Malvern Star 5 Star

[whatsinaname]

Following on from my recent luck in being given an Albeni frame to turn into a fixie, I have today bought a malvern star 5 star completely original for $50.00...my local bike shop guy says they dont come much better so i bought it sight unseen,,,i will have it 2moro and hope it was worth it....was that a fair price ? will post some pics as soon as i have it

Cheers

[rollin]

It's a bit pricey but seeing I'm a nice guy i'll give you the $50 for the bike so your not out of pocket

[whatsinaname]

Which means probably a reasonable buy ?

[Torana68]

depends you could have anything without seeing it, most LBS wouldnt know a 5 from a 1 star, if it is and its all original a bare min would be 250...... sometimes they go for silly money.

[whatsinaname]

Probably a safe bet i think. Old time bike rep i know saw it dumped with some other frames at a bikeshop 100klm from where i am. BS didnt know what it was but rep did but couldnt offer on it as BS guy would immediately cotton on to it being worth something. Got a mate who lives down that way to go and offer him $50 for it and got it.

2moro will tell the story i guess, $50 isnt the end of the world i guess

[rkelsen]

Pics or it didn't happen.

[Mustang]

depends you could have anything without seeing it, most LBS wouldnt know a 5 from a 1 star, if it is and its all original a bare min would be 250...... sometimes they go for silly money.

Hey, I'll buy all you have at $250.00!!!!!!

[whatsinaname]

Turns out it is a genuine 5 star, green n gold Moscow 80 frame (in good condition) with ultegra running gear. Doubt the ultegra is original, so will do some research to establish what may have been original for her. A couple of odd things, braised on derailluer lug and double bridge rear brake carrier. Cant find a serial no anywhere but it does have AO3 or similiar on bottom bracket...reynolds 531C tubing and dropouts that I cant quite read but start with C and are not campag..Any thoughts on this frame will be most welcome


Cheers

<div style="width:480px;text-align:right;"><embed width="480" height="360" src="http://pic2.pbsrc.com/flash/rss_slideshow.swf" flashvars="rssFeed=http%3A%2F%2Ffeed1293.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb588%2Fwhatsinaname1%2F5%2520Star%2Ffeed.rss" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" /><a href="javascript:void(0);" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/share/icons/embed/btn_geturs.gif" style="border:none;" /></a><a href="http://s1293.beta.photobucket.com/user/whatsinaname1/library/5%20Star" target="_blank"><img src="http://pic.photobucket.com/share/icons/embed/btn_viewall.gif" style="border:none;" alt="whatsinaname1&#039;s 5 Star album on Photobucket" /></a></div>

[whatsinaname]

Sorry thinking pictures didnt work ??

[whatsinaname]

Try again

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b58 ... 122142.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b58 ... 122011.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b58 ... 122517.jpg
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b58 ... 122604.jpg

Hope it worked

[Torana68]

not moscow or 1980, more like 1950 ish (cant read the number), none of the components belong on there but its a 5 star frame, forks suspecious but Im sure Warren will pop in soon enough, on second look the rear fork ends look suspecious as well

[RobertFrith]

Here you go...
is there a number on the dropout? too out of focus to tell

[whatsinaname]

Hi Robertfrith

no no number on the dropouts just a name,, think of another known bike gear supplier that starts with C but not campag or colnago,, i just cant remember the name sorry.
Can i have your reasoning behind it not being what its stickers say ?
So why would somebody put a moscow 80 sticker on the frame ?? doesnt make sense

Cheers

[whatsinaname]

Again a little hard to decipher but maybe it will help:

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b58 ... 122517.jpg

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b58 ... 122023.jpg

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b58 ... 122545.jpg

Cheers

[whatsinaname]

Dropouts are "Columbus"...memory is starting to work when plied with alcohol LOL

Cheers

[bicyclepassion]

OK. There is no number because the rear dropouts have been replaced. The number would have been on the right hand rear dropout, which almost certainly would have faced the other way.
If you are lucky, the number may have been repeated on the steerer tube.
From the lugs and the fork crown, I think it might date from between 1945-1948.
They would be the original forks to that frame.
The Moscow 80 decals may have been the only ones available when the frame was modified and repainted.
The way those Columbus dropouts have been butchered, presumably to alloy the wheel to drop in and out, the bike must have short chainstays. Maybe it was a track frame originally?
The forks look pretty straight, not much rake for a 1940's bike, so may be 'track' forks.
The doubled up seatstay bridges confirm thoughts that it was a track frame. The lower curved bridge is consistant with early 5 star track frames. The upper, obviously added to bolt the brakes onto.
What do the clearances look like with 700C x 23 wheels in it?
The A83 under the BB shell is a casting number.

If that thing could talk, it would have quite a story to tell!

Warren

[whatsinaname]

Thanks so much Warren,

Think this frame may have to be a full restoration to original if possible...was going to convert to a SS/fixie.
A classic piece of Aus cycling history, would be a loss to butcher it I think.

You obviously have an extensive knowledge on this era, how hard would it be to find info on its original build ???

Al

[Torana68]

just google 5 star and read away

[whatsinaname]

Will do

[Torana68]

should have said search here first , but theres lots of info about

[bicyclepassion]

I could supply a pair of NOS original type rear dropouts. Peter Campbell, Cotterpin on this site, could braze them in for you. He could also remove the other modern braze-ons, and fill the holes where the bidon cage mounts are.
Did you get a chance to check for a serial number on the steerer?
We need to pin down a year before working out what components it might have had.
Warren

[Vern Stralam]

reasonable buy for $50.

[whatsinaname]

Had a good look today and no, there is no number on seat tube or head tube there is however a number on the fork shaft ? is this any use ?
Upon close examination the second seat stay brace is definately an add on as is the deraillleur lug, the weld is just very different.
It looks a bit like its original colour may have been Fawn/yellow from whats under the green ? or maybe that is undercoat...hard to say.
I have access to whatever I need to do this properly as LBS is best mate so we may get a good result on this restoration
I am so indebted to you for your advice Warren. Many thanks.

Al

[bicyclepassion]

The fork shaft is known as the the steerer tube, or steering tube. Yes, that number will be relevant.
Fawn/yellow sounds like undercoat.
Warren

[RobertFrith]

The fork shaft is known as the the steerer tube, or steering tube.

Steerer is inside the head tube, you'll have to remove the forks to see it