Revisiting the unknown Belgian Faux Rossin - 10 years later - paging @dddd
Today was a slow day, and my mind gravitated towards trying to identify this not-a-Rossin that I've had since 2009 (and has, for better or worse, become a parts source on more than one occasion).
I acquired it from forum member @gr23932 who is (was?) in Belgium at the time. We both knew it wasn't a Rossin, but we knew it had nice lugwork and Campagnolo 1010 dropouts. Still, it tickled my fancy and we worked out a swap - but to this day, I still don't know what the bloody hell it is.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ke-rossin.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-pictures.html
Since it came from Belgium and has a BSC bottom bracket, I think it's fair to say that I'm probably dealing with an obscure Belgian bike, so I figured I'd start here. The combination of an understated Italianesque lug group with a Nervex fork crown also seems to be a thing, based on what I've seen in the Show Us Your Belgian Bikes thread.
There's one distinct detail on the frame, namely, the round lug cutouts. Unfortunately, something as simple as a single round cutout seemed to be an unusual calling card, 10 years ago.
I later ran across the Lug Cutout thread while which indicated that Libertas - a Belgian brand - had a round cutout on its lugs. Well, I've been through a crapload of Libertas pictures and I've yet to see anything that isn't a plain Prugnat on a decent bike or gaspipe with janky lugs that looks like a Raleigh Grand Prix.
Then there's the dropout and seatstay treatment. The teardrop stay caps aren't particularly special, but they're a data point, nonetheless. The dropout treatment though - that's quite interesting:
Old pics:
They're literally the end of the tube cut at a 90 degree and filled with brass (or solder) until closed up. No fancy treatment here; strictly business.
And that leads me to one thing I did find: @dddd and his Belgian The Duro that he's mentioned on more than one occasion (The Duro is a great name for an obscure bike if you've ever tried to do a Google search, I might point out. Not).
I have no idea what the lug cutouts look like on this thing, but there are two things that do stand out: A Nervex fork crown and what looks like the same butt-ended rear dropout seat/chainstay treatment that's also on my faux Rossin:
This said, I'm curious if the forum has any thoughts a decade on. I figure something must have shown up in the meantime.
Back to paging through the Belgian bike thread... Murphy's Law will probably ensure that I'll identify the frame the moment I post this thread.
-Kurt
I acquired it from forum member @gr23932 who is (was?) in Belgium at the time. We both knew it wasn't a Rossin, but we knew it had nice lugwork and Campagnolo 1010 dropouts. Still, it tickled my fancy and we worked out a swap - but to this day, I still don't know what the bloody hell it is.
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...ke-rossin.html
https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-v...-pictures.html
Since it came from Belgium and has a BSC bottom bracket, I think it's fair to say that I'm probably dealing with an obscure Belgian bike, so I figured I'd start here. The combination of an understated Italianesque lug group with a Nervex fork crown also seems to be a thing, based on what I've seen in the Show Us Your Belgian Bikes thread.
There's one distinct detail on the frame, namely, the round lug cutouts. Unfortunately, something as simple as a single round cutout seemed to be an unusual calling card, 10 years ago.
I later ran across the Lug Cutout thread while which indicated that Libertas - a Belgian brand - had a round cutout on its lugs. Well, I've been through a crapload of Libertas pictures and I've yet to see anything that isn't a plain Prugnat on a decent bike or gaspipe with janky lugs that looks like a Raleigh Grand Prix.
Then there's the dropout and seatstay treatment. The teardrop stay caps aren't particularly special, but they're a data point, nonetheless. The dropout treatment though - that's quite interesting:
Old pics:
They're literally the end of the tube cut at a 90 degree and filled with brass (or solder) until closed up. No fancy treatment here; strictly business.
And that leads me to one thing I did find: @dddd and his Belgian The Duro that he's mentioned on more than one occasion (The Duro is a great name for an obscure bike if you've ever tried to do a Google search, I might point out. Not).
I have no idea what the lug cutouts look like on this thing, but there are two things that do stand out: A Nervex fork crown and what looks like the same butt-ended rear dropout seat/chainstay treatment that's also on my faux Rossin:
Back to paging through the Belgian bike thread... Murphy's Law will probably ensure that I'll identify the frame the moment I post this thread.
-Kurt