I am a new subscriber. I currently own three Peugeots, all PX-10s (I know the actual model numbers changed over the years but they are all PX-10s to me). I am the original owner of two, a 1973 and a 1974 model. My third bike I purchased for $25.00 (without wheels)and I do not know when it was manufactured. I'm guessing 1983 because it has Simplex SLJ 5500 derailleurs? The Stronglight chainrings on this bike are drilled and the Mafac Racer brake levers are gold anodized and drilled. This bike is my daily commuter (~40 miles/day) so I have added fenders that I made from 3/4" PVC pipe and attached with coat hangers (they work great and look better than they sound).
Just for information, all three Peugeots have chrome fork crowns that look great when the white paint is removed. Also, the rear Simplex dropouts on my 73 were drilled (but not tapped) for "rear axel spacer bolts" (i.e. the screws that are adjustable for aligning the rear axel). Tapping these out was easy work and looks much better than the bolt-on adjusters. When I bought my 73 and 74 I upgraded to Simplex LJ derailleurs and Phil Wood hubs. I currently use Tufo tubulars on all three bikes and highly recommend them for puncture resistance.
At the time that I bought my new 73 and 74 Peugeots, Sloane listed this bike as the cheapest and lightest of the "highest quality derailleur bicycles" in Table V of his book. I like everything about these bikes except for the quality of the craftsmanship on the lugs. Can anyone tell me how I can improve the quality and finish (and looks)of the lug work (tools needed, etc.)? I am not interested in repainting the frames but repainting the lugs would not be a problem.
Daniel S. Swords