Re: [CR] Better photos of mystery 531 frame

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing)

Date: Mon, 29 Jan 2007 12:09:45 -0500
Subject: Re: [CR] Better photos of mystery 531 frame
From: "Doug Fattic" <fatticbicycles@qtm.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
In-Reply-To: <MONKEYFOODyxdZjfNLn00003a58@monkeyfood.nt.phred.org>


I'm not disagreeing that this could be a T.S. Issacs but it also looks a lot like frames that were built in the Bay area (where you are) in the mid seventies. I remember visiting a framebuilder there in 1976 who choose just that type of seat stay treatment. Unfortunately I have forgotten his name. As a matter of fact, that seat stay attachment style seemed typical or at least popular for mid California built frames of that era.

The lugs are Prugnat which were also commonly available then. Masi had made lug window cut outs popular (huge weight savings :) and this was one companies response to that need. Just a little later, investment cast lugs came out (well they had been out but became more common). Proteus Design sold them to framebuilders as well as other suppliers.

My lottery guess. It was built in 1977 by a builder in the Bay area of California.

Doug Fattic, speculating in
Niles, Michigan USA