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

Later I'll get mine down off the wall and see if I can make a little video.....when you see the speed and positivty of gear change your gonna go nuts.

It's epic good.
 
Simplex - is that some sort of French humour us Brits don't quite get?

@vcballbat - that exploded diagram in English - do you know the date of it by any chance?

@Mickeyspinn - Right - now we are getting somewhere:

Rear spacing is 118.3 mm
Chain is indeed 3/32" or 1 ½ x 1/16" according to my vernier.

I've even gone to the trouble to rummage in the attic for an old Shimano 6 speed freewheel and IG40 chain - it all looks pretty much the same widths and would all mesh in. Measuring the mech travel is tricky and gave up. First, I've only just frigging noticed the whole contraption works the opposite way - push lever forward and you go into a low gear / big sprocket o_O Second, noticed the top pulley wheel as a lot of side to side slop :( Third, that's really messed up my idea of using this with a pair of 8 speed STIs and trying to modify the indexing (or two clicks = one sprocket).

So, next time I'm at the charity shop, I'm getting some (any) 700c wheels with a 5 speed freewheel and something with the right OLN just to try it. I'm leaving it all there, not dismantling any more just to see how / if all this funky business works as is.

I'm going to the Inn - I'm close to calling on @M_Chavez to send over wooden planks and end this madness.
 
What about an IG Sturmey Archer and turn the mech into a French cyclery wall art?
I think 3-speed AWs might be 120mm OLD, but will need to check the shed.
 
Simplex - is that some sort of French humour us Brits don't quite get?

@vcballbat - that exploded diagram in English - do you know the date of it by any chance?

@Mickeyspinn - Right - now we are getting somewhere:

Rear spacing is 118.3 mm
Chain is indeed 3/32" or 1 ½ x 1/16" according to my vernier.

I've even gone to the trouble to rummage in the attic for an old Shimano 6 speed freewheel and IG40 chain - it all looks pretty much the same widths and would all mesh in. Measuring the mech travel is tricky and gave up. First, I've only just frigging noticed the whole contraption works the opposite way - push lever forward and you go into a low gear / big sprocket o_O Second, noticed the top pulley wheel as a lot of side to side slop :( Third, that's really messed up my idea of using this with a pair of 8 speed STIs and trying to modify the indexing (or two clicks = one sprocket).

So, next time I'm at the charity shop, I'm getting some (any) 700c wheels with a 5 speed freewheel and something with the right OLN just to try it. I'm leaving it all there, not dismantling any more just to see how / if all this funky business works as is.

I'm going to the Inn - I'm close to calling on @M_Chavez to send over wooden planks and end this madness.
Hehe...I thought I'd let you figure that one out.
Luckily your chain is actually routed the right way around jockey wheels....that would of got you grumbling..😆

No chavezism on this one woz.....it's a bit too good for that! Patience is a virtue that will reward you with a gearshift you've probably never experienced.....have I told you how quick it is yet?
 
*quietly mumbles something about smoothly running a Campy STI with an XTR mech and a 9 speed SRAM cassette*
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Woz
The Date - early 1950s ✅

Finally found somethings of similar spec to help work from / towards - eventually this got identified and dated as a 1948 / 1950s race bike.

1662659507291.png


This one here is dated 1950 - 1953 and includes interesting pictures of the racing back then and what the bike fashion was.
https://forum.tontonvelo.com/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=21543

Mine appears similar spec and may have been called a "Demi-Course" - half a race bike :rolleyes:

Declaring it official now - it's an early 50s bike and everything is original. :)

@Mickeyspinn may be on the nose with 1953 - he get's a drink coupon. In fact you all get drink coupons tonight 🥳
 
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