Help me restore this 1960s Roberts Track bike correctly

[Berkley Driskill]

After a lot of research to determine the make of an unidentified frame I had recently purchased, I finally reached out to bikeforums.net to see with other users might suggest. With a bit of luck, I was advised that I had unknowingly purchased (for $75 USD off of craigslist) a rare Roberts Cycles track frame. I reached out to what is left of the now-folded Roberts Cycles Company and they too agree I was in possession of a Roberts Cycle Track Frame. The frameset I purchased is serial number #414 dating from the mid to late 1960s. Unfortunately, because the data was lost in a robbery at the Roberts premises, determining the exact year of the frame is lost to history. Regardless, I am taking on the project of restoring the frameset to its original condition to the best of my ability.

Are any of you familiar with early model versions of the Roberts Cycles Track bikes/frames? I am trying to pinpoint the exact color the frame should be for this period as well as the correct components. The manufacture shared with me photos of an earlier model frame (serial number 66) that showed a red and silver (possibly chrome) paint scheme with gold pinstriping. I have also located a late 1970s catalog from a USA based importer stating that the majority of the Roberts Track Frames from the 70s were all white.

I have searched tirelessly online to get photos of these frames, but the majority of the photos available are of frames from the 1980 and on.

If any of you have any knowledge of mid to late 1960s to early 1970s Roberts Track Frames, could you please provide some advice?

Again, taking advice from users of bikeforums.net, they suggested I post here for better results. Thanks in advance for any feedback you can give

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[MatBH5]

Re:

Hi, I have two Roberts track frames, an earlier one which is red (frame number in the 500’s if I recall), and a later frame in white (may be #1980).
Yours has fancier lugs than mine. The early red one the top eyes of the seat stay has some gold lining by hand.
If I can get photos I will add here.
Mat

 

[Berkley Driskill]

Re: Re:

Hi, I have two Roberts track frames, an earlier one which is red (frame number in the 500’s if I recall), and a later frame in white (may be #1980).
Yours has fancier lugs than mine. The early red one the top eyes of the seat stay has some gold lining by hand.
If I can get photos I will add here.
Mat

If you could provide photos, that would be amazing! Thank you so much
Roberts emailed me photos of #66 which was red with gold pinstriping as you had mentioned on your #500s. Chas has copyrights to the photos, or else I would share tp compare. I'd love to see how yours matches up to the #66. If they are identical, then I would feel very comfortable about restoring mine to a similar paint scheme. Thanks again.

 

[MatBH5]

Re:

Here you go (sorry for the mess, I’m in the middle of a sort out!)

 

[MatBH5]

Re:

Number 571

 

[Berkley Driskill]

Re: Re:

Here you go (sorry for the mess, I’m in the middle of a sort out!)

Mat - You sir, are a lifesaver! Thank you so much for taking the time to do that for me. Yours matches up very closely with the photos emailed to me from Roberts. The only difference being that the #66 had unpainted (maybe even chrome) rear dropouts and fork. The Roberts decal on the #66 is gold with black outlines and is only located on the down tube. The seat tube of the #66 has a second Roberts badge rather than the Roberts decal as shown in your photos. There were also a few additional gold pinstriping details added to the outline of the lugs on the #66. These may have also been on yours at one point, but worn away over the years. Did your bike have original components when you purchased it? Is so, could you shed any light on what they were? I am assuming the 1960s-mid 70s track bikes came equipped with the Campagnolo Record Pista crankset (model 1051 with 151 BCD or the later version of the 1051 with a 144 BCD). I have been unable to determine which Campy seatpost would have been on the bike and have no clue of the make/model of the stem and bars.
Thanks again for your time. I really appreciate the help.
-Berkley

 

[Berkley Driskill]

Re: Re:

Number 571

You should add your #571 to the registry. It looks like the one before (#570) and after (#572) have already been listed.
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/Britis ... gistry.htm

 

[MatBH5]

Re:

You are very welcome.
Mine does also have gold lug lining - if you squint you may be able to see it in the photos. By the way, so did frame 1980, so obviously gold was the colour to detail with.
I got this as a frame only and have built up a stash of parts. They would have been custom, so I guess any groupset, but I have assumed Campag Record Pista, and have a set and some spares.
My white frame is stuck at the frame painter, but has been re-finished. I’ll build this with the Campag.
The red frame I’m struggling with myself to keep or sell.
I also have this brochure:

 

[MatBH5]

Re:

Brochure:

 

[PDM88]

Re:

hello
did you speak with geoff roberts ? There are a lot of peple claiming to be "roberts cycles" and they only worked there, they didn't, and don't, own the company.
There is even a fake roberts website online - because the person who registered it, is infringing a trade mark.

The Real Deal and owner.

Geoff Roberts - Roberts Cycles.

Unit 4 Green Man Yard
Boreham Street
Hailsham
East Sussex
BN27 4SF

Tel: 07840 786 100
IG: @Geoff3431