Re: [CR] 531 decals-other languages

(Example: Production Builders:Cinelli)

Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 23:44:09 -0800
From: "Andy Newlands" <andy@strawberrybicycle.com>
To: Jan Heine <heine94@earthlink.net>
References: <4B0C670F.9070403@strawberrybicycle.com> <a062309cbc73274df52af@[67.100.222.170]>
In-Reply-To:
Cc: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: Re: [CR] 531 decals-other languages


Thanks Jan. Yes, the wall thickness deviates considerably from spec but it is interesting that the metric tube was called out as 0.3 when 70+ years later Reynolds 853 Proteam lightest tube is 0.4mm. Perhaps it is due to the change in chemistry from the old 531 to the air hardening 631 and heat treated 853? As to stickers, I still have a stock of the "red" 531 decals if your readers require some for re-spray. Cheers, Andy N. Strawberry Bicycle. Portland, Oregon 503-224-1215 http://www.strawberrybicycle.com

Jan Heine wrote:
> At 3:06 PM -0800 11/24/09, Andy Newlands wrote:
>> Hi Jan,
>> Interesting post about Reynolds tubing. What was the gauge of the
>> 3/10mm. tube you talked about? Was it 0.3mm somewhere along the
>> length of the tube?
>
> Like the early 753, "3/10 mm" was supposed to have 0.3 mm thick walls
> in the center of the tube. I assume 0.6 mm at the ends... In the old
> days, it was used for a few superlight randonneur bikes, for the bikes
> at the technical trials, and later for time trial bikes of riders like
> Anquetil and Ocana.
>
> Then there was "5/10 mm," also listed as "Competition," which was
> known elsewhere as 531C, and measures 0.8-0.55-0.8 mm.
>
> "7/10 mm" usually is known as "Super Tourist" in the English-speaking
> world. 1.0-0.7-1.0 mm.
>
> Those designations were the official ones in France - I have seen ads
> for "Reynolds 531 Competition 5/10 mm" tubing.
>
> Of course, the individual tubes vary a bit in their gauges, as
> Reynolds usually had lighter gauges on top tubes than on down tubes.
> But you know all that...
>
> As a builder, how consistent are tubing gauges anyhow? Ernest Csuka of
> Cycles Alex Singer told me that Reynolds tubing in the same nominal
> gauges was lighter in 30 years ago than today.
>
> Back to stickers, at some point in the early 1970s, the "531"
> lettering was red for the "5/10" tubing. All other bikes I have seen
> had green lettering on the stickers, no matter the tubing gauge. (Of
> course, it's possible that builders didn't put the "correct" sticker
> on each bike, after all, the sticker gets applied long after the tubes
> are taken from the box to build the bike, as the last thing after
> paint and assembly.)
>
> Jan Heine
> Editor
> Bicycle Quarterly
> 2116 Western Ave.
> Seattle WA 98121
> http://www.vintagebicyclepress.com