Greetings,
Your bike is most likely a late 1960s Andre Bertin all Reynolds 531 Model C37. It could also be the next model down with Reynolds main tubes and Durifort forks and stays. I'd have to see a better picture of the indentations inside the chainstays but they look like Reynolds tubes and the forks look like the classic Reynolds bend.
The "65" stamped in the left dropout is the frame size, 65cm C-T and "991" is the serial number.
Mine is a late 60s, 57cm C-T serial number 975. Like most French bikes, there doesn't seem to be much logic to their serial numbers.
Two curious things about this frame:
Bertin used brazed-on oversized seat stay caps:
And the usually used Wagner fork crowns rather than a Nervex Professional like on your frame.
Someone added the BB cable guides and any other braze-ons as the only ones on these early frames were the brake cable stops under the top tube and the derailleur cable stop on the chainstay.
C-37 was more of a frame model than a bike model. I've seen Bertin C-37 bikes equipped with everything from Huret Alvit derailleurs and steel cranks to full Campy.
The lower end bikes came with Stronglight P3 headsets. Some with better components had Stronglight V4 headsets and of course Campy had Campy. They trimmed the steerer tubes to fit the headsets used. In the 70s, top of the line C-37s with French components used Stronglight S5 Super Competition headset or the D6 alloy version.
The bike would have originally come equipped with sewups and Mafac Racer brakes marked Dural Forge. Campy brakes probably weren't available then, same thing with Mafac Competitions.
The stem would have been a Milremo cast aluminum model probably made by Phillipe with an alloy bar.
The threads are going to be standard French metric with a 26.4mm seat post.
These were great riding and handling bikes in the mold of the classic stage race frame design.
Chas. - Is it wrong, or just French - Colerich Oakland, CA USA
Jonathan Pitkin wrote:
> Hello and thanks for the help. The left rear dropout does have a "65" on the top and a " 991" on the lower leg of the dropout. I added pictures of the dropouts and cable guides.
> Jon Pitkin
> San Francisco, CA
> USA
>
> http://tinyurl.com/
> This bike has
> NR components, Nervex lugs, Cinelli bars/stem. Garner's Bikeshop Redwood
> City, CA sticker on clincher wheels. French BB-Not sure if fixed cup
> is R or L (will check).
> Long serial number 14 digits? Can't read because of repaint. Mondia has
> been suggested but the serial number seems too long. The braze on cable
> guides seem unusual for most french bikes (peugeot,gitane, motobecane
> etc.)
> Thanks for the
> help, Jon
> PitkinSan Francisco, CAUSA