Dear All,
I agree, the price paid seems about right considering the condition and provenence of this frame - and indeed compared to how much you will pay for a modern KOF equivalent.
As if to prove this, I thought I'd just let you all know that over the next
day or two I will be listing a frame which was discussed here some time bac k:-
_http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp?Filename=classicrendezvous.10402.04 96.e ml_ (http://search.bikelist.org/getmsg.asp?Filename=classicrendezvous.10402.04 96.eml)
In the end I was the 'lucky' buyer, but as soon as I received said frame, i t became clear that I had purchased a complete turkey in that it had suffered
frontal crash damage that had not been declared by the vendor.
A 22.5" 1950s CB Avant Coureur to be sure, but there was / is heavy crimpin g of the downtube behind the bottom head-lug - and more, someone in its past life had seen fit to hacksaw off part of the rear mudguard eyes...
None of this could be seen on the auction pix (at least by me) and so to assess the full extent of the damage I stripped off the 'rattle can' respra y revealing / confirming the true horrors that lay beneath...
Given the low price I paid for the frame I decided to simply get on with my
life and didn't pursue the vendor, and it has lain gathering dust in my she d since then.
It will need at the very least a new down tube, possibly a new top tube / realigning - and a properly wary purchaser would probably view the forks wi th suspicion as well. Also what to do about the rear drop outs? Then there's t he cost of a good period respray to add on - and by the time you take all that
into account I reckon you've reached £400 / $750 with ease.
As far as I'm concerned the frame is scrap, so it'll be interesting to see if anyone will pay to take it off my hands (properly described as above of course)!
IN FACT WHILE I'VE WRITTEN THIS - I'VE CHANGED MY MIND. HERE'S THE DEAL.
IF SOMEONE ON THE LIST WANTS TO LAY CLAIM TO THIS MONSTER AND WILL EITHER COLLECT IT OR PAY FOR THE BOXING AND SHIPPING - IT'S THEIRS FREE OF CHARGE.
There is however a happy ending to this story (if you believe in fate). A few weeks later I was at the Mildenhall Cycle Rally 'jumble, where I picked up a complete 23" 1951 CB lugless frame in perfect structural order, with period
B/B, headset and seatclamp for just £18... I reckon you only get that luc ky once or twice in a lifetime.
Ian Briggs
LUTON - UK