Re: [CR]More Viking

(Example: Production Builders:Peugeot:PX-10LE)

Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 17:36:45 -0400
From: "Phil Sieg" <triodelover@comcast.net>
To: Hughethornton@aol.com
Subject: Re: [CR]More Viking
References: <4a9.36274991.326550f5@aol.com>
In-Reply-To: <4a9.36274991.326550f5@aol.com>
cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org

Hugh,

I picked up a similar sounding frame last year. I wrote the VC-C's Viking marque enthusiast, Tom Jeffrey, to try and get some help in identifying the frame.

The lugs on my frame are Prugnat 62Bis, but the other aspects are identical. According to Mr Jeffrey, my frame dates to the mid-'60s. There were two models in the catalogue that fit the description. One, the Conquest, was carbon steel tubing ("gas pipe"). The other, the Mileater, was plain gauge 531. One could tell the difference by weighing the frame and fork with headset installed (a TD Cross) but without a BB, according to Mr Jeffrey again. The Mileater will come in around 6 lbs, 14 oz; the Conquest about a pound heavier. mine is a Mileater (Nick at Lloyd's has all the transfers, including the model name for the TT).

An interesting aspect of my frame is that the lamp boss on the fork is on the left blade, indicating that it was made for export. There are no shifter bosses, but there are both TT and BB cable guides and pump pegs. I can send some pics off list if it would help.

Phil Sieg Knoxville, Tennessee USA

Hughethornton@aol.com wrote:
> A while ago I purchased a Viking frame that I am trying to identify. It
> looks like a Severn Valley but is heavier than you would expect of a 531 butted
> frame and appears to be straight gauge tubing because of its smaller seat
> post size. Apart from that, it has Nervex professional lugs and the same seat
> stay treatment as a Severn Valley. It has a bridge for rear center-pull
> brakes and the dropouts are Cyclo -- these are stamped dropouts with the later
> type gear hanger that would take Campagnolo gears, Benelux sixty whatever and
> similar -- basically the shape designed by Campagnolo in about 1950 that became
> the standard we have now.
>
> I would appreciate any information as to what this frame might be. My guess
> is either that Viking cheapened the Severn Valley by using cheaper tubing or
> that it is a model or two down the range (but not too far down because of the
> lugs). And it has the fork lamp boss that I dislike, but that appears to
> be prized by so many others.
>
> By the way, did 531 plain gauge and 531 butted tubesets have the same fork
> blades and stays? It has been said that the forks and stays were not butted
> although the tubing decal was designed to give the impression that they were.
>
> Hugh Thornton
> Cheshire, England