• The clearout continues with this very high-end 1950s frameset. Made by the obscure Planet Works in Birmingham, it is made from a combination of Reynolds 531 (frame) and Accles & Pollock (forks) tubing. As you can see, the seat stays are pencil thin and the Oscar Egg lugs are really very beautiful. I even have the enamel headbadge somewhere if you would like it.

    The frame had been painted with an awful red emulsion, so I had it stripped and powder coated at Pashley Cycles in their Ivory colour (same as on the Clubman). They also installed a new BB, a Tange headset and their GB double crankset, a really gorgeous piece that can't be bought aftermarket. The paintwork is of a pretty high standard, but as the frame needed a really good strip it isn't quite perfect in places, with one or two spots of red leaking through, although this really isn't noticeable unless you look hard - a good 9/10 by my standards.

    The frame is 22 inches, so suitable for most average guys, and is ready for a very simple fixed build. The frame and forks weigh just under 2kg, so this could make for a lovely sub-10kg complete bike.

    Priced at £249 to reflect the work that has gone into it (no profit here!), but that includes delivery should you wish it. Do make me an offer! Based in Stratford-upon-Avon but very mobile on the train network.

    See here for more pictures (sorry for the shoddy lighting!).


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    • 2014-09-08 21.25.32 HDR.jpg
  • bump

  • Great lugs here. You've got nice stuff in your stable. Shame they're going.

  • A shame indeed, but they're going to a good cause - a new Moulton. And I wondered how long it would take for someone to find my posts on BF!

  • Not long :) I like to search for these old piece.

  • the 'make me an offer' bump

  • bump - price drop to £195 or offers

  • The Pintail is a top quality frame. If anyone needs any inspiration here is a 1964 picture from classiclightweights, taken at the Welsh National hill climb, of Terry Harradine on his Pintail:

    Too short of cash myself this month but have a bump!

  • cheers for the pic - I'd forgotten about that!

  • bump - open to all offers

  • Gah. If only it were just a bit bigger, I'd snap it up.

  • how tall are you? it just feels criminal having this sat here ready to go!

  • 6'2 1/2". I really want it too, but I just can't imagine it'd work - what do you think?

  • For my height my legs are relatively short though... 33" inseam...

  • Which Moulton are you going for? Or does that depend on what you get for the rest of your stable? ;0)

  • that's a difficult one to call - I have a 33 inch inseam too (5 ft 10) and I take a 23 inch normally, hence why I had this frame prepped. It could work, it's just so hard to say as-is...

    I'm hoping for the TSR 30, as I want drop bars. In theory I should make enough to cover it, fingers crossed!

  • Ah, it's so pretty. I'm tempted to just go for it. I know it's too small really, but my daily ride is only 2 and a half miles each way... Any advice anyone? I'm 6ft2 1/2in with a 33in inseam, could I make this work with the right components?

  • Hmm, funny thing - I've just put your measurements into a online calculator and it recommends a 22.5 inch frame... being as impartial as possible here, any frame can be made to fit to an extent... just don't do what I did and nearly render yourself infertile by riding a bike two inches too big for you!

  • Ha! That wouldn't be as much of a problem as you might think @tjkwood , I have three children already! :-) Really don't need any more, wonderful as they are...

    So very tempted - what would you recommend in terms of componentry to get it on the road as a single speed and in a style befitting the level of research you've done, the quality of the frame, my stupid proportions and the period? I've been checking Hillary Stone just in case I can make it work, but to be frank I'm less well informed than you regulars on here (excitedly learning though) and am on something of a budget (WRT my Holdsworth) as you probably know...

  • Ah you see, I'm but a young bachelor, and cannot be taking such risks!

    My suggestion is not to be a complete slave to the period, as parts are expensive and often not all that great (steel rims, for instance). The crankset is already a bit of a deviation anyway, so I'd be tempted to build it up how you want it to be. So my suggestion would be some basic, box-section polished alloy wheels, KMC Z510 HX chain (shiny!), Sturmey Archer freewheel (more shiny!), gumwall tyres and then some classic Maes-type drops. If you go for 700c wheels, which is the simpler option, I have a pair of brand new Panaracer Pasela gumwalls (lovely tyres) with Schwalbe tubes and rim tape I could throw in as a sweetener.

  • Still really interested - just looking at components in order to get it in on budget if I can, so the tyres and tubes would certainly help in this endeavour!

  • no worries - this deserves being put back on the road in any form, so happy to help wherever I can!

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1951 Planet Pintail frame + forks - 531/A&P, Oscar Egg lugs, powder coated with new BB, HS and rare GB crankset

Posted by Avatar for trigs @trigs

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