I own one of the fabled 531 DB Sears framesets, in the classic metallic lime. I have just checked, and the seat tube is seamless. Because the frame is buckled, I guess I could scrape paint and seek the tubing stamps. Someday. The build quality makes Raleighs look good; no file seems to have bothered any of the lugs.
On the other hand, my earlier top-line JC Higgins and Sears Ted Williams bikes have seamed tubing to go with their top-line Campag derailleurs.
harvey sachs mcLean va
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. Without some definitive proof from Reynolds or one of its major customers we will not know the truth. Still, there is a point raised as to quality of tubing used in more than one constructor's frame products. C'est la vie