OK Keeds: I agree with Michael on this , his instincts are pretty good.
The crank set looks to me to be post war 1950+/- new on bike. The geometry
looks '20's style.
It's very evident that the original sprocket was probaly bent or too close
to the chainstay and almost wore it thru, or it was the crank hiiting.
I have a few pictures from my dad and colleagues racing in Germany
1926/7 and the geometry on those bikes very similar.
One photo shows a mid-twenties Diamant with fishhook dropouts and big
wingnuts for changing rear cogs on ride to get different ratios.
I understand some had 2 on each side, but never saw that.
I can't tell from The ?Durkopp foto whether it has only one cog or is a flip
flop hub.
Many of those bikes had coaster brakes back wheels, that gave the rider one
speed as in fixed, but also allowed coasting and then the braking ability.
The Durkopp? has straight back fork ends track style, but the wheel base is
way long and would not have handled well on any smaller track.
1/4 to 1/2 mile may have been OK but not too good for sprints.
It look more like a typical street/road type bike.
Seat, bars, and all.
My pics of guys on track bikes in the 1890's show frames and positions much
closer to todays, compared to the old sled shown on the foto of the ?Durkopp
up on the web.
Wouldn't doubt that the BB is of the split housing double bolt cup fastening
type.
Also doubt whether it would have come with 1" chain, but I could be off on
that.
Many of those bikes came with 1/2" so the gear ratio changes were more
practical.
Ted Ernst
Palos Verdes Estates
CA USA
> Folks,
> check out this superrare german Dürkopp bike on german ebay.
> http://tinyurl.com/
> Seller claims it as a track bike.
> Auction number 300173520534
> Seems to be really old and has very unusual angles for a track bike,
> also no track ends and wooden rimms, but a inch pitch ring and chain. No
> freewheel.
> Is it really a track bike or an early roadbike?
> Seller suspect it beign made in 1924
> I have no intention of buying it but wanted to point it out to our
> Dürkopp afficionados...
>
> Regards
>
> Michael Schmid
> Oberammergau - with lots of snow
> Germany
> Tel.: +49 8821 798790
> Fax.:+49 8821 798791
> mail: schmid@zunterer.com
> http://www.zunterer.com