Dale and List,
I guess I'll throw in my "two bits" on this Astra bicycle issue. Now I don't
much about these bikes except that I picked up one (frame and fork only)
several years ago while going through the junk heap at a local bike shop. I
'm guessing the vintage of this frame is probably late 60's to early 70's.
And yes, this one has lugs! As a matter of fact that is why this particular
frame caught my eye, not just because of the lugs, but the type of lugs and
what the frame was made of.
This frame not only has Nervex Pro lugs (fancy like a PX10) but the three
main tubes and fork are constructed with Reynolds DB 531. Now the only
verification I have of this is the faded but still intact and legible
Reynolds decals on the seat tube and fork. Still legible are the decals
identifying it as the "Grand Luxe" model, Made in France, and interestingly
a decal on the chainstay the says "Huret Equipped". Also the foil "ASTRA"
decals are still on the head and seat tubes but are very washed out I
presume from being left out in the weather for a long period of time.
Now even though the paint on the frame is very faded (white w/a black head
tube) it seems to be straight, with no visible cracks, and only some rust on
the chrome fork tips and stays.
Actually this frame and fork looks identical to the frame on my '75
Motobecane Record except for the dropouts, which I think are Simplex's.
So theirs my story. If anyone is interested in pictures of this frameset I
can email them to you individually since at this time I do not have a
website set up to view pictures.
Kris Koller
Martinez, CA
<classicrendezvous@bikelist.org> Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 9:19 AM Subject: Re: [CR][Astra maybe French maybe Belgium made
> In a message dated 1/3/2003 11:32:51 AM Eastern Standard Time,
> rena.cutrufelli@comcast.net writes:
>
> << Dale, were the ones you sold often painted med-dark gold? >>
>
> I think so, yes! Maybe a dark blue as well?
>
> Dale Brown
> Greensboro, NC