My reynold 653 i pick up

[10speedsemiracer]

I'd be thinking along the same lines as P!N20 and probably would also lean toward Columbus SL, just a feeling, can't provide an evidence guide for the feeling tho'.

[Brett3938]

I'd be thinking along the same lines as P!N20 and probably would also lean toward Columbus SL, just a feeling, can't provide an evidence guide for the feeling tho'.

Ok thanks for that it nice all the help you get here

[P!N20]

Is there any way with the chassis number on the bike to tell what it is ?

It will tell you it’s not a car

Unfortunately serial numbers on vintage bikes are rarely helpful. There’s only a few manufacturers that kept records or enthusiasts have deciphered the code. And all manufacturers had their own numbering system, so you’re really relying on someone recognising the placement and format.

00167...pretty optimistic if that’s the 167th frame of a potential 99,999! Although I guess it could be two letters followed by three numbers.

The 27.0 seatpost suggests the tubing might be Columbus SP or SPX, some even claim early SL took a 27.0 seatpost. SPX (and SLX) has rifling on the inside of the seat tube at the base where it meets the bottom bracket shell, so if you’re curious you could take the bottom bracket out and see if you can locate any ribs. They’re quite subtle, about five or six of them.

[Derny Driver]

The 27.0 seatpost suggests the tubing might be Columbus SP or SPX, some even claim early SL took a 27.0 seatpost...

Yes thats what I said in my first post. More likely Columbus. And the dropouts confirm that. The Reynolds sticker is not original.

[WyvernRH]

Is there any way with the chassis number on the bike to tell what it is ?

Unfortunately serial numbers on vintage bikes are rarely helpful. There’s only a few manufacturers that kept records or enthusiasts have deciphered the code. And all manufacturers had their own numbering system, so you’re really relying on someone recognising the placement and format.

00167...pretty optimistic if that’s the 167th frame of a potential 99,999! Although I guess it could be two letters followed by three numbers.

Yes, all of that - tho I would read the number as G0167 or maybe GO167 I did a bit of research on makes, fonts and shapes for the stamps used on bicycles, machinery, tools etc a while back. Hard to date the frame using the font/stamp type as these things last for years and get handed down (I used my dad's set for example) But one thing I can tell you from the font and indent angle is they are modern-ish stamps, probably Japanese or Chinese, not the old British imports that everyone seemed to use in the past.
While I hate to dampen anyone's enthusiasm it looks very much like a Technocrat built frame to me. Are you in Newcastle? You could try nipping down to Hadleys and see if one of the older employees knows anything about it. They don't just hand out their frame stickers to anyone and I doubt they would have applied the 653 sticker in that sloppy manner on a re-spray.

Nice bike tho, well worth building up and riding.

Richard

PS also IIRC did not plain or single butted 531 come with 27.0 ID seat tubes for some applications?

[P!N20]

While I hate to dampen anyone's enthusiasm it looks very much like a Technocrat built frame to me.

I was thinking the same, but Technocrat still did some good frames, right?

[WyvernRH]

While I hate to dampen anyone's enthusiasm it looks very much like a Technocrat built frame to me.

I was thinking the same, but Technocrat still did some good frames, right?

Technocrat made (still make?) a lot of top quality frames both for their own brand name and a lot of big name Italian manufacturers who happily stick their names on the frames. The big earner for them was their mid-range stuff which was high quality build and appeared all over the world under various names (Europa and others in Oz). Their quality control must have been pretty good, I've never seen a bad one. (except the chrome was often crappy...) They used all sorts of tubing depending on customer requirements so not a lot of help there, including the much underestimated Falck range - might be made of that?

Richard

[uart]

Are you in Newcastle? You could try nipping down to Hadleys and see if one of the older employees knows anything about it.

I was thinking exactly the same thing Richard.


And even though there is no real context to judge this for sure, the above picture looks like it might well have been taken somewhere along this little stretch of King Edward Park.
https://www.google.com.au/maps/(AT)-32.934 ... 6656?hl=en

[Brett3938]

That you would be right lol good work

[uart]

That you would be right lol good work

I ride my bike up there about once a week. Nice ride, but the steep part near the Bogey Hole gets me every time.

[QuangVuong]

Looks like a Kerry Hopkins built frame to me. Tip finishing and seat stay tops look correct. Serial number font looks right too.

You'll probably find that there are nails/pinning up the steerer and possibly in the BB junction too.

[P!N20]

^ I was hoping you’d show up

[Brett3938]

Thanks for your help i have it all striped down at the moment so i will have to have a look i have not got the bearings out of the bb but so i could not see if its pined there

[Brett3938]

Well look what i found in the forks did not even know it was there lol

[Brett3938]

Is there any way to find out if the bike is a Kerry Hopkins with the Serial number that is on it thanks for evry ones help so far with it

[Brett3938]

I have found the same Serial number on the forks it looks like it is G0167 and it has some black pen marks on it as well dont know if it means any think but i think it reads
HOP
P.BLUE
Maybe????

[P!N20]

^ The puzzle keeps coming together! HOP for Hopkins, Kerry. Not sure who did Kerry's paint - Joe Cosgrove? Looks like the original paint was some kind of blue - have a look inside the BB shell or head tube for any overspray.

Not sure if Kerry Hopkins is still in the game - might be worth trying to contact him to find out what the specs are.

[Brett3938]

Yep the puzzle is getting there lol thanks for all your help have not got the bb shell out yes as i have not got the tool to undo the nut and from what i can see there is a lot of light blue on it and where would i find Kerry hopkins?

[P!N20]

^ There it is!

P Blue = powder blue or pale blue.

Looks like your headset crown race is split.

Not sure about contacting Kerry Hopkins - QuangVuong might have more of an idea.

I'm enjoying this thread.

Edit: so Kerry Hopkins apparently owns/part owns/once owned ABC Bikes: https://www.abcbikes.com.au/ I suggest you give them a call and see if you can get hold of him.

[Brett3938]

Ow well that makes sense about the paint and whats on the forks and the split is not ment to be there? Sorry dont know much about bikes

[P!N20]

the split is not ment to be there?

Hmmm...apparently some crown races are split. Ignore me. None of mine are.

[Brett3938]

Ow ok lol all good

[uart]

the split is not ment to be there?

Hmmm...apparently some crown races are split. Ignore me. None of mine are.

Neither are any of mine.

I thought split crown races were only a thing with cartridge type bearings. Brett's looks like it's just a normal old ball bearing type, I've never seen them use a split crown before. That's not to say that it isn't a thing, but surely it's gotta be "notchy".

[Brett3938]

It has got race type bearing in it

[uart]

It has got race type bearing in it

Just to clear.

Do you meant a cartridge style like the following:



Or do you mean cup and cone style, typically with removable caged ball bearings (like in the following image), but also sometimes with loose (individual) ball bearings.


Specifically, is the thing with the split in it part of the actual race surface that the balls travel on?