Re: [Classicrendezvous] Raleigh Professional?

(Example: Framebuilding:Tubing:Columbus)

Date: Wed, 08 Nov 2000 21:49:34 -0600
From: "Steve Kurt" <kurtsj@mtco.com>
To: Huthornton@aol.com
CC: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [Classicrendezvous] Raleigh Professional?
References: <c1.8851c9c.273b2ffc@aol.com>


Huthornton@aol.com wrote:
>
> I have what appears to be a Raleigh Professional frame (with non-original
> finish) that came with a few Nuovo Record parts that may not be original (the
> rear derailleur is PAT 84, so probably not ). It has cutouts in the lugs and
> three slots in the bottom bracket shell, Campagnolo ends and braze-ons for
> bottles and gear cables.
>
> The frame number is WK0002735.
>
> Can anyone confirm whether this is a Raleigh Professional, when it was made
> and what finishes were available with this frame?

Have you taken a look at the Retro Raleighs website? It has some good info, both regarding serial numbers and some copies of pages of the catalogs. Depending on the year, the Pro was most notable for the sloping fork crown and the fastback seat cluster. I can provide a jpg of the 74 and 75 catalog pages referring to the Professional. I don't recall any indications that the lugs had cutouts or that there were slots in the BB shell.

Did frames sold in the US
> and the UK have the same finishes? Are repro transfers available and would
> the headtube have had a transfer or stick-on badge (there are no rivet
> holes)? It was suggested to me that it was a team-issue frame, but I don't
> attach much credence to that -- it may have been based on the traces of
> original red paint, but there seem to be lots of "team replica" frames around
> finished in team red. Would the original components have been Nuovo Record
> or Super Record? What are the appropriate saddle, bars, stem and wheel rims?

I'm no expert, but I would expect three holes for the head badge rivets. The original color of the mid 70's model was "mink blue" with silver panels. The Pro was equipped with NR parts. 3TTT stem and bars, subject to whatever was laying around the factory that day. Again, I can provide jpgs of the 74 and 75 catalog. There is a sheet of specs in the back.

Steve Kurt