Help with identifying Freddie Grubb Frame

[Reborncoyote]

Shiny and sparkly, appeals to the magpie in me, l like very much

Thanks !

 

[rogerzilla]

Early 60s or late 50s, I'd say, because of the lack of a mech hanger. The 531 decal may not be original - there are literally tens of different styles and most are more descriptive than just "531".

 

[Illaveago]

Thanks for your comments Illaveago, see photo

Sorry I didn't see they were Mafac brakes. Is there some writing on the front.
I have been reading an article in a magazine which says that they Made a cheaper centre pull which looked like a Weinmann copy in the 70's.

 

[Cycleops]

Its a shame the site ww.nkilgariff.com is no longer going, I think it may have held some valuable information for you.
I wasn't sure if the frame had been stripped and varnished or chromed. Also a shame the head badge is missing but maybe you can pick one up somewhere?

 

[Reborncoyote]

Its a shame the site ww.nkilgariff.com is no longer going, I think it may have held some valuable information for you.
I wasn't sure if the frame had been stripped and varnished or chromed. Also a shame the head badge is missing but maybe you can pick one up somewhere?

That site I’m sure may have held the key. Yes I’m trying to find a head badge and to dat the frame would help this possibly to get the correct one.

 

[Reborncoyote]

Sorry I didn't see they were Mafac brakes. Is there some writing on the front.
I have been reading an article in a magazine which says that they Made a cheaper centre pull which looked like a Weinmann copy in the 70's.

Here’s the front shot...

 

[midlife]

Mafac competition were my era so that's the 70's. Competition were upmarket

 

[Reborncoyote]

Mafac competition were my era so that's the 70's. Competition were upmarket

So 70’s brakes...you think the frame was earlier though ?

 

[midlife]

To me it's a typical 70's frame with Italian style long lugs, Cinelli MC style of fork crown and zero braze ons. The geometry is of that era too. Just doesn't look very Freddie Grub. Iirc the FG badge was quite small and the holes on the frame look quite wide apart.

How wide is the BB shell?

 

[biggs682]

The frame number stamping on this one is in a similar position to a Pennine i had a while back from memory

 

[Bazzer]

That site I’m sure may have held the key. Yes I’m trying to find a head badge and to dat the frame would help this possibly to get the correct one.

Try the wayback machine on https://archive.org/web/ A quick glance there shows snapshots have been taken of the website referred to by @Cycleops

 

[Illaveago]

To me it's a typical 70's frame with Italian style long lugs, Cinelli MC style of fork crown and zero braze ons. The geometry is of that era too. Just doesn't look very Freddie Grub. Iirc the FG badge was quite small and the holes on the frame look quite wide apart.

How wide is the BB shell?

I think you are correct in the date of the frame going by the style of lugs and seat post stays. The frame is similar in appearance to my 70's Holdsworth Record in the style of lugs and the finish to the ends of the thicker seat post stays.
As Freddie Grubb and Claud Butler were part of Holdsworth during that period I wonder how much influence each company had on it's designs. I think a bit like Carlton and Raleigh.

 

[Illaveago]

I have just done a bit of trawling and found a Freddie Grubb which was dated to 1963 . If your frame is using the same numbering system then that would make it pre 63.

 

[Illaveago]

Has it got a Milremo handlebar stem ?

 

[Illaveago]

Just did a bit more reading. In 1973 the centre pulls were updated, a short arm version the Competition and a longer arm version, the Racer. Later versions had the name on a transfer in gold on a black background. Also a double ended ball type cable was used.