biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
And that's how it came to me
Vintage Falcon road bikes
- Thread starter southcoast
- Start date
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And that's how it came to me
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
Yes. I bought it knowing that you weren't sure what it was , I wanted a challenge . It is a right puzzle .
biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
A nice bit of sunshine starting to appear on the horizon
biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
It was sold to me as a Rotrax as you well know and it's great that you managed to tie it down to a Falcon.
Shame it can't talk really
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
What I have discovered so far is .
From washing the layers of paint off the frame with cellulose thinners I have established that the original colour was a light metallic blue which then had white bands painted on the seat tube , down tube and head tube where transfers were then applied . I am certain of this as I found a piece of transfer above the demarcation line between the 2 colours . Also the white paint was the same hardness as the metallic blue. All of the lugs were then carefully lined in gold paint , even the brake bridge and the small brace between the chain stays . The gold lining would match with the gold brake calipers . The calipers have a date stamp which date it to the late 70's .
I couldn't find any real reason as to why the frame had been repainted apart from two small areas on the down tube and seat tube where the front changer was mounted . All I can think is that the bike had changed ownership at some point and the new owner wanted a black bike . Whether it still had its original equipment I don't know . It seems as though at least the brake calipers were kept . It could that by then most of the components had been sold off and the frame had been painted to cover the two areas of missing paint . This is when the bike lost its identity as the transfers had been removed prior to painting .
The next and final colour was blue . This was when the Rotrax transfers were applied . This could easily be an honest mistake as it is most likely that the frame had been sold again and that the person assumed that it was one. It happened to me when I bought a frame which I was told was a Woodrup. After a lot of searching I discovered that it was a Flying Scot . I'm happy with it as it's pretty rare down here .
There seems to have been a period where the frame with its calipers may have been traded or kept in storage for a time before being traded again, so by now it's true identity wouldn't be known .
If I had had the frame shot blasted or put paint stripper on it I would probably still be wondering what it was ! I have uncovered some of its history and discovered what it is . As to why it was painted in the original colour scheme is still a mystery !
From washing the layers of paint off the frame with cellulose thinners I have established that the original colour was a light metallic blue which then had white bands painted on the seat tube , down tube and head tube where transfers were then applied . I am certain of this as I found a piece of transfer above the demarcation line between the 2 colours . Also the white paint was the same hardness as the metallic blue. All of the lugs were then carefully lined in gold paint , even the brake bridge and the small brace between the chain stays . The gold lining would match with the gold brake calipers . The calipers have a date stamp which date it to the late 70's .
I couldn't find any real reason as to why the frame had been repainted apart from two small areas on the down tube and seat tube where the front changer was mounted . All I can think is that the bike had changed ownership at some point and the new owner wanted a black bike . Whether it still had its original equipment I don't know . It seems as though at least the brake calipers were kept . It could that by then most of the components had been sold off and the frame had been painted to cover the two areas of missing paint . This is when the bike lost its identity as the transfers had been removed prior to painting .
The next and final colour was blue . This was when the Rotrax transfers were applied . This could easily be an honest mistake as it is most likely that the frame had been sold again and that the person assumed that it was one. It happened to me when I bought a frame which I was told was a Woodrup. After a lot of searching I discovered that it was a Flying Scot . I'm happy with it as it's pretty rare down here .
There seems to have been a period where the frame with its calipers may have been traded or kept in storage for a time before being traded again, so by now it's true identity wouldn't be known .
If I had had the frame shot blasted or put paint stripper on it I would probably still be wondering what it was ! I have uncovered some of its history and discovered what it is . As to why it was painted in the original colour scheme is still a mystery !
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
I'm happy with it ! I knew that you weren't sure what it was. It's kept me busy and I am now a proud owner of a Falcon Professional .
Yes if it could talk it could reveal who and why it was commissioned!
onemorbike55
Member
New to the forum and to this nice older bike. Any info appreciated. SR crankset, cotterless, Shimano Titlist derailleurs, weinmann brakes
Attachments
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
Welcome . That's a nice looking Falcon .
Mandobob is a good person to tell you what it is . He will probably be along later .
There might be a date stamp on the back of the brake calipers .
Mandobob is a good person to tell you what it is . He will probably be along later .
There might be a date stamp on the back of the brake calipers .
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
I would have thought that the style of transfers and metal head badge would narrow it down to a certain period . The metal head badge was replaced by a foil one later and the transfer on the seat tube became larger and had an Eagle on it I think to represent the parent company Coventry Eagle .
Illaveago
Guru
- Location
- Chippenham,Wiltshire.
1967 to 1971 the period of Coventry Eagle ownership in Lincolnshire before Ernie Clements took over . I was thinking San Remo but I could be wrong .
onemorbike55
Member
It does have 1 little brazed on nipple to keep the down tube shifter clamp in place
biggs682
Touch it up and ride it
- Location
- Northamptonshire
A project Club Special here https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28512487...uid=OzjkmReVT1a&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Great that there is enough of the original model name and the residue of a Prugnat lugs label at the bottom of the seat tube. The original graphics on the down and seat tubes are definitely from the 1960s. A challenge for someone!
