Hi,
Following the "introduce myself" post, here's the bike I like to talk to you ...
I was looking for a average/utility bike to go 2 times per week on a new 'proxy' site for my work. I don't want to buy a too much low/entry level bike, and I don't want to use my regular MTB (too much inconfortable with its alu frame and a wishbone) nor one of the old Sunn I own (magnet for thieves and too sporty)
During one month I missed some interesting bikes, because in Paris more and more people use it daily, and good ones sell fast. But last saturday, I was the first to contact the seller of an old, unbranded but apparently good model. Fitted with thumbshifter like my first MTB, and with a rear Deore XT shifter !
This bike was in relative good condition for its age and for the low price. But requires a complete CLA. As you can imagine for a bike stored 15 years in a garage.
Some weaknesses : a broken spoke on a rear, no grease anywhere, a mix of Shimano components including poor plastic brake levers
Many strengths : few rust, a nice old look (lugged frame !) and a better frame than expected, even if the whole is a bit heavy...
I discovered the brand after returning at home : Tushingham !
What is it ? Did they make good bicycles ?
Thanks to this site, I found here some precious information.
View attachment 567381
Ok, my new toys is 'probably a standard "B-52" first version, not the rare race version, or a prototype like the one above, but I like it !
I will firstly do a good CLA, and put it on the road again.
There are many original parts missing. Even the seat post is ITM branded, like some older french/italian bikes. Rims are two different Rigida models, etc ...
So I will certainly not restore it as it was at the 'exit of the store'. Rather with an homogeneous groupset and components from this period, if I find.
I have 2 questions please :
- Do you know if these bikes were sold in France at this time ?
- Without the Tange sticker, is there a way to know the type of tubes used ? The seat post is stamped 26.4 ...
Best Regards
Hi and welcome to the Forum,
very nice Tushingham, yet another one surfaces in a few days!
Some thoughts on your bike -
You have an early Chain-stay example, these frames were the first Tushinghams, with subsequent models having the Seat-stay mounted brakes.
Looking at the paint fade and the paint that has been protected by the decals, I would suggest you have a 'Tushingham' decaled frame and not a 'Tushingham B.52' decaled frame.
This matters not as the original brochure example did not have the 'B52' either.
My Triple Butted Tubed frame example is heavier than my P.G. (Plain Gauge) Tubed example. The frames are the same size, I have not gone to the degree of accurately measuring each tube to compare these. My other Triple Butted Frame is at the painters at the moment, and I did not weigh it prior to it going off for paint, so can't compare it to the other one.
I have seen both P.G and TB early Tushingham (Chain-stay) frames.
May I ask what your frame Serial Number is, it is located on the bottom bracket shell, with this I may be able to suggest the possible tubing it is made from.
I suspect your frame is made from Triple Butted Tubing, the reason for this is the tubing decal placement, the P.G. tubed frames had the (Purple/Pink) decal further down the seat tube above the bottom bracket, the Triple Butted decals were higher up the Seat Tube.
There is a caveat here, Tushingham decaling is not consistent, there are examples of early decals on later frames and later decals on early frames.
The serial number will help identification, I can see where its fits within the known serials and tubing decals.
And having said that, I notice Was8V has a Triple Butted decal in the location where the P.G decals were placed...
Andy