Old Dawes frame & Box of bits.

[taximan]

uphillstruggler suggested that I changed the title of my previous thread to contain the word 'Dawes' but I could not figure out how to do it. I started a new thread instead.

Here are the photos -

 

[biggs682]

i bet its from the 80's by the look of the headbadge but very nice

 

[uphillstruggler]

Hello Taximan

you could always try contacting Dawes with a picture of the headbadge, they may know which period the badge was used from and to. i contacted them a while ago and they were pretty helpful.

other, wiser people than me, say that you can also date from the components and the dates on them. if you look at the brakes and mechs, they may also help you date it. you can then look through the catalogues that were linked to on this site on one of the other Dawes threads.

bit needle in a haystack but at least it gives you a start.

best of luck

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

SNAP! I've just taken delivery of a Galaxy frameset in the same blue (and with the same headtube badge)! I'd guess that yours is older than mine: no DTS bosses.

My frame number is AP1 185, so I don't think the last two digits are the year: if it was the other way around, I could believe it, ie yours was 85 and mine 91.

A few differences between the two: my TT cable guides are on top, my seatstays have flat caps and are engraved Dawes, rack mounts on seatstays and forks, my chainstay bridge is a tube, dropouts marked Dawes, SN on BB.

The frame (with steel HS races, no BB) weighs 2.18kg and the forks (with steel crown race) is 0.78kg; seatpost is 27.2mm: according to the Reynolds sticker it is made of 531st fork blade, stays& butted frame tubes.

Of course a model that has been in production so long is bound to have changed, but I would have expected to see rack mounts if it was a Galaxy.

 

[taximan]

Thanks for the input guy's, As yet I am not sure where I am going with the bike, my first idea was to use it for touring but as Scilly Suffolk points out there are no mountings for racks. In my misspent youth I seem to remember our racks were mounted on the mudguard stay bolts but with hindsight that seems to be a lot of weight for a couple of 3/16th bolts to carry. I already have what I consider a nice road bike so I don't think that I can justify keeping another.
I have had a look on the back of the brakes (Weinmann Vainqueur750) and on one the number 4 83 is stamped, on the other the number is 7 83. will that denote 1983 as the year of manufacture?

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Yes and 1983 sounds about right, judging by the band-on DTS mounts and the position of the rear derailleur cable stop.

 

[Bromptonaut]

SNAP! I've just taken delivery of a Galaxy frameset in the same blue (and with the same headtube badge)! I'd guess that yours is older than mine: no DTS bosses.

My frame number is AP1 185, so I don't think the last two digits are the year: if it was the other way around, I could believe it, ie yours was 85 and mine 91.

A few differences between the two: my TT cable guides are on top, my seatstays have flat caps and are engraved Dawes, rack mounts on seatstays and forks, my chainstay bridge is a tube, dropouts marked Dawes, SN on BB.

The frame (with steel HS races, no BB) weighs 2.18kg and the forks (with steel crown race) is 0.78kg; seatpost is 27.2mm: according to the Reynolds sticker it is made of 531st fork blade, stays& butted frame tubes.

Of course a model that has been in production so long is bound to have changed, but I would have expected to see rack mounts if it was a Galaxy.

I've a Dawes 'Londoner', in effect a Galaxy frame with lower spec components, from 86. Same colour and headset badge. Like SS's it has rack mounts and also down tube braze ons for shifters. Also Shimano canti brakes.

OP's bike has a big frame which can deceive but it looks to have a tighter angles than a Galaxy and straighter forks. Possibly a sports rather than touring design.

EDIT. Is the derrailluer a SunTour Cyclone with cage open on outer side? These allowed the changer to be removed without removing jockey wheels or seperating chain. Some said they flexed too much but it never bothered me.

 

[Jugular]

I have a similar age bike to Scilly Suffolk I believe (sounds similar before I made upgrades). It took me round SE Asia well enough (~5,000km tour). I love it and won't be looking for a new frame until something drastic happens to it. I spent alot on a respray though. I kind've wish I'd waited till post-tour!

 

[taximan]

I thought I would post a progress report, not that there has been much. I have stripped out the headset and found the chromed parts to be in pretty good condition considering their age. I then started to strip the bottom bracket only to find that it was totally immovable no matter what I tried. I took it to my LBS and he had no luck either. I came to the conclusion that the threads were crossed, therefore I reluctantly decided to scrap the frame and put it aside. A few days ago a friend came around on the scrounge for some parts for a bike he is renovating so I gave him some of the parts from the Dawes. He spotted the frame and took it away with him. The very next day he brought it back, minus the bottom bracket, It had not been cross threaded after all, he had even ran a thingy through to clean up the threads. I have come to the conclusion that the frame would be too big for me anyway (26 1/2 inch) and I am thinking of passing it on. I have had a friendly price quoted from my local car body shop to have it resprayed. but in view of the size of the frame I am not sure it would sell anyway. Any thoughts anyone ?