WARNING - OCD Triggers - Mystery - Wine Infused Rational Thought Content
Not going to make a secret of it, but I'm somewhat chasing my tale a bit with this bike. Thankfully via a "cry for help" type thread
here that
@Guinessisgoodforyou is helping with sound tech help and ideas, along with my alter ego
@Imlach for moral help, I got re-focused and motivated again. Decided to re-visit the
Stronglight cottered cranks, do some disassembly and cleaning with various wire brushes, scouring pads, and wire wool. It was all bliss and therapeutic
.
While cleaning them I was admiring the extraordinary low weight of anorexic French steel, beautiful vintage precision machining, and pleased that they are in not in bad shape for something 70 odd years old.
I then put the cranks together to stand back and admire them and I swear I saw the solar system collapse in front of me.
View attachment 731049
All I could do was stand saying "No" repeatedly about an octave lower than normal. What seemed an eternity after there was no choice but to consult the interweb for answers via the fridge and a pick-me-up boisson.
Obscene time was spent thinking that one crank is newer than the other. Couldn't understand that they appear aged at the same rate. I found absolutely nothing on the web. The shape of each crank arm is identical. The closest I got is that from 1946 - 1949 there appears to be a mixture of logo types between old and new. No pictures or any other examples of Competition Crank different logo types to be found. Needless to say I then went in various rabbit warrens in doing so and picked up some interesting stuff for later
. Including these two links that people have put some effort in this subject related to models and logos:
https://www.classiclightweights.co.uk/classic_components/stronglight-steel-cottered-cranks/
https://veloretrocourse.proboards.com/thread/1095/les-strongs
I can't conclude this anomalie at all.
There is of course the famous "prototype" and "banged out Friday afternoon" theory, which was rather rudely put forward on
@Mod-Master build thread
here. There is also the "crash damage replacement" theory, but I see no evidence of this. Also, the French seem to be heroes for individual part ordering and supply so it may be something cobbled together post war from available stocks.
I'm now at peace with myself over this. I would actually like that it
is a Friday afternoon job. In August 1956 French school kids at their school lunch could no longer drink wine. This bike pre-dates that - fact! This Saturday night, I feel there can't be a better way to connect to a bike knowing it may have been the result over many consecutive 3 hr Friday lunches with Pernod and wine drunk by many various people along the way.