i finally got the beautyful track frame i recently bought on ebay from alex
march at rhclassics in bordeaux. (ebay item Item 7135679709)
<http://cgi.ebay.ch/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7135679709&ssPageNam
e=STRK:MEWN:IT>
it is a very fine worked frame with carefully filed lugs. it obviously
remained unpainted and unridden and shows patina from hanging in the
builders shop for years. i bought it because i was intrigued with the fine
lugwork and chromed double plate fork almost identical to my 50s tebag.
maybe i am crazy having paid so much but nevertheless, i like it. alex
thinks it dates from the 30s. seems to come from a renowned french builder
named "vira" from toulouse. i found no information about this builder
whereever i looked and alex too couldn't tell me further details. so i have
a bunch of questions to the experts in historic (french) steel on the list.
i hope someone can help me find more information about vira and french track
bikes of that era ?
can anyone identify the lugs and maybe the tubing?
how can the age be guessed? is 30s correct? or is it post-war?
i found no indication what kind of tubing had been used. was vitus or
reynolds available in france then?
three numbers 2-3-5 are stamped behind the seatlug. maybe a frame number.
the dimension for the seatpost is 26.2. the headset is nicely recessed in
the headlugs. the bb thread is left(!) on the right side which would fit
english or swiss thread (can't say without matching bb cups) and not french
as one would expect on a french bike. the dropouts are from simple flat
steel, not forged, the front taking 8 mm, the rear 9mm axles only. some more
detail photos:
http://www.formlos.ch/
martin glaettli
winterthur switzerland