I picked up a bike at a tag sale today and have never heard or seen one before. Odd mix of components and frame.
It is a "Tour de Suisse RS555" per the decals on either side of the downtube. The headtube and seat tube each have a matching "Tour de Suisse" decal. Frame is Reynolds 531DB throughout and forks. Nervex Professional head and seat lugs, unknown bottom bracket. Pressed/stamped steel dropouts but nicely finished. Chrome headlugs, fork crown and all stays front and rear. Paint is original and orange. Transition area on stays and fork chrome to paint is a fade job, not a clean line. Top of seat stays wrap around top of seat lug. Rear centerpull cable bridge is cheap stamped steel. Workmanship is so-so - not bad but not anything special either. Stem is mid 70's 3ttt Record and the bars are also 3ttt Competizione(sp?). Seatpost is a 3ttt micro adjust with a Brooks Pro saddle. All pretty high end stuff for that period. Brakes are Weinman 999 long reach calipers, levers have white hoods and Q/R's. Hubs are Shimano H/F 333, rear rim is a Super Champion 81 and front rim is a Mavic MOD E2, both with Schrader valves. Crankset is Campy Copy Shimano and Derailleurs are Shimano Crane units. Pedals are unbranded cheapies with AFA clips and straps.
Seems odd to have full 531/Nervex Pro but stamped dropouts and brake cable bridge. Also odd to have some high end stuff and meduim/low end stuff. What's original and what's not? Where and by whom was the bike made? Any and all info greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Eric Elman