Re: [CR] 531 decals-other languages

(Example: Bike Shops:R.E.W. Reynolds)

From: "R.S. Broderick" <rsb000@hotmail.com>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:29:05 -0800
In-Reply-To: <a062309cbc73274df52af@[67.100.222.170]>
Thread-Index: Acptk7D1nAOVjegORRC7GOY3PJmn9wAEstkg
Cc: heine94@earthlink.net
Subject: Re: [CR] 531 decals-other languages


I cannot speak to the specifics of Reynolds 531 3/10 mm tube sets inasmuch as I have absolutely no knowledge regarding them.

However, Reynolds 5/10 mm tubing was introduced in 1975 as 531 SL (...i.e. Special Lightweight) coincident to release of 753 (...which does happen to measure 3/10 mm at its thinnest point). The following Reynolds advertisement from March of 1976 depicts the English language version of their respective decals:

http://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=6367&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

And while the decals for both of these products were made available in English as well as French language variations, I only have on hand for your review a representation of the 531 SL decal in French:

http://www.velo-pages.com/main.php?g2_itemId=24984&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

As for the 531 C (...i.e. Competition) tube set, that designation was not used until 1981 when TI Reynolds went about redesigning all of its decals and in any event 531 C did NOT include tubing with 5/10 mm wall thickness. Immediately prior to that time, the TI Reynolds lineup consisted of their venerable 531 (...which was actually offered in "Racing" or "Touring" specific boxed sets - the differences being constituted of fork length and rake, seat stay length, and chain stay length and pattern - the manner of tubing itself was otherwise identical), the aforementioned 531 SL and 753 competition oriented tube sets, their new 531 Speedstream tubing having an aerodynamically designed oval section, and the short lived SMS high tensile tube set which was not butted. Of course, there were also other variations within the 531 family that were manifest in the form of alternate decals indicating such things as a frameset built of only three main tubes of double butted 531, versus the frame tubes, forks and stays consisting of non butted 531, versus a frame having only three main tubes of non butted 531 where the head tube, stays, and fork blades were not of Reynolds origin.

But getting back to the aforementioned 1981 product realignment, it was at that point when TI Reynolds decided to truly diversify their offerings and coincidentally adopted a "winged" version of their various decals. Now the builder could choose from boxed sets of 531 Tandem (...3485 grams - the old 7/10 mm 531 suitable for a tandem build), 531 AT or All Terrain (...2400 grams - the old 7/10 mm 531 tubing sized for an ATB frameset), 531 ST or Super Tourist (...1935 grams - the old 7/10 mm 531 "Touring" tube set), 531 C or Competition (...1800 grams - the old 7/10 mm 531 "Racing" tube set), 531 Professional (...1700 grams - the old 5/10 mm 531 SL tube set with 753 rear stays), or 753 R (...1650 grams - all tubes consisting of 753 in "Road" configuration as opposed to 753 T which was a "Track" specific boxed set). TI Reynolds also began offering for the first time in 1981 501 Cromalloy M (...2025 grams - all tubes 501 welded and drawn CrMo). This lineup was thereafter supplemented in 1982 with the addition of 531 CS or Club Sport (1980 grams - the old 7/10 mm 531 tube set with 501 rear stays), and then again in 1983 with 453 (...single butted manganese steel), and in 1984 with 501 BMX (...2050 grams - all 501 tubes apropos a BMX build) and 501 AT or All Terrain (...2450 grams - 501 tubing sized for an ATB frameset). Past this point, we would be veering precariously "OFF TOPIC" with respect to the focus of this particular forum unless one were to consider 653 (...1989), 753 (...also 1989), 700 Classic and 708 Classic (...again 1989), 653 R (...1990), and their ilk to be "KOF".

And finally, while I can most certainly poke holes in the "official" Reynolds recounting of its own history (...which is generally "pretty good" from 1981 onward but woefully lacking in detail prior to that year), they do maintain quite steadfastly that their decals were ONLY ever produced in English and French language variations (...and with the exception of their "531 Butted Main Tubes" decal which continued to be offered through 1997, and the 653 decal which was used through 1995, all other French language versions were withdrawn no later than 1989).

Robert "like totally tubular" Broderick ...the "Chronically Cloudy Clime" of Oregon Portland, USA

-----Original Message----- From: classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org [mailto:classicrendezvous-bounces@bikelist.org] On Behalf Of Jan Heine Sent: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 9:58 PM To: Andy Newlands; classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR] 531 decals-other languages

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