Trying to find my racing bike manufacturer - The Chainlink2024-03-29T07:46:48Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/trying-to-find-my-racing-bike-manufacturer?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A541378&xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noMany thanks Allen - that's gr…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-05-07:2211490:Comment:5430212012-05-07T19:08:08.307ZPetehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/PeteChristmas
<p>Many thanks Allen - that's great to find a photo that's so similar. I think that may clinch it as you say, and I certainly hope it could be a Falcon. By pure chance I discovered a relation of a friend used to work at the Falcon works and will have contacts there who should be able to verify whether it is indeed a Falcon as we suspect. Will let you know the outcome .... thanks again, much appreciated.</p>
<p>Many thanks Allen - that's great to find a photo that's so similar. I think that may clinch it as you say, and I certainly hope it could be a Falcon. By pure chance I discovered a relation of a friend used to work at the Falcon works and will have contacts there who should be able to verify whether it is indeed a Falcon as we suspect. Will let you know the outcome .... thanks again, much appreciated.</p> Looks like a Falcon - here's…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-05-06:2211490:Comment:5423702012-05-06T01:02:58.703ZAllen Wrenchhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/AWrench
<p>Looks like a Falcon - here's a website with good photos of one from the era: <a href="http://dfwptp.blogspot.com/2009/09/england-made-me.html" target="_blank">http://dfwptp.blogspot.com/2009/09/england-made-me.html</a> </p>
<p>Thought too of Nishiki which had wraparound seat stays but they used Tange tubing. The Sugino/Shimano pointed at a Japanese make, but the 531 and the site above look like they seal it. Good pics of seatstay wrap and the headbadge. I guess that Falcon had the serial…</p>
<p>Looks like a Falcon - here's a website with good photos of one from the era: <a href="http://dfwptp.blogspot.com/2009/09/england-made-me.html" target="_blank">http://dfwptp.blogspot.com/2009/09/england-made-me.html</a> </p>
<p>Thought too of Nishiki which had wraparound seat stays but they used Tange tubing. The Sugino/Shimano pointed at a Japanese make, but the 531 and the site above look like they seal it. Good pics of seatstay wrap and the headbadge. I guess that Falcon had the serial numbers under the bottom bracket according to <a href="http://www.iape.org/resourcesPages/tipsARticles/bikeSerialNumbers.html" target="_blank">http://www.iape.org/resourcesPages/tipsARticles/bikeSerialNumbers.html</a> . </p>
<p>So, what is it?</p> There's no sign of holes for…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-05-05:2211490:Comment:5422522012-05-05T11:09:10.702ZPetehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/PeteChristmas
<p>There's no sign of holes for a head tube badge, either still there or filled.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My gut feel after looking at photos of other bikes with the wraparound seat stays, and because of the components fitted, is that the odds are slightly in favour of it being a Falcon - despite what Kevin says above. Maybe this is an older one than the one he had? But I'll keep looking and will keep an open mind. I was hoping the serial number on the bottom bracket would help (see photo). Thanks…</p>
<p>There's no sign of holes for a head tube badge, either still there or filled.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>My gut feel after looking at photos of other bikes with the wraparound seat stays, and because of the components fitted, is that the odds are slightly in favour of it being a Falcon - despite what Kevin says above. Maybe this is an older one than the one he had? But I'll keep looking and will keep an open mind. I was hoping the serial number on the bottom bracket would help (see photo). Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated!</p> The Ralieghs tend to have sha…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-05-05:2211490:Comment:5420372012-05-05T08:04:24.017ZComrade Cycleshttps://thechainlink.org/profile/ComradeCycles
<p>The Ralieghs tend to have sharper, more distinctive, cuts on the lugs. Especially frames built with 531.</p>
<p>The Ralieghs tend to have sharper, more distinctive, cuts on the lugs. Especially frames built with 531.</p> Good call Michael. Possibly a…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-05-05:2211490:Comment:5423332012-05-05T07:59:00.255ZComrade Cycleshttps://thechainlink.org/profile/ComradeCycles
<p>Good call Michael. Possibly a Raleigh made Rampar? They glued the headbadges. That seat stay/seat tube wrap is pretty distinctive. Although I can't say I've seen or noticed it on Rampar branded bikes.</p>
<p>Good call Michael. Possibly a Raleigh made Rampar? They glued the headbadges. That seat stay/seat tube wrap is pretty distinctive. Although I can't say I've seen or noticed it on Rampar branded bikes.</p> If it was a raleigh it would…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-05-05:2211490:Comment:5421102012-05-05T01:58:03.399ZMichael Ahttps://thechainlink.org/profile/MichaelAbene
<p>If it was a raleigh it would have had a head tube badge or at least the holes from where one once lived.</p>
<p>If it was a raleigh it would have had a head tube badge or at least the holes from where one once lived.</p> I'm gonna agree with Mike. Th…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-05-05:2211490:Comment:5423232012-05-05T01:13:50.565ZComrade Cycleshttps://thechainlink.org/profile/ComradeCycles
<p>I'm gonna agree with Mike. That looks very Raleigh Gran Sport or Gran Prix.</p>
<p>I'm gonna agree with Mike. That looks very Raleigh Gran Sport or Gran Prix.</p> Those are seriously weird lug…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-05-04:2211490:Comment:5422322012-05-04T23:59:10.738ZKevin C Dormanthttps://thechainlink.org/profile/KevinC
<p>Those are seriously weird lugs where the top tube and down tube meet the head tube. They appear to be merely welded onto the surface of the head tube. Does not appear to be a high end 531 frame. I had a late 70's/early 80's Falcon. It's not a Falcon frame.</p>
<p>Those are seriously weird lugs where the top tube and down tube meet the head tube. They appear to be merely welded onto the surface of the head tube. Does not appear to be a high end 531 frame. I had a late 70's/early 80's Falcon. It's not a Falcon frame.</p> I have a Raleigh Gran Sport t…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-05-04:2211490:Comment:5422902012-05-04T20:33:37.164ZMike Fiascohttps://thechainlink.org/profile/MichaelRoeser
<p>I have a Raleigh Gran Sport that has a wraparound lug like on your bike. It's also 531. The Sugino Super Maxy crank was a common upgrade for people who wanted to swap out their stock cottered cranks back in those times.</p>
<p>I have a Raleigh Gran Sport that has a wraparound lug like on your bike. It's also 531. The Sugino Super Maxy crank was a common upgrade for people who wanted to swap out their stock cottered cranks back in those times.</p> Photos added on my member pag…tag:thechainlink.org,2012-05-04:2211490:Comment:5418592012-05-04T18:36:21.359ZPetehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/PeteChristmas
<p>Photos added on my member page - do the photos give any clue to manufacturer? My best guess from components is that the frame dates from mid to late 1970s. Reynolds 531 tubing - are the lugs distinctive of any particular manufacturer? Would love to know the maker! Cheers, Pete. The "Williams" sticker on the seat tube below the Reynolds sticker, is the dealership who sold on the bike nearly 20 years ago - as far as I know they won't have a record of the original frame maker even if they…</p>
<p>Photos added on my member page - do the photos give any clue to manufacturer? My best guess from components is that the frame dates from mid to late 1970s. Reynolds 531 tubing - are the lugs distinctive of any particular manufacturer? Would love to know the maker! Cheers, Pete. The "Williams" sticker on the seat tube below the Reynolds sticker, is the dealership who sold on the bike nearly 20 years ago - as far as I know they won't have a record of the original frame maker even if they knew it at the time.</p>