John & All,
Everyone replying to you is quite correct.
I purchased and rode a 24" Viscount Aerospace with the "death fork" when they first went on sale over here in the UK around about 1972. Mine was silver with mid-blue contrasts and I have very fond memories of this bike.
Basically they were much cheaper as a package for a starter lightweight bike than anything else on the market at the time - and were notable for being v-light indeed (due to the use of 'aerospace' tubing on the frame, so I imagined!) and having monster clearances.
The frames were the best part and v.nicely put together and the silver finish was powder coated which made it v.robust indeed to withstand the rigours of racing and training.
The bottom bracket was notable for being a cotterless axle running in two proprietary sealed ball-race bearings all held in place by circlips, which worked well.
The downside though was that most of the componentry was extremely poor quality UK copies of Weinmann / Campag etc., The cranks were based on the TA cyclo-tourist standard and not too bad if a bit rough in finish. The L/F Campag-copy hubs (sealed bearings again) rims, seatpin (another Campag rip-off) and bars and stem were particularly vile and useless! So most of the bit and bobs were swapped-out over the first twelve months or so.
As I recall the pedals were particularly ludicrous, being Campag Road replicas with a one-piece cast barrel and cage with most of the 'flashing' in place. When they quickly fell to bits, I discovered they had plain bearings (!) Not baal and cup or needles - the plain hardened steel axle running in brass or bronze sleeves...
So it was a real paradox then to find that the supplied gearset was early Shimano - 'Crane' at the back and 'Titlist' at the front. I think 'Crane' later morphed into the first Dura-Ace groupset - yes? Obviously Viscount were able to cut a deal with the UK Shimano importers who presumably were trying to break into what was a Huret / Cheap Campag market then...
I used the 'VA' for road racing / time trials and then cyclo-cross (still with the dreaded fork installed) because the geometry was relaxed enough and had such vast clearances. In fact I rode the 3-Peaks Cyclo-Cross in 1978 (which is arguably the World's Toughest and most dangerous 'Cross race) on the bike - still with the dreaded fork installed - but note that I had no idea at the time - that it was allegedly such a hazard to health!
I have a rather good photo somewhere of me winning my club hill-climb championship around 1975-ish on the trusty VA wearing with me wearing a 'Brooklyn' trade jersey (without the lettering) and flowing locks - which is as close as I ever came to being Roger de Vlaeminck!
A chum inherited this bike from me when I 'retired' from cycling in the early '80s - and it found its way back to me again in 1991 when I 'unretired' as part of a package deal that included a huge pair of floor-standing loudspeakers (!), all for £100 ($150 approx). The forks were still in-situ and my friend hadn't had any problems with the bike at all. In 1995 I again rode the bike in Cyclo-Cross (resprayed by now in lurid orange and red - my club colours) and have another pic of me riding it in the National Veterans (Masters to you guys in the US) Championship...
The frame finally gave up the ghost about 5 years ago but simply because the seat-tube split in front of the seatpin binder, I think because the tubing was so thin at that point. I thought it was beyond economic repair and striped off all the useable components before scrapping the frame.
I still retain:-
Mock-TA Cyclo-Tourist cranks (not too bad and back in use on a Sturmey AW 3-Speed retro racers) Mock-Weinmann CP brake stirrups without the sticky red inserts (pretty crappy) Shimano 'Crane' rear changer (excellent) The 'Death Forks' (good - and to be honest if I had another big-clearance frame that needed them - they'd go back into service, but if someone wants to make me an offer!!!!)
It sounds as though John has as close to an original spec' VA as you'll be able to find now - and I must say I envy him - and wish him as much pleasure from his as I (and my chuim) had with mine. Hope this is all of some interest.
Regards,
Ian Briggs - Luton UK.