right amount". The builder can see what is actually going on. I don't have the knowledge about brazing from a frame builders point of view and can't really contribute to strength and what not, but if it's like plumbing with solder and blow-torch controlling the amount of solder is paramount - it makes for either a pig ugly job with drips or a clean pro-level looking job.

Moreover, if you control the right amount of solder, you actually dispense with the need to file. This is evident with the still sharp crisp tube ends. Aesthetically, it can also simply be fashion related too. One of those things as a sign of quality, where somebody set a benchmark early on, and others had to raise up to that level to sell a frame set in a very competitive environment.

We are looking at something well made, but a Rene Herse ......... for the moment no it is not. The cat will be out of the bag, but it will also entail another discussion round too. I'm formulating the post in my head, got some pictures sorted and gathering as much information enough prior.

You will be put out of your Retrobike foreplay misery :LOL: I'm loving seeing other examples of a similar time and the comparisons.

PS: If indeed I found a Rene Herse at the charity shop, I wouldn't be here writing this; I would be on a Caribbean island already having pints of Pernod with Richard Branson.
 
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I'm totally loving this thread, especially after the North American Victorian track bike.

The gear ratios are insane, the advert was simply great: '45T outer ring, with a 41T inner to make things easy with a 20T rear for people suffering from pneumonia or TB' sort of thing. Plus you swig a bottle of champagne for hydration, jut like the old photos.

Fab stuff.
 
The saddle clamp & seat-post

Moving on - got a positive identity of the saddle clamp - it's a Pryma same as the saddle.

Just some advice to anyone who may need it, as there is probably a 99.9% chance an old French bike would have one.

These old style saddle clamps can appear a bit daunting and frustrating if you come across one for the first time; so including this here:

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/birmalux-seat-post-help.429532/

The seat-post is a crazy light steel affair. Chromed and domed top. It looks rather rude to be honest, so no photographs to protect sensitive people. Wall thickness is bang on 1mm and it appears to have some damage and slightly bent and slightly crushed. There is a name I can barely make out - something like Durifor or Dorifo. The name also serves as the insertion limit. Don't think I will be using it going forward.
 
The saddle clamp & seat-post

Moving on - got a positive identity of the saddle clamp - it's a Pryma same as the saddle.

Just some advice to anyone who may need it, as there is probably a 99.9% chance an old French bike would have one.

These old style saddle clamps can appear a bit daunting and frustrating if you come across one for the first time; so including this here:

https://www.retrobike.co.uk/threads/birmalux-seat-post-help.429532/

The seat-post is a crazy light steel affair. Chromed and domed top. It looks rather rude to be honest, so no photographs to protect sensitive people. Wall thickness is bang on 1mm and it appears to have some damage and slightly bent and slightly crushed. There is name I can barely make out - something like Durifor or Dorifo. The name also serves as the insertion limit. Don't think I will be using it going forward.
Probably Durifort? Many makes used the name.
 
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