Eddy's update on the Caminargent motivates me to post an update on the 1954 Duravia, just as his original post of his exquisite eBay Caminargent purchase caused me to unbox the Duravia frame and start collecting parts.
As discussed here previously, I'm using the old nice slender and surprisingly light Stronglight logoed cottered steel crankarms, the ones with the logo very similar to the 49D alloy cranks. But I discovered a problem with the fit of arms to the unknown original cottered BB axle, which was clarfied by CR members who explained that there were "English" version Stronglight steel cranks that took an English-diameter axle, whereas the home market arms used a French-diameter axle.
I subsequently bought three English-made TDC axles on UK eBay - the seller seems to be Nick at Lloyd's, better known for decals for old English and some other frames. I thought all three axles were identical, but two fit the crank, while one did not. And as Murphy's law would have it, after checking the fit on one axle, I installed the only one that didn't fit, but the second worked. Not sure why the variation in TDC axle diamaters. This TDC axle seems to run smoothly in the unidentified original French cups and the English version Stronglight arms fit well. I kind of thought the arms might take an English-size 9.5 mm cotter pin, but the French-size 9 mm turns out to be the best fit. There could be an issue with fit of French key with English axle, but it seems OK, although I won't know for sure until I hammer or press the pins in tight and actually ride the cranks.
By the way anyone know the chainring thread dimensions on the old Stronglight steel cottered arms (the arms are tapped for the chainring bolts)? The original bolt are larger than 6 mm, 7 mm perhaps?
Still seaking advice on an appropriate build. I've bought a Simplex RH brazeon shifter on UK eBay and a Simplex Rigidex 4-spd chainstay mount RD missing the return spring. Bought assorted throttle return springs at the auto parts store, but they are all too short, at least to reach the eyelet on the chainstay that I take to be the forward anchor point of the return spring. Any suggestion? For HS, is a Stronglight P3 old enough to be correct? What about hubs? Not sure I want to shell out the price of Maxicar. What are the more affordable options? It looks like some of the older Normandy hubs have circular holes in the flanges as opposed to more recent oval holes. Is this what I should look for in period Normandy? What other marques/models would be correct? What 700C clincher rims are correct and obtainable? I've bough some AVA "South of France" bars Hilary recently offered to the list and will use an old faux lugged alloy stem that seems period correct. Saddle will probably be Ideale mod 44 or 52.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA