European Bike Frames 56cm and smaller

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PLEASE NOTE: I measure all British, American and Japanese frames in inches ctt (centre to top) and convert to the nearest cm, conversely I measure all European and Italian frames in centimetres ctc (centre to centre) and convert to the nearest 0.25in.
A problem with all frames measured ctt is that the top measuring point varies from maker to maker and I try and second guess where the maker intended his measurement to be to – some mean top of top top tube, others the very top of the seat lug, and others to the seat lug top line…

FRAME SIZING
Do not assume that you will need a frame sized the same as your modern one – either seat tube or top tube. Fashion plays a great part in frame design and sizing. In the early years of the 20th century frames were sized as large as possible with virtually no seatpost showing … by contrast riders were advised in the 1920s to have as small a frame as possible.
Race/road frames from the 1920s/early 1930s will generally be sized about 3–5cm smaller than a modern frame but with a much longer top tube and shorter stems. Towards the end of the 1930s larger frame sizes became fashionable – up to 2cm larger than a modern frame. Top tube lengths were still longer used with shorter stems. In the 1940s and 50s frames were sized a bit larger still – 3–4cm more than a modern frame still with longer top tubes and shorter stems. In the 1960s and 1970s frames gradually reduced in size until the late 1980s. At the same time top tubes began to get shorter and stems longer.

Standover height is NOT a useful method of frame sizing either with modern or old frames. Short legged riders will rarely have much or any clearance between the top tube and their crotch unless the frame has a sloping top tube design. Taller riders also face other problems. A complete guide to frame sizing for frames of different periods is impossible to detail here. For frames from the 1980s onwards I suggest buyers look at Dave Moulton’s contributions on frame sizing. Possibly start off with http://davesbikeblog.squarespace.com/blog/2006/2/27/a-different-thought-on-frame-sizing.html
and then look at: http://www.davemoultonregistry.com/MoultonFrameSizeChart

I am willing to advise any customer on frame sizing with older frames.

Featured Frames
British and American road frames smaller than 21.5in
British and American road frames 21.5in–22.5in
British and American road frames larger than 22.5in
Bargain Basement
Classic Road frames pre-1970 smaller than 21.5in
Classic Road frames pre-1970 21.5in–22.5in
Classic Road frames pre-1970 larger than 22.5in
Classic Track & Road-Track frames pre-1970
European frames 56cm or smaller
European frames larger than 56cm
Italian frames 56cm or smaller
Italian frames larger than 56cm
Lo-Pro &
Retro Time Trial frames

Touring frames
Track frames

Please contact me at: hilarystone@hilarystone.com to check on availability and confirm shipping cost.

ANDRE LEDUCQ TRACK FRAME c1953 53cm built by Mercier
Seat Tube (ctc): 53cm (21in)
Top Tube (ctc): 56cm (22in)
Rear dropout width: 115mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C
Frame tubing: Not known
Seatpost size: 26.6mm
André Leducq was a very accomplished French professional rider who won the Tour de France twice and rode for Mercier from 1934–39. In the late 1930s Mercier introduced a range of high-end bicycles bearing his name. They continued after WWII into the early 1950s. This track frame is gorgeously built – I suspect it may have been built for one of their top riders its of a quality rarely seen on French frames except for those built by the Constructeur builders – Herse, Singer, etc The lug shorelines are stuningly precise and the brazing perfectly clean. The paint is not in very good condition but I think it should definitely not be repainted. The frame is in excellent condition and built from a light double butted metric sized tube set, quite possibly Reynolds 531. £450

 

LOOK TT frame 54cm c2004 ex French pro rider
Seat Tube (ctc): 54cm (21.25in), 60cm (23.75in)
Top Tube (ctc): 56cm (22in)
Rear dropout width: 126mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C with brake drop of 46mm
Frame tubing: Not known
Seatpost size: Oval
This frame was originally built for Guillaume Auger (the plate in front of the seat tube on the top tube carries his name) a minor French professional rider who at the time the frame was built was riding for R.A.G.T. Semences - MG Rover team. Its in very good condition with just a few small marks. There is no seat post with the frame. £645

 

THOMANN RANDONNEUR FRAME 1952 54cm
Seat Tube (ctc): 54cm (21.25in)
Top Tube (ctc): 56cm (22in)
Rear dropout width: 115mm
Wheel size: 700C
Seatpost size: 25.4mm
This Thomann randonneur frame dates from c1952 I think. It has Simplex dropouts, a rear dynamo braze-on and Mafac cantilever braze-ons and is designed to be used with a Simplex racing gear such as a Tour de France or Juy-51 but with cantilever brakes and probably a small front rack. I can supply most parts to complete. The original paint has a great charm. This will make a great project. £165

 

TENDIL ROAD FRAME 54cm 1949
Seat Tube (ctc): 54cm (21.25in)
Top Tube (ctc): 57cm (22.5in)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C with brake drop of 62mm
Frame tubing: Not known
Seatpost size: 25mm
Tendil Cycles was founded in southern France in 1920 – it moved Nimes during the 1920s and it still exists there. They sponsored a professional team from the mid 1930s through until the early 1950s. They produced some very high quality bikes during the period of time – ten years ago I sold a wonderful pre-war Tendil road bike which was equipped with all the best kit of the time. I think they were more interested in road bikes rather than touring or randonneurs so are not considered as a Constructeur builder…
This frame dating I think from 1949 is really very nice – it has the early pattern Simplex rear dropouts with hanger for a Simplex TDF gear and I think the lugs are probably from Oscar Egg. Its in very sound condition though the paint is poor but comes complete with headset. It can fairly easily be built into a lovely road bike gears, brakes and bars will all be pretty straightforward… It has French threads. £265

 

** SPECIAL REDUCED PRICE**
JACQUES ANQUETIL 54cm 1960s

Seat Tube (ctc): 54cm (21.25in)
Top Tube (ctc): 54cm (21.25in)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Wheel size: 700C/sprints with a brake drop of 53mm
Seatpost size: 26.4mm
Frame Tubing: Not known
There are many bikes out there labelled with Anquetil decals and they were built by a number of different factories and builders. This frame which was found in France has French BB and headset threads and Huret dropouts. I think it dates from the early to middle 1960s – it’s almost certainly built from some form of double-butted tubing – metric dimensioned tubing with double butting takes seatposts in the range 26.4–26.6mm. A very nice quality French road frame. £225

 

** SPECIAL REDUCED PRICE**
MBK SUPER RECORD 1989–90 53cm

Seat Tube (ctc): 53cm (21in)
Top Tube (ctc): 54cm (21.25in)
Rear dropout width: 128mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C with a brake drop of 53mm
Frame tubing: Columbus Cromor
Seatpost size: 26.0mm
This MBK frame built from Columbus Cromor tubing is in very good to excellent condition. with some small marks to the paint. £125

 

** SPECIAL REDUCED PRICE**
GERMAN TRACK FRAME Possibly Rickert 52cm 1960s

Seat Tube (ctc): 52cm (20.5in)
Top Tube (ctc): 54cm (21.25in)
Rear dropout width: 116mm
Wheel size:  700C/sprints
Seatpost size: 27.2mm
Rickert was one of the top German framebuilders. The German Rickert expert thought that this track frame was very likely to be a Rickert. This frame exudes quality just like most Rickert frames. The paint and chrome are in excellent condition. It has typical steep track frame angles and close clearances and is not drilled for brakes. £245

 

** SPECIAL REDUCED PRICE**
FRANCE-SPORT ROAD FRAME 54cm c1952

Seat Tube (ctc): 54cm (21.25in)
Top Tube (ctc): 54cm (21.25in)
Rear dropout width: 118mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C with brake drop of 48mm
Frame tubing: Vitus
Seatpost size: 26.4mm
France-Sport bikes were built in Valenciennes by Starnord. This is was a medium sized French bike builder who built a full range of bikes under the Paris-Sport, France-Sport and Starnord names. This is one of their top road frames with Nervex Pro lugs, fork crown and Simplex forged rear dropouts – the gear hanger has been cut off. It has French bottom bracket and headset threads. It has its original paint albeit in quite poor condition. Restored with suitably patinated parts this would look really rather good in my opinion. £175

 

NO-NAME ROAD FRAME 55cm c1936 French or Belgian?
Seat Tube (ctc): 55cm (21.5in)
Top Tube (ctc): 56cm (22in)
Rear dropout width: 115mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C with brake drop of 54mm
Seatpost size: 26.0mm
This road frame is thought to be French or Belgian in origin – it has braze-ons for an early Super Champion Osgear – I can supply suitable parts at extra cost to the buyer. The BB and headset threads are both English – some of the French framebuilders did supply frames with English threads for the British market. The long fork offset and lugs are very French in appearance. A very interesting frame. £145

 

** SPECIAL REDUCED PRICE**
COPLO COQUEMPOT ROAD FRAME c1953 French from Douai

Seat Tube (ctc): 55cm (21.5in)
Top Tube (ctc): 56cm (22in)
Rear dropout width: 114mm
Wheel size: 700C/sprints with a front brake drop of 60mm
Frame Tubing: Reynolds 531 double butted metric dimensions
Seatpost size: 26.6mm
This is a very beautiful and original French built road frame from around 1951. I know nothing about its Douai based builder who interestingly describes himself on the headbadge as a Constructeur but it all shrieks a very high quality frame. Take a look at the beautifully filed Oscar Egg lugs, Simplex forged dropouts, reinforced brake bridge pump peg detailing. It really is stunning … extremely special in its original paint which is in exceptional condition. It of course has French threads but I can supply BBs with French threading and it comes complete with a Stronglight Competition headset in excellent condition. A truly excellent frame. £295

 

** SPECIAL REDUCED PRICE**
HELYETT ROAD FRAME MODEL H48 1940s/50s

Seat Tube (ctc): 51cm (20in)
Top Tube (ctc): 56cm (22in)
Rear dropout width: 120mm
Wheel size: Sprints/700C with a brake drop of 55mm
Frame Tubing: probably Reynolds 531 double butted
Seatpost size: 26.4mm
This is I think an early post-war Helyett road frame – it carries a model number H48 on the rear dropouts. Almost all Helyett frames carried a model number beginning with an H… The lugs are those used by Helyett pre-war. It appears to be in sound condition and the paint is almost useable. Its missing its head badge but Helyett head badges are reasonably easily found on French Ebay. An excellent and very interesting restoration project. £95


Featured Frames
British and American road frames smaller than 21.5in
British and American road frames 21.5in–22.5in
British and American road frames larger than 22.5in
Bargain Basement
Classic Road frames pre-1970 smaller than 21.5in
Classic Road frames pre-1970 21.5in–22.5in
Classic Road frames pre-1970 larger than 22.5in
Classic Track & Road-Track frames pre-1970
European frames 56cm or smaller
European frames larger than 56cm
Italian frames 56cm or smaller
Italian frames larger than 56cm
Lo-Pro &
Retro Time Trial frames

Touring frames
Track frames





SHIPPING COSTS

UK: £18
Europe: £35
North America: £90
Japan, Asia, Australasia, Africa, Middle East, South America: £115

Figures above are good estimates, rates may vary for some countries.
Contact us for more info.


CLICK ON the sale images to see a much larger picture!

FRAME CONDITION
Frames are supplied as seen in the pictures unless described otherwise in the text.
Please remember that these frames are generally at least twenty years old and sometimes seventy… In most cases I will know very little of their history but will attempt to describe any problems I can spot – if there are issues I have missed I will always work with the buyer to find a solution.
All frames I sell are in track and straight, with excellent headset threads, bottom bracket shell threads and gear hanger threads if fitted.
I will make every attempt to ascertain whether paint is original, an older repaint or a more recent repaint. Paint quality does vary quite bit…

These categories may be qualified by more detailed description in the text.

Excellent A very useable frame with no obtrusive marks to the paint and no dings or dents. Chrome if present will be free of serious marks unless stated otherwise.

Very Good Perfectly useable frame but with more marks to the paint and chrome if present. Some of the marks may benefit from careful retouching. Generally there will no dents or dings but if present will be small. However if you are concerned about dents/dings with frames in this category please ask me to do an extra check.

Sound Paint and chrome may need redoing depending on how you like your bikes – I appreciate frames with patina which show their age but others may want to repaint. There may be a small ding or two but nothing very significant – older frames often pick up smaller dents which are of no significance to their strength or life. Any more significant dents will be described in the text.

Needing repainting Paint will be poor and in my opinion is not saveable. There may be a small ding or two but nothing very significant – older frames often pick up smaller dents which are of no significance to their strength or life. If there are larger dents they will be described and/or pictured. These are all easily filled by a good framebuilder or frame painter at very little extra cost.

Headsets or bottom brackets fitted to frames are of unknown and unguaranteed condition unless specifically described in the text. Sometimes headsets or bottom brackets will not feel smooth and simply need a service and on other occasions the headset or bottom bracket will need replacing…
For frame without headsets or where you'd like a headset replaced I can offer a fitting service for £15. Please see the headset pages: http://hilarystone.com/headset.html for what is available but please bear in mind that you may need advice on whether a particular headset will fit your frame especially in relation to stack height.


 
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