Shorter frame number location?

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pippy

New Member
Location
London
Hello!

I don't know any details, really, about vintage and classic frames so please do excuse me if I ask anything which might seem obvious to someone better informed...

Can anyone advise me on where I might locate the serial number of a Shorter frame? I have had a pretty good look at the BB shell and can see no sign of the number there. Nor is there any number on the steering-tube but, as mentioned, I don't know whether Shorter / Rochford utilised such a practice.

As can be seen from my post-count I'm a newbie and came across this website when trying to find out something regarding some details of my frame; specifically the Italian Fastback / Shot-in(?) stays. A search on the www picked-up this post by member biggs682 where a frame recently acquired by them utilises the same feature;

https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/shorter-rochford.218906/

As such this might be a very good place to start a little bit of a background check.

This is a general shot of the thing;

lo-res L1110817.jpg


Just FWIW in case anyone might be interested;

This was bought (as a built-up bike) from a junk stall in Camden Market late'87 / early '88.
I was looking for a hack to use as a shopping-bike (so as to spare my 'good' bike) and when found it was in an absolutely terrible state. It had been given a coat of chocolate brown emulsion paint(!) and the 'equipment' was the very cheapest of the cheap so as-was it suited my plans perfectly. It was only when I started stripping it down that it started to become clear that there was some quality to the frame...
Once the emulsion started to come off I found the remains of the Shorter transfers and my plans had to change. It was duly taken up to their shop for a respray(*) and - at the time - they could even remember the rider who had ordered the frame as well as how much it had cost them which was rather more than the £25 I paid for the whole bike...

Anyhow; I've forgotten all that I was told about it so it would be lovely if comeone could shed any more light on the project. It hasn't been ridden for 25 years or so ("Life" got in the way) but as I've now officially retired my plan is to re-commision both this bike(*) as well as the 'good' one mentioned earlier. The latter, however, will require quite a bit more work. Here's a snap of the old girl; frame bought new as my Xmas present in 1976 and built-up over the course of the next eleven months;

lo-res L1110833.jpg


Thanks in advance!

Philip.

* It ended up being equipped with a full Campagnolo Victory groupset which - chainset apart - has now been returned to 'as new' condition).
 

All uphill

Still rolling along
Location
Somerset
I know nothing about these bikes,, except that I like them.

Over to you @biggs682
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
pippy

pippy

New Member
Location
London
Could the frame number be on one of the rear drop outs ?
Thanks for the suggestion, Gillstay, but no; sadly nothing so straightforward!

For some reason my mind is saying that it might have been on the 'Italia' lug but it isn't there either. There must be a number somewhere, though, because when it was away for the respray the chaps at Shorter Rochford checked their records to confirm that it actually was what they thought they had remembered; it had been a special-order build.

I'll have a REALLY good look at it tomorrow when there should be some daylight...

Philip.
 
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