SPEC hand built in Brentwood essex

[Rob13166]

Hi, I've just bought a Specs bike which I think is about 30 years old. Has anyone heard of this company or can offer any info.cheers Rob.

 

[Midlife]

Tricky to see from the photo's but Under BB cable guides, top tube cable guides, Weinmann brakes with nuts, what looks like a La Prade Seat post Plus non aero brakes puts it in the Early 1980's pretty much, perhaps mid eighties at a pinch.

50 years old is probably a tad optimistic any pics of the lugs? Is there a Frame number under the BB beginning with a W?

Shaun

 

[Rob13166]

Ha sorry the post should have read 30 years which as you say puts it in the 80s.
Thanks for your reply, the only marking on the frame is a 72 stamped by the seat post , is this the type of tubing?
What I know of the company is they would hand build to order but they are long gone now. The guy I bought it off spotted it second hand and had it unused in his shed for years.

 

[keithglos]

Re:

72 probably indicates seat lug angle.
Classic mid 1970s for me.

Keith

 

[Rob13166]

Thanks Keith, going to give it a complete strip down and clean, hopefully find some more markings

 

[Jonny69]

I'm with Keithglos, it screams mid to late 70's to me. It *feels* like those alloy wheels weren't on it originally and it would have had chrome steel jobbies. Just a gut feel based on the other components though, no evidence whatsoever

 

[Rob13166]

Yep the wheels have been replaced, the originals kept going out of shape apparently . I think everything else is the original spec.

 

[fiks]

Re:

Spec Cycles was/is a bike shop in Benfleet, Essex. Apparently it, along with several other shops, were:

forced to close or relocate after developer Linatrop was granted permission to tear down the shopping parade to build four new shops and 13 flats with an underground car park.

I don't know if they are still in business or not. My guess is they bought in their own branded frames.

 

[carlrh]

If the bars and stem are original then very late 70s early 80s. cinelli didnt make record stem till very late 70s.

 

[Midlife]

I have already mentioned the frame and the connection with the 80's but I'm sure the fork crown is also 80's CCA / C-58 ........that style took over from the MC1 styling of the late 70's.

Shaun