Vintage Viking Identification

[markeymagic]

Hi All,



Long term reader but this is my first post so please be kind and apologies if this is posted in the wrong area?



I have recently purchased this bike frame and Im really struggling to identify it and was hoping someone with more knowledge can help.



I've looked on the Viking website and can't seem to pinpoint it to any particular model plus there are no decals other than the Viking name which looks original but I'm just not sure?



The seller thought it was a 50's frame and may be an Ian Steel or Mile eater?



Not sure on the lugs may be Nervex? bottom bracket is marked as RCF and has Benlux Cyclo drops one is stamped AW014. Is it Reynolds tubing, seat post seems to be 26.8mm??



Has strange pump pegs which I haven't seen before?



Well any help gratefully received

Thanks

Paul

 

[markeymagic]

Sorry edit that should be RGF I think stamped on the top of the bottom bracket

 

[Guinessisgoodforyou]

Lovely frame @chickendrumsticks

 

[Jesper]

That lug pattern was being used by them in the very late 50s and very early 60s; not sure when it was first used or when it stopped being used. Very odd pump pegs indeed; they should help make it more easy to identify. Head badge should be 50s (early/mid?) to possibly early 60s (or later?).

 

[chickendrumsticks]

Badge looks early to mid 50s. And the curved rear brake bar (or whatever it is called) I believe is unique to the Severn Valley. Nice early Nervex Pro lugs too. There's a great article about them at Classic Lightweights (can't provide a link using my phone!)

 

[chickendrumsticks]

Are the pump pegs combined pegs and cable guide? Not seen that before. And, if original paint you'd expect to see at least a"ghost" of old decal's. It's had a respray at some time in it's life IMO.

 

[markeymagic]

Hi all thank you so much for your replies, yes the pump pegs do appear to be cable guides as well which I find very odd.

I haven't been able to find examples of Nervex lugs looking like these so good to hear that they might be Nervex?

I did notice last night when inspecting further that the head badge is stuck on and not riveted I can't even see any holes on the head tube? Is this a potential red flag to not being original?

No decal evidence at all so I suspect a respray but it is a great job if it has.

My only fear with the respray and stuck on headbadge is if it is a Viking at all but then the curved brake bar I think is fairly unique to Viking? Although I could be wrong.

May be the pump pegs we added after when it was resprayed?

 

[chickendrumsticks]

What's the frame number? That could be the clincher. EDIT - I see it on the nearside rear dropout. Looks like AT (or AW) 014? There are frame numbers on the classic viking site. Yours "does not compute" I believe.

 

[Glug]

My only fear with the respray and stuck on headbadge is if it is a Viking at all but then the curved brake bar I think is fairly unique to Viking? Although I could be wrong.

Can't quite see which direction it's curved in, but here's a 1961 Holdsworth Cyclone:

 

[markeymagic]

What's the frame number? That could be the clincher. EDIT - I see it on the nearside rear dropout. Looks like AT (or AW) 014? There are frame numbers on the classic viking site. Yours "does not compute" I believe.















Yes it is AW014 and I also couldn't find it in the Viking frame database... is it even a Viking, is it a Franken bike??



Any views on if it Reynolds tubing and how can you tell?



I defiantly think the frame has some age to it?



Either way it seems like a nice frame from the 50s/60s with beautiful lugs and what I think is a lovely colour and finish so I should probably just build it up with period parts ride it and enjoy it.



Any other thoughts and views welcome or help identifying further?