RichardB
Slightly retro
- Location
- West Wales
This thing started as a request for ideas and information in Vintage and Classic, but now that it's become a proper project I am starting a thread here.
This is the original thread: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/source-of-lightweight-frame.267277/
I bought a 531 Williams frame from a forum member, without any clear idea what I wanted to do with it, other than build it into a useable bike. I have done a fair bit of servicing, repairing and modifying bikes, but never built one from a bare frame, so I was to some extent treading new ground. Budget was a big consideration, as I am now retired and on a limited income. I'm not poor by any means, but I'm not in a position to throw money around. Thanks to @biggs682, this arrived on my doorstep:
Initial assessment: headset v. good, frame threadings all clear, fair bit of rust and a few knocks to the paint. All as expected. Chromed forks showing some pitting. I checked with Willams Cycles in Cheltenham, and they do not sell decals any more and were unable to provide any details on the frame's history. With a little reluctance, I decided to have the frame shotblasted and leave it plain, although I made sure to acquire the correct 531 decals first. I quite like chromed forks, and as these cleaned up well, I have given them a rustkiller treatment and waxed them. Hopefully they will look good for a few years yet.
Here's the frame back from West Wales Aquablasting - when you consider the sheer ballache of getting sandpaper into all the nooks and crannies of the bridges and lugs, this was £20 well spent (and an excellent, friendly service, recommended if you are in Pembrokeshire or nearby).
First job was to get a coat of primer on it before it started to rust before my eyes ...
This is the original thread: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/source-of-lightweight-frame.267277/
I bought a 531 Williams frame from a forum member, without any clear idea what I wanted to do with it, other than build it into a useable bike. I have done a fair bit of servicing, repairing and modifying bikes, but never built one from a bare frame, so I was to some extent treading new ground. Budget was a big consideration, as I am now retired and on a limited income. I'm not poor by any means, but I'm not in a position to throw money around. Thanks to @biggs682, this arrived on my doorstep:
Initial assessment: headset v. good, frame threadings all clear, fair bit of rust and a few knocks to the paint. All as expected. Chromed forks showing some pitting. I checked with Willams Cycles in Cheltenham, and they do not sell decals any more and were unable to provide any details on the frame's history. With a little reluctance, I decided to have the frame shotblasted and leave it plain, although I made sure to acquire the correct 531 decals first. I quite like chromed forks, and as these cleaned up well, I have given them a rustkiller treatment and waxed them. Hopefully they will look good for a few years yet.
Here's the frame back from West Wales Aquablasting - when you consider the sheer ballache of getting sandpaper into all the nooks and crannies of the bridges and lugs, this was £20 well spent (and an excellent, friendly service, recommended if you are in Pembrokeshire or nearby).
First job was to get a coat of primer on it before it started to rust before my eyes ...