Norris.Lockley@btopenworld.com writes:
However to add my "ten pennyworth" of knowledge... about the black thing.. yes it is a type of "sling" made of rubber and stretched between two pegs, the intent being to stop the chain trawling along the chainstay. They were very common in France in the 50/60s,
_http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/alexbicycles/detail?.dir=/f16a&.dnm=6b41.jpg _ (http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/alexbicycles/detail?.dir=/f16a&.dnm=6b41.jpg)
This is another picture of the rubber sling stretched on top of the right chainstay. This picture is from the website of the RHClassics seller that Norris referred to today for the many French bikes currently on ebay.
The seller's listings are at: _http://ebay.com/<blah> (http://ebay.com/<blah> since=-1&sort=3&rows=50)
The bike is a Herse (not currently listed, but pics are on the site). Lou Deeter, Orlando FL