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@veloham
I was expecting some more before and after photos of the Gillott. How is it.
falconvitesse-
Dropped it off at Argos yesterday. I stripped the bb and good news is the serial number matches steerer, looks like a little centre punch mark between the chain stays (Ron Cooper’s mark), lugs look quite tidy. Bad news is under the horrible layers of paint there isn’t a saveable original finish (I could see traces of a metallic lilac around the bb, guess that’s original colour); also top tube is a bit bent as well as crushed. Anyway, first step is they’ll blast off the paint, take it from there. I’ll put some pics on the Gillott thread tomorrow. I couldn’t face stripping another frame in the bathtub. My wife also looked pretty sceptical when I said I’d bought it by accident. Had to get it out the house!
The bits are mostly clean now, the front Record derailleur cage is nearly worn through! I think I can mostly cover the £300 purchase price selling some of it. I could probably mostly cover the Argos bill selling the Hi-Lo, it’s filling me with lustful thoughts though 😬
veloham
So no one outbid me on that Gillott I clicked on in a moment of madness. Spent the weekend cleaning 60 years of filth off it!
The guy I picked it up from said the owner is in a home now. He had lots of bikes, Hetchins etc, attic full of wheels, but this was his favourite/ his daily rider. Might see if I can get his address write him a letter (“I broke up your bike and flogged it on Ebay“ 😬).
Quite poignant unpicking his 60 years of components, especially the moment I thought about it with my face pressed on the saddle!
The frame is thick with dirt and paint so haven’t got in to that beyond the 1960 date stamp on the steerer. Hoping a Ron Cooper Mark is hidden under the paint. Lugs are nice and sharp but top tube is well crushed. I’ll see if Argos can roll it or do some other magic. Don’t really want to pay for a new tube.
The components are a 30 year tour of Campag’s greatest hits. First generation steel Record seatpost (1956ish), 3 piece Gran Sport lf front hub, first gen Record derailleurs (1963 I think), 3 arm chrome Sport cranks (1971), and after wrestling off the 1983 Regina freewheel under the dirt a Hi-Lo rear hub! (similar date to the freewheel I think). Also nice Titan stem and bars dated 68/69, half a nice Stronglight headset.
Not really sure what to do with it all. I was toying with putting it all back on, but all a bit on the heavy side.
Maybe just the derailleurs, rest on Ebay, ... finance some period wheels.
Edit: I have previously lusted after a Hi-Lo, never thought I’d lump up to buy one though. Very tempted to keep it.