I'd heard some rumors about seamed Reynolds 531 too. I suspect that someone confused Reynolds 531 with 501.
From what I've read about Reynolds 501 tubing, it was manufactured from thick walled seamed material that was rolled and drawn over mandrels down to size.
This method saved the step of piercing a hole in a solid billet so that it could be initially drawn over a mandrel.
Reynolds 501 was made of Chrome Moly steel (probably 4130). Perhaps it was easier to hot work that alloy in this manner than 531.
Chas. Colerich Oakland, CA USA
Mark Bulgier wrote:
> john strizek wrote:
>
>> In the recent posting regarding Norris' comments about seamed
>> Reynolds tubing; IMHO it is very possible. Puch/Austro-Daimler
>> contracted with Sears department stores in the US as a sometimes
>> bicycle supplier. It has long been rumored that the Reynolds 531
>> labeled models had seamed tubing. I do not know if this was an
>> error by the constructor in "decalling" or an intended
>> misdirection. The result being frames labeled for a higher quality
>> than actually built.
>
> I seriously doubt Reynolds made seamed 531. A simpler, more likely
> explanation is the frame maker substituted a seamed tube here and there
> (or even everywhere?), and put the 531 decal on anyway.
>
> I don't know the law on the subject -- it seems unethical, but it may be
> legal if the substitutions are kept beneath some threshold, like if the
> majority of the frame is the tubing proclaimed on the decal. Certainly
> we know quite a few '70s Motobecanes had 531 decals on the fork blades
> and a cheap unbutted (sleeved) non-Reynolds steering column. It was so
> obvious -- surely they didn't think no one would notice. Leads me to
> believe it must be legal, or else that there is no enforcement.
>
> Reynolds has made seamed bike frame tubes, probably still do, but it has
> some other moniker, not 531. Sorry I have never paid attention to the
> lower-tier Reynolds products so I don't know which tube set that is.
>
> Mark Bulgier
> Seattle, WA USA