NBD: Sampson Silverton
 

Not one we hear about very often...I spend way too much time on ebay searching for "titanium frame small" hoping a Moots or something will have fallen under the radar. Last summer a Seven Axiom popped up.

Today it was a Sampson Silverton, made by TST Sandvik right here in the US. Not quite sure of its date...it does have a 1 1/8th head tube, so its probably 2000 or slightly newer...

From the three or four comments on the interwebs, it's supposed to be a nicely put together, nicely riding frame.

Anyone have first hand experience?

no experience...
 

but I do remember when those bikes were happening. I'd bet that thing is 25 years old.

Never heard of one
 

Nice looking frame,hopefully you got it at a good price.Any idea who built these ?

Kestrel EMS fork!

Yes...a company called TST Sandvik, based in Washington state. Their builds seem to have gotten a lot of respect through the '90s.

I paid $450 shipped for the frame, fork and headset. The last one that sold, a complete bike, went for $375 shipped on eBay! They are nearly complete unknowns.

My intention was to use it as a trainer rat...but it sounds like an awfully nice frame, and it might actually fit me better than the Seven I bought last summer (top tube is 1 cm or so too long on that one).

We'll see...it might just turn out to be a retromod with a Record 12 build...

Here's some info from another forum...

Kestrel EMS Pro OS fork! :)

Is that good? :)

Kestrel’s forks were good afaik,i don’t recall any safety issues.I have a couple of original,non OS forks,on my 200ems and Merlin..nice handling but not a lot of clearance.

Not sure the rear triangle will have unlimited clearance either... likely 25, not sure about 28. I *think* the Seven will take 28...but it's "optimal tire width" is listed on the build sheet as 23....but what did they know in 2003? :)

We'll see...

I love little known builders...had a Tesch for a whiie. I think it was an S-22...the chain and seat stays were so massive I was afraid to ride it. :)

I think that's a really nice looking frame, and I like the name on the down tube, 'Sampson.' You could use it in the My Bikes Are NBA Players thread as Ralph Sampson --an underrated all-time great that no one talks about anymore.

Right!

The up close photos show some really nicely done welds.

Looking forward to getting my hands on this frame, cleaning it up a bit, sizing it to see if it's going to be a trainer rat or a retromod roadie. I'm starting to lean towards the latter. :)

the company still exists
 

I think they used to make pedals too.

Sampson Stratics! I ran those when I started racing, they were actually pretty nice pedals ones clipped in. Durability of the plastic cleat, however, OMG!

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d8/16...0c073021b1.jpg

Thank you! I would not have guessed that the company is still around! I sent them an email asking about details on the frame...maybe a build sheet... and inquired about replacement decals. If decals are available, I'd consider stripping the whole bike to brushed Ti and then applying the decals. Otherwise, I'll probably leave it...the 2000 era logos are pretty cool. But then again I like MCM furniture. :)

I would build it up for the road and give it a go.
Nice find!
Enjoy.