So my father passed and he had my grandfather's old road bike. My grandpa really loved this bike and my dad always wanted to restore it. Now its mine and I am going to go ahead and get it back into riding condition. I believe I have a 1980's or 1990's steel frame specialized. Possibly an allez. It has downtime friction shifters. All parts are campy except the front derailleur for some reason. What's confusing me is that there is no markings on the frame except for on the chainstay where there is a chrome guard that says specialized. I plan to have the frame sandblasted and powder coated but would like use a factory color scheme etc. Any help is much appreciated!
by TeriSerugi422
21 Comments
It’s from the 70s and certainly not a Specialized. Way too early and used Nervex lugs. Someone just a bought a Specialized-branded chainstay protector and slapped it on.
I would guess something British or European. What threading is the bottom bracket?
Could be a Schwinn or a Fuji. Fuji built a lot of frames for Schwinn. However, the Campagnolo Components throw me off unless your grandfather upgraded to them. Could be and old Paramount or it could be an Italian frame from the 80’s to the 50’s. I am just speculating here. A Paramount would have a serial number. Some smaller Italian frame builders didn’t bother with serial numbers.
I think the fact that it’s a triple crankset almost guarantees it’s US or English.
I do t think Italian builders were building touring bikes w triples.
Is the frame the right size for you?
Also, even though I still have a couple of my old frames up in the attic myself, bikes got a whole lot better since this was new.
A modern midrange bike will be be better in all sorts of ways than this one.
Get the rust spots stabilized, hang it on a wall as a remembrance to your grandfather and as a tribute to the talented frame builders who made it, but put your money and effort into something that will serve you today and tomorrow …
My 2 cents … YMMV …
It looks like a European or British frame. I’m not sure of the date. Looks old: the thick fancy lugs, curved fork, and cable guides above the bottom bracket, but it also has downtube shifter bosses. British tends to have the rear brake on the bottom left of the top tube, not on top. My guess is ’70s. The crank could be original, but the stem looks later, like the chain guard.
whatever it is – it will make a good retro bike. For one the bike itself,but even more with the personal history it has
Be careful about sandblasting–that can take off material that you need. I’d suggest finding someone who can do bead blasting, so the paint goes, but the steel remains intact.
Is there a serial number on the left rear dropout? No chrome so it maybe a small builder
😯Px10 my guy 🤯
The mentions of the Schwinn Paramount made me search for it on the web. This page has detailed photos of a 70s and an 80s Paramount. Always learning here!
[https://classicrendezvous.com/country-of-origin/usa/schwinn/](https://classicrendezvous.com/country-of-origin/usa/schwinn/)
Not specialized. I had a Lotus-branded bike that had that exact same specialized chainstay protector.
My money is on mid 70s small shop built frame not super high ends the lugs have not been thinned.
Okay – Nervex Professional lugs, which were in use from the very late 40s through the mid-70s, and were used by many builders throughout Europe and the U.S. The fork crown is the matching Nervex unit, also used in lots of bikes. Dropouts look like Campagnolo 1010s, so likely 70s or earlier.
Check the seatpost diameter – likely takes a 27.2mm seatpost. The BB is apparently English. REALLY carefully go over the underside of the bottom bracket and look for serial numbers. If you find a 4 or 5-digit number AND a lone single digit, maybe a Mercian. Pull the cranks and bottom bracket and look to see if there are any nails or pins where the tubes and lugs are joined. Mercian hearth brazed without jigs and pinned their frames before brazing.
The rear brake bridge looks a LOT like the one on a 1971 King of Mercia, which came with Nervex Pro lugs, AND the top tube cable tunnels and chainstay cable housing stop resemble those used by Mercian for many years.
Looks like a sekai like I have.
I’m wondering if that might be a Superior – given the triple crank
—edit—
The Superior was basically a touring Paramount
The paint on this frame right now is already way too thick.
Agree it needs repainting, but please DO NOT powdercoat this frame. It needs a thin layer of proper paint to show off those lugs and the craftsmanship that went into building it.
If you powdercoat it, you will ruin it, and destroy both the intrinsic and financial value of the frame.
Bike
This looks a lot like a bike I’m restoring. But the lugs look like they’re the inverse of lugs on your bike, if that makes sense? Mine has a reverse threaded bottom bracket. I made a recent [post here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Vintage_bicycles/comments/1sc97kw/frame_id/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button)
Also, based on the fender braze-ons, it’s a touring bike.
I had a frame like that, I miss the ride quality.
I would talk to a reputable bicycle frame refinishing shop before you start sandblasting. They might recommend you glass beat it instead.
Holy Shit! You guys are making me feel old!