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

[Woz]

Look at the stays and terminations 1948?

Honestly, it makes my brain hurt.

Logically, the 9 is useless, but the 1 is important. Or, 9 would have been used and gone on to 0. Fairly sure 1948 would be in line with the parts and associated weirdness. That would assume the 7th frame built that year. From what I gather, the output and rarity of survivors from this small builder seems to tally so you may have nailed it.

Otherwise, the 1487th frame every built from the beginning?

I dunno. And I'm not comfortable with stating anything with some sort of evidence to back it up. I'll poke around a bit on the reference French site but I'm not expecting a registrar ( ) and I'm guessing anyone else is equally in the dark. If it's a mystery, then I'm OK it's a mystery. I've promised myself one day I will go to Paris with the bike and pop in the bike shop. My written French is bad, and I don't want to converse with them that way.

Over some drink is another matter and I'm sure there could be a bit more input.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Honestly, it makes my brain hurt.

Logically, the 9 is useless, but the 1 is important. Or, 9 would have been used and gone on to 0. Fairly sure 1948 would be in line with the parts and associated weirdness. That would assume the 7th frame built that year. From what I gather, the output and rarity of survivors from this small builder seems to tally so you may have nailed it.

Otherwise, the 1487th frame every built from the beginning?

I dunno. And I'm not comfortable with stating anything with some sort of evidence to back it up. I'll poke around a bit on the reference French site but I'm not expecting a registrar ( ) and I'm guessing anyone else is equally in the dark. If it's a mystery, then I'm OK it's a mystery. I've promised myself one day I will go to Paris with the bike and pop in the bike shop. My written French is bad, and I don't want to converse with them that way.

Over some drink is another matter and I'm sure there could be a bit more input.

I think sometimes things are unanswerable or just don't need one. It exists in a state of care worn beauty. Used never abused, one looks and one sees more than the sum of parts and paint. You think and see in your minds eye. The hands that brazed and filed it into pleasing, elegant shapes. The box lining serves no purpose other than to delight the eye. The passage of time, the miles traveled, the stories it tells in it's silence. Just enjoy it's uniqueness.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

The odd numbers could maybe identify a particular builder?

 

[Woz]

The odd numbers could maybe identify a particular builder?

Now you've done it again.

I've believed for sometime the bike industry is in the most part a fashion industry. About 6 months ago I was glued to the TV about the French "haut couture" clothing industry. I think in a way it's important to remember the period and state of the nation, and particulaire the more flamboyant Paris post war period.

Anyhow, it turned out watching this documentary, that the big names of clothing (Christian Dior, YSL, etc. ) relied on a mountain of sub-contractors to produce their work and would go to the best in their field (masters of folding cloth, gathering birds feathers, pearls etc. etc. etc. ) and it occurred to me the French bike industry just may have been the same. I saw amazing parallels before my eyes.

For example, how do you explain the precision of lug-lining and box lining across brands? I find it's inconceivable that every bike vendor had this superb skill with such precision. The logical answer is it was outsourced to specialist who knew paints and patterns. Nothing to do with metal work.

When it comes to the metal work, I think a similar thing may be going on. Handling a torch is not for everyone. I've no idea who sub-contracted who but I'm damn sure with enough that I know that - "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" went on. But, I think certain areas of France, the high demand and competition was enough in the early years for builders to develop their craft - a bit like elsewhere in Europe.

There is sufficient proof of component suppliers colluding for parts in this period for sure to get to the famous TdF advertising top spot.

I think a total view of the industry is a wishfull thing at this period and it would be good know. I also think that each nation had quality frame local / regional builders who could earn an honest wage putting steel together based on empirical means. I find this fascinating and at the same time I'm not sure all questions are answered especially concerning the "Why".

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Now you've done it again.

I've believed for sometime the bike industry is in the most part a fashion industry. About 6 months I was glued to the TV about the French "haut couture" clothing industry. I think in a way it's important to remember the period and state of nation, and particulaire the more flamboyant Paris post war period.

Anyhow, it turned out watching this documentary, that the big names of clothing (Christian Dior, YSL, etc. ) relied on an a mountain of sub-contractors to produce their work and would go to the best in their field (masters of folding cloth, gathering birds feathers, pearls etc. etc. etc. ) and it occurred to me the French bike industry just may have been the same. I saw amazing parallels before my eyes.

For example, how do you explain the precision of lug-lining across brands? I find it's inconceivable that every bike vendor had this superb skill with such precision. The logical answer is it was outsourced to specialist who knew paints and patterns. Nothing to do with metal work.

When it comes to the metal work, I think a similar thing may be going on. Handling a torch is not for everyone. I've no idea who sub-contracted who but I'm damn sure with enough that I know that - "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours" went on. But, I think certain areas of France, the high demand and competition was enough in the early years for builders to develop their craft - a bit like elsewhere in Europe.

There is sufficient proof of component suppliers colluding for parts in this period for sure to get to the famous TdF advertising top spot.

I think a total view of industry is a wishill thing and it would be good know. I also think that each nation had quality frame local / regional builders who could earn an honest wage putting steel together based on empirical means. I find this fascinating and at the same time I'm not sure all questions are answered especially concerning the "Why".

Many builders built for other names W.B.Hurlow built for Condor and Mal Rees. To name just one, no reason to think it wouldn't happen in France. One exception over here allegedly was Frank Lipscombe who wouldn't let anyone build for him.

 

[Woz]

Fully agree. I'm sure this went on too in France.

I think it's not totally clear the definition of "Constructeur" - OK ..... does it mean have a torch in the hand or build / assemble a custom bike to spec? I can't see anything for the moment but it certainly went on a supply of unbranded frames to other brands. The unsung people doing this have been what appears wiped out of history books because of the nature of their work output.

For the moment, I think La Gazelle was first and foremost a custom assembler of bikes, and potentially second a small shop with all the jigs and necessary what nots to use a blow torch around metal lugs, but I have no evidence of this. It's already been demonstrated in this thread detailed analysis with better known brands their are very strong similarities concerning construction.

If only the bike could talk.

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Fully agree. I'm sure this went on too in France.

I think it's not totally clear the definition of "Constructeur" - OK ..... does it mean have a torch in the hand or build / assemble a custom bike to spec? I can't see anything for the moment but it certainly went on a supply of unbranded frames to other brands. The unsung people doing this have been what appears wiped out of history books because of the nature of their work output.

For the moment, I think La Gazelle was first and foremost and custom assembler or bikes, and potentially second a small shop with all the jigs and necessary what nots to use a blow torche around metal lugs, but I have no evidence of this. It's already been demonstrated in this thread detailed analysis with better known brands their are very strong similarities concerning construction.

If only the bike could talk.

I think La Gazelle was built in house, looking at the limited facts I have read. But who's to say they didn't sub contract, occasionally or often? These small sub contract shops are long gone along with the craftsmen (If alive would be in their 90s) and all the information we need. Is it worth putting an advert in a French newspaper for information? Old craftsmen read papers, computers not so much.

 

[Woz]

I think La Gazelle was built in house, looking at the limited facts I have read. But who's to say they didn't sub contract, occasionally or often? These small sub contract shops are long gone along with the craftsmen (If alive would be in their 90s) and all the information we need. Is it worth putting an advert in a French newspaper for information? Old craftsmen read papers, computers not so much.

I see only a visit to the shop will give some answers. With food. And Pernod. And wine. And cognac. And a taxi back to the train station

For the moment, I see if you got your bike at the world championships you knew your beans. Rule 101 of bike snobbery How?

 

[Imlach]

Old craftsmen read papers, computers not so much.

Maybe try TikTok with Woz dancing to a distorted darkwave version of ABBA, in front of the bike, pleading for information in broken French?

 

[chickendrumsticks]

Headset swap - a lot of work for about 2mm

Since I decided I will run with Mafac center-pulls, I hit a snag that the 3mm Mafac front cable hanger could not safely be used with the original headset. From the Gitane doner bike, it turned out to have a great condition very low stack height headset. I could gain 2mm with a swap (and the vast majority of the 2mm pretty much saved from the lower race).

Removing the old headset went well. Since I'm not the kind of guy to own and mess around with a Park Tools crown remover, a very vintage high quality steel kitchen knife and hammer was used to gradually unseat the race from the fork crown with no damage. Loose ball bearings so all precautions were taken with some cardboard on the floor. Magnetic screw driver to pick anything up. The original headset came off in great condition

Things then started to get complicated. The Gitane 27mm crown-race was floppy on the fork Then rummaged around and found another 27mm unknow crown-race which was a tighter fit but still not good. Then tried a Tange JIS 27mm just to understand better what was going. Took the decision to hand file the fork down to the "other nominal" French size of 26.5mm and use a crown race which would still do the job from a Peugeot (I think).

Did all of this filing then got in a panic when I was preparing to put the new cups in. The new cups measured up worryingly bigger than the old . With some measurements of god knows how many headset parts, got the feeling that in the 50s the high end stuff was all made to fit together, but later 70s or 80s mid end stuff is all a bit nominal and not exactly the same across the big known bike manufacturers.

So yesterday afternoon I stopped and threw the headset cups in the freezer (in the baguette draw, but that's not important).

View attachment 733622 View attachment 733623

Just finished putting the new headset in. Went better than I expected but had to work quick (which isn't my strong point ) seating and pressing the cups. Kept it a bit of a mish-mash - old school way loose ball bearings at the bottom, caged at the top which I have seen done a few times. No photo's of putting the new headset in, I got in the zone and carried away Dead lucky that only 1mm of steerer thread was still left to tighten it all snug. No tight spots and plenty smooth enough.

Baguette drawer not important!? Of course it is! Probably the most important part of any freezer.