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

[Woz]

A mid 1950s bike for me. A French Audax bike maybe? Brakes are quite short reach, looks to be 700c. I could be wrong and am often

Liking the Audax suggestion! It's fitting very well - not a Racer, but a lightweight high end specifically built Road bike.

Wheels are indeed 700C when I did a quick measure. I'm curious about the tyre clearance now.

 

[Woz]

Great find, looks like really well made frame, any idea of the builder..? Looks like the brakes are LAM Super Dural, loving those sexy curvaceous levers with their big clamp... they'll polish up beautifully..

There is just enough information on the bike to identify where it came from. Here is a shot of those chunky brake lever clamps - you will note a complete lack of head-badge too which made identification a bit more involved. I'll need to confirm later if they are LAM Super Dural, there is some engraving on them. I'm actually not sure I like them to be honest - perhaps because the non-original insulation taping looks like a right bodge on this.

 

[Mickeyspinn]

I'd try em before you change....about as comfy as you'll get for that period riding in the drops!
Plus the the extra material uptop where cable goes in will really help with reducing cable friction.
I have a pair quite similar in the clamp design but without that bump. Is the clamp system like a wedge that pulls across the diameter of the bar....bit like a cotter pin?
I wish I could find the tape on my Gramps old bike....like a crinkled cellophane thin and light so light I reckon the glue weighed more!

 

[vcballbat]

There is just enough information on the bike to identify where it came from. Here is a shot of those chunky brake lever clamps - you will note a complete lack of head-badge too which made identification a bit more involved. I'll need to confirm later if they are LAM Super Dural, there is some engraving on them. I'm actually not sure I like them to be honest - perhaps because the non-original insulation taping looks like a right bodge on this.

View attachment 659679

So you know what it is..? Don't keep me in Suspenders...a Basque..red Stilettos..my god they're uncomfortable..a least the chains stop me walking off to far..

 

[chickendrumsticks]

There is just enough information on the bike to identify where it came from. Here is a shot of those chunky brake lever clamps - you will note a complete lack of head-badge too which made identification a bit more involved. I'll need to confirm later if they are LAM Super Dural, there is some engraving on them. I'm actually not sure I like them to be honest - perhaps because the non-original insulation taping looks like a right bodge on this.

View attachment 659679

Louison Bobet. Oui ou non?

 

[Mickeyspinn]

Well while we all eagerly await woz's next installment a little musical interlude....

 

[Woz]

@vcballbat - you were right. Positive identity for the brake set - indeed Super Dural LAM. Any ideas on the dates of these?



They look in good order, but the cables are a bit stuck in them. Not a big issue to sort out. Interesting little differences between the front and rear - assuming they are all original.

 

[Woz]

More photo's of all the juicy bits will follow - would really appreciate some identities of things. If you know what they are and can give a date range it will help. What I would like to do is get a good specification sheet together for everything original as I found it.

Manged to get a positive identity on the saddle posted up earlier - Pryma Speciale model 515 - but dates are hard to find.

 

[Woz]

Huret front mech. Model and date unknown, Huret chain rings - I assume the model is Tour de France.

 

[vcballbat]

@vcballbat - you were right. Positive identity for the brake set - indeed Super Dural LAM. Any ideas on the dates of these?

View attachment 659967

They look in good order, but the cables are a bit stuck in them. Not a big issue to sort out. Interesting little differences between the front and rear - assuming they are all original.

Looks like you have the Super Dural Competition version with shorter reach, though your lever blades look more curvaceous than the Coarse levers..
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.aspx?ID=29703706-1678-47C5-B25D-3507A458974F&Enum=117&AbsPos=3