This Ebay dropoff is two blocks from where I work. So I take a break and there is Mike taking a gander at this interesting bike and giving a phone report to Peter Weigle.
Some further comments. The frame is like a very nice production bike in quality, think Urago. At this time that was a high standard in France. The rear vertical drops are very minimal and refined.
The fork may be bent back 1/8". The rear stay bend is pretty ugly but could be fixed by a pro. More paint will come off when that is fixed, yet the paint should otherwise be preserved. The head badge is missing.
I think the bike might be earlier than 1958. Many of the parts are not original. Of course the seat, pedals and seatpost. The front derailleur was added later as indicated by the seperate shift lever and also an unused cable stop braze-on. It is , I believe, the first generation Alvit derailleur and so it is valuable in itself. Some of the brake hardware is replaced. I think the levers are a later type although I didn't study them.
The components do not show a lot of wear. Despite a very stretched chain the chainwheels show no more than 20% wear.
I disagree with Mike on the Wolber rims. They are nice and similar to a Wolber 58 but a little different and the remnant of the decal soes not say Wolber to me. They are 700C.
We both felt the bike would hit the reserve.
Joe Bender-Zanoni Great Notch, NJ
----- Original Message -----.
From: Mike Schmidt <mdschmidt@patmedia.net>
Date: Thursday, April 6, 2006 7:25 pm
Subject: [CR]Vintage 1958 French Type Dauphine Fobur 10-Speed Bike on Ebay
> RE: 6619781494
>
> Listmembers,
>
> Joe B-Z and I examined the above bike today and for those interested:
>
> The stem is AVA, but i could not confirm the mfg of the
> handlebars.
> Brakes are Mavic but blocks are modern. Hubs are maxicar but
> wingnuts
> are missing from the rear wheel. The freewheel is a Suntour 5
> speed.
> Front Huret derailluer and clampon shift lever is not orginal.
> Rear
> French Cyclotourist looks in good shape and shifts well. The
> spring
> looks in good condition. Rims appear to be Wolber and are true.
> Pedals, seat post and saddle are modern stuff. I measured the seat
> tube
> and its 56cm C-C with a 57 cm top tube. The right rear chainstay
> is
> bent upwards and damaged but not cracked. The contact at the Ebay
> store
> said the owner has a reserve of $1000 on the bike.
>
> Mike Schmidt
> Stirling, NJ