Does anyone know make & approx vintage this French bike might be? Any guesses?
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/
Yes, this before pic is ugly.
I sent pics to Jan Heine & he did not know but said there were lots of mid level French bikes that are nice riders. A couple of Cirques ago I showed Larry Osborn & Mark Poore the pics, said I paid $10, & they simultaneously asked "why"? I thought the 3 piece alloy large flange, steel barrel Campy rear hub in OK shape made it worth the purchase price.
It had a Simplex Juy Export 61 rear derailleur - too bad it's in such bad shape. Assuming the RD is original the bike could be 1961- 62ish, Somebody made it into a 10 speed (Huret FD & shifters & Cylco crank) but it originally had a braze-on for a rear derailleur shift lever only, not a front. The rear dropout looks like could accommodate a Cyclo tourist type derailleur. There is also a small braze-on on the underside of the right chain stay toward crank for a (?) (spring going back to RD?).
The Campy timeline says the large flange 3 pieces hub was introduced in '53 & the Record one piece alloy was introduced in '58 so the hub, if original to bike, would indicate an earlier date for the bike.
There was a Mafac canti on the rear, canti bosses on the front, but a centerpull was bolted on front most likely because of bent ft canti bosses.
Of course the whole thing may be a mish mash of parts. In that case, if I can identify an approx date on the frame that will help. I would appreciate any suggestions on components to use to build it up (esp. for crank, derailleur & rims). I've got it set up for a single ring in the front w/ the braze-on for the right shifter back on.
The frame is now bead (or whatever) blasted w/ all rusty bits off. It cleaned up nicely, not much pitting, & the original brazing is pretty good. Original color ID'd from the steerer tube was a candy apple red. Some of the shop folks thought it might be a Lejeune because of the color. I'll probably not repaint red.
Mike Self
Cincinnati, OH