Greetings---
Okay, this one hurts to sell because its really one of my nicest riding frames. It just feels right. Stable and smooth, and sweet around the turns for its size and geometry.
A very interesting CARLTON FLYER frameset. As best as the marque enthusiast for the Veteran Cycle Club in England and I can determine, the frame dates to around 1957, perhaps even earlier. The Flyer was Carltons top and lightest model back in the day.
Normally, one would think that a serial number would give a positive date of manufacture. But even with the generally-rational Carlton marque, things are not always so cut and dried. The Cyclo left rear dropout serial number is stamped 20519. Such a number, with no letter prefix, would seemingly suggest a frame manufactured between 1968 and 1972, yet this simply cannot be, as a number of key features point to a much earlier date of construction.
For example: The lugs are the early style, used from 1937 to 1955 and available as an option up to 59. The lugset is shown in the 1939 Carlton catalogue, which may be viewed on CR here----
http://www.classicrendezvous.com/
Other signs that the frame is from the 50s is that the seat stay eyes do not wrap round the frame partly as they did in the 60's. The flat mudguard fixing eyes were used up to the mid 50's when they faded out over the next few years, being an option for a while. They were later replaced by holes in the drop outs. Pump pegs on the downtube are another early feature, as later they were on the top tube or seat tube. The fork crown is also an early type. The cycling man headbadge (which is in great shape) came into vogue during the latter part of mid-50s.
MEASUREMENTS: SEAT TUBE: 24-INCHES C-T-C; TOP TUBE: 24-INCHES; CHAINSTAYS: 44-45mm; 120mm rear spacing. Reynolds 531DB tubing. 26.8 seatpost size.
FEATURES: Toptube brake cable brazeons----downtube pump pegs and brazeons for front and rear derailleur cables----rear derailleur cable stop on chainstay----top and bottom oiler ports in bottom bracket shell---- fork blade lamp bracket boss----slotted fender bosses fore and aft----rear seatstay lamp boss.
CONDITION: FRAME IS STRAIGHT AND SOUND, RIDES WONDERFULLY AND PRESENTS ITSELF QUITE WELL WHEN BUILT UP INTO A BIKE. FLAMBOYANT GREEN PAINT IS MIXED (VERY NICE IN SOME SPOTS, WORN OR SCRATCHED IN OTHERS).
DEFECTS: Frame has a few small pea-sized or smaller dings in four locations. If you will be respraying the frame, these are easily filled. If you will be riding the frame as-is, only one area is at all visible, even when looking fairly closely.
The largest ding is not really visible. It is pea-sized and on the bottom of the drive-side chainstay, just past the bottom bracket lug. There are also three small dings on the lower half of the seat tube. The first is on the side of the tube, a few inches below the mid-point on the drive side, and is the only one at all visible to the casual observer.
The other two very small ones are found on the back-facing side of the seat tube.
The last ding I found is on the port side of the top tube. Again, it is tiny.
Unless youre extremely fastidious, these really do not detract from the overall appearance of the frame, especially when built into a bike, and, as I say, are easily filled if that is your desire.
GOBS OF PHOTOS:
http://s89.photobucket.com/
I have also posted shots of the "dings" to a separate page so that they are easier to observe---
http://s89.photobucket.com/
Includes vintage seat post binder bolt and new TANGE headset (no ball bearings).
PRICE: $225 PLUS SHIPPING. (I get very reasonable rates from UPS.) PAYPAL ONLY, please, to pjourdain@yahoo.com
Thanks!
Peter Jourdain Whitewater, Wisconsin US of A
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