Fellow listmongers -
I acquired an interesting find from a friend's LBS yesterday and thought I'd troll the CR list and see if I could snag some enlightenment.
I don't recall this name popping up in the recent "little known builders" thread, but the frame is a Charles Martin. The head tube decal, a kind-of "shield-and-banner" design indicates "Chas. Martin USA". I just shot some detail pics as I started to dissemble the bike last night and, unfortunately, the HT decal is out of focus in the picture. I'll get a better pic (and add a full-frame shot, something else I forgot) in the next day or so. The other pics are pretty clear. Some of the details are unusual and unfamiliar to me. In particular, the fork crown and the little "bulb" pump peg on the seat lug point. Given the design details, I suspect the frame to be of 70's vintage, but the frame has Campy semi-vertical drop-outs, which I'm not used to seeing on similar frames. Except for the HT decal, there are no other decals on the frame and no tubing identifier.
There was an interesting mix of components on the frame as well. PAT 73 Nuovo Rec RD, early Dura Ace FD, early Dura Ace (black) calipers and (silver) levers, Dura Ace steel headset, Zeus seat post, Mavic gold-anodized stem, Hi-E hubs laced to Mavic red-label Record du Monde gold-anodized rims, early Sugino crank with black-anodized drilled rings and Campy Record pedals.
Some questions:
1. Anyone heard of Charles Martin? 2. Speculation on vintage? 3. Can someone identify the crown, lugs and BB shell? 4. Who else was using this seat stay attachment in this era? Common or no? 5. Any other insight, comments, speculation, etc.?
Pics can be seen here:
http://albums.photopoint.com/
As always, thanks for any input!
Wayne Bingham
Falls Church, VA