Frame identity mystery

[alexandlinda]

Greetings all. I wonder if any can help me identify this frame? It’s been repainted or powder coated quite nicely. Had a number stamped on the seat tube and a C sticker on the head tube! Quite light and seems of very good quality. Possibly French?

 

[non-fixie]

The only thing I recognize are the head lugs. I know those were used by Flandria, of Belgium. On their own models, and those they built for other brands, like Jan Janssen.

More pictures would help: a full view of the drive side would be nice.

 

[Midlife]

Lugs look quite thick with clunky shore lines, maybe I'm used to lugs filed down and very thin on frames of my era (70's ish)...

 

[alexandlinda]

Thanks so much. Definitely looks like the Flandria. I like the bit about clunky shorelines!
I’ll take a drive side pic later and post it. Minus wheels!

 

[alexandlinda]

The cable guide underneath the bottom bracket has a ‘pop’ fit rather than fixed with a screw. The bottom bracket itself is quite small in diameter. Both of these are the same as a carbolite Peugeot I have. Must be a French/Belgian thing!

 

[non-fixie]

If Belgian, I would expect the BB shell to be British-threaded, not French. Width, however, might be 70mm instead of 68.

 

[alexandlinda]

Thanks again. The thread is certainly British and is 68mm. My Peugeot of similar vintage also has the same thread. The actual diameter of the bottom bracket is very narrow (on both the Belgian and French frames) and although it is possible to install a sealed unit BB - it is a snug fit and prevents the 'pop fit' cable guide from being fitted!
I've attached a drive side pic.

 

[pigman]

Best thing to do with the guide is remove the rivet and get the hole tapped M5. Then when you remove or insert a new BB, you just loosen of the screw to slide the Bb out

 

[alexandlinda]

Thanks. I was planning to do just that!

 

[non-fixie]

Thank you for the additional picture!

That is a pretty bike, with quite a sporty geometry. The seat post diameter will give you an indication of the quality of the tubing that was used. If the serial number is legible (not fully to me from the picture) you could compare it to known formats from manufacturers of the era. Looking at it again, its size (8 digits?) suggests a (very) large manufacturer. If it starts with a capital letter I'd be looking towards Asia.