What is this that stands before me?

[Meejoir]

This frame has come into my possession from someone who knew I liked dabbling in old bikes and £20 seemed fair!

It really is rather nice but I don't think it's what it says it is. The bloke I got it from reckoned it was a brand new Raleigh Record frame from the 70s but I beg to differ, so maybe you lot can offer some advice on the pictures below.













It's a lovely matt black, and there's not a mark on it, in fact it looks like it's never been built up as there's are no indentations or scratches on the rear drop outs. Even if it'd been painted/coated there would certainly have been some marks? The decals are quite nice - they're kind of wrap around sparkly gold and the headtube badge seems genuine Raleigh and fitted rather well.

It's nowt special like a 531, it seems about the same weight as other gas-pipe 18-23 Raleighs I've had.

Other things to notice are that it doesn't have a rear mech hanger; it's got double cable feed guides on the top tube; has a gear cable feed above the bottom bracket (might be hard to see on the pictures and it has a rear brake hanger.Also, the bottom bracket has nothing other than "S" or it maybe a "5".

Maybe someone just fancied a Black and Gold Record single speed? I dunno, see what you think.

 

[keithglos]

Re:

The RH bottom bracket cup is a 26 TPI Raleigh.
A frame is not complete without the forks. If you have them the thread will be 26 TPI also for the octagonal Raleigh headset.

Keith

 

[Meejoir]

Hi Keith, there's no fork unfortunately. How long ago were Raleigh using 26 tpi? All the Raleigh's I've had (mainly 70s and 80s) use a standard 24tpi.
Cheers.

 

[keithglos]

Re:

It looks like a 26 TPI cup, you could check this with a spare left cup.
Replacement forks will surely be 24 TPI.

I thought their main production used 26 TPI until Nottingham closed, but I don't know what was imposed by TI when they took over Raleigh.

By 1967 I was no longer a retailer.

Keith

 

[Midlife]

Is there a number in it anywhere? Underneath the seat bolt area on the seat tube?

Looks like a Raleigh/ Carlton jobby.

Shaun

 

[Meejoir]

Re:

Thanks for the help guys. I've discovered the number stamped to the rear of the seat tube. Any clues to what any of it means? I presume the 'N' indicates Nottingham?

 

[Midlife]

N = Nottingham
K = July
1= 1981

The rest is the unique frame number itself.

Shaun

 

[Meejoir]

Re:

Thanks Shaun, much appreciated.

 

[Meejoir]

Re:

Cheers for the help. Managed to find a pic of how it might have looked. It didn't seem particularly popular as there don't seem to be many pictures of this black/gold model. Never mind, she'll keep me busy for a few weeks.