Thanks to Mark Stevens (and Paul W.) for correctly IDing my friend's frame and forks, as a mid 1950s FLYING SCOT road/path. So as Mark noted, it turns out to be neither British nor American. Now we have a couple of questions for those in the Flying Scot know...
The rear spacing is 113.5mm ... would that have been 110 or 120mm originally?
There are mudguard eyelets on the fork tips, but not on the rear ends, and Mark asked if there was evidence that they might have been removed in the past. There is no evidence, but we are also not sure if the frame has been refinished at some point, or not. Does the green color look like an original Rattrays color from that time?
What tubing might this be built with?
Since there are no brake drillings, where and how would fenders be mounted at top?
Will the geometry of a road/path racer be acceptable or prohibitive for track use, especially on a 44 deg. banked velodrome as we have here in Detroit?
Can anyone (or any-many) please supply good clear photos of mid 1950s Flying Scot decals, and a headbadge? Does anyone happen to HAVE an appropriate headbadge available for purchase?
Thanks in advance for any help or insight...
Ciao, Mark Agree Southfield, Michigan, USA ~ ~ ~
That clinches it. The other clincher is the Allen key seat bolt. Scot
(Rattrays) were early pioneers of this. I am guessing 1955. The horns are axle
guides.
Here's Bob's new site
http://theflyingscot.com/
(Here Mark Agree replied that there are indeed the numbers 233 and an H behind the fork crown)
Date: Tue, 18 May 2010 09:07:14 +0100 From: Mark Stevens <_gillottspear@googlemail.com_ (mailto:gillottspear@googlemail.com) > Subject: [CR] ID: English or American c.1950s Track or Path Racer To: <_classicrendezvous@bikelist.org_ (mailto:classicrendezvous@bikelist.org) >
Hi Mark, I am 99% sure that that is a Flying Scot. So not English or American. The frame number is 233H not a 5. The scalloped top eye and the dropouts are typical. I have a road/path from 1955 which is very similar. There may also ne a number/letter behind the fork crown. You may be able to
accesss Bob Reids' Flying Scot website on the Wayback Machine. I have heard
that Bob is going to relaunch it. The H is a year code. I am not sure why there are no mudguard eyes on the rear dropouts. Is there veidence for them bing removed? Mark Stevens Evanton approx 160 miles from where it was built in Scotland.
Subject:ID: English or American c.1950s Track or Path Racer frame set Date:5/17/2010 10:22:43 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time From:FujiFish1@aol.com
A friend unearthed an old track or perhaps path racer frame and fork set that appears to be from about the 1950s. He's going to build it up for another friend of his, but would like to know what style and brand of bike it is, if possible. This one was an old Wolverine Sports Club item, probably handed down from generation to generation, but it's been hiding in the dark for a long while now. I took some photos just as it came out of his garage, without cleaning, etc. So while these are not glamour shots, they should certainly give enough clues to those who know the unique features. I'm figuring Ted Ernst will know right off the bat (and may even have paced next to it at some point long ago), but please do have a look.
Features: Nervex lugs, seat cluster and Engl. thread 66.5mm b.b. shell. Oiler hole and fitting under the b.b. shell. Oiler hole and fitting on the non-drive side of lower head lug. Two head tube badge mounting holes are vertically oriented, 28.5mm apart. Flat top fork crown in undrilled, and has a horizontal groove cut in the front, but not in the back. Large flat, ground into the back side of steer tube threading. Serial numbers under the b.b. are 2335, and on the steer tube are 235. Rear-facing track ends spaced at 113.5mm, NO fender eyelets. Fork ends spaced at 99mm have downward pointing "calf-stabber" extensions, WITH fender eyelets. Arching and gusseted seat stay bridge. Semi-wrapping seat stay top attachments. Seat post binder ears, threaded on non-drive side, with a deep recess in drive side for bolt head to sit in. Seat tube is 56.5mm c-c, and top tube is 56cm c-c.
Please see photos here, and remember to click on the images to see larger
versions, when necessary:
http://www.wooljersey.com/
So ... what's it for, and who made it? Anyone know for sure, or care to venture a good guess???
Ciao,
Mark Agree
Southfield Michigan USA