Possible 80's Serotta w/ aero tubing? Has anyone seen one before?

[habes78023]

More photos have been added to the album at the request of a BIkeforums member on that thread. https://photos.app.goo.gl/4t54kri8AdNV4Tf9A

Just adding a few here for posterity's sake again.

[habes78023]

Some new information for you all,

Was taking the bike down to just the frame and finally was able to see the bottom bracket and clean off the grime.

It's Italian Threaded. Wasn't expecting that. But I'm not sure that changes things much for identifying the frame. But could be a clue for someone, or just for posterity's sake.

I checked the Shimano AX catalog from 1982 and bottom brackets came in English, French and Italian threads.

[David Kirk]

Originally Posted by habes78023

Some new information for you all,

Was taking the bike down to just the frame and finally was able to see the bottom bracket and clean off the grime.

It's Italian Threaded. Wasn't expecting that. But I'm not sure that changes things much for identifying the frame. But could be a clue for someone, or just for posterity's sake.

I checked the Shimano AX catalog from 1982 and bottom brackets came in English, French and Italian threads.

If the BB is Italian thread then the chance that it's a Serotta is slim to none.

dave

[habes78023]

Originally Posted by David Kirk

If the BB is Italian thread then the chance that it's a Serotta is slim to none.

dave

Thanks for the response Dave, as far as I can tell through internet usernames and posters, you probably have the most authority (in those who have replied) in knowing what this frame might be.

I did think Italian thread would be an odd choice, but the whole bike is different so I just chalked it up to maybe the Serotta shop just used what they had laying around.

But I didn't consider an Italian BB laying around is probably also a slim chance if the shop doesn't use them.

I guess that may leave us leaning towards the frame itself being an unsolved mystery, and the fork does have the 'S' engraved, but no serial number, so it probably wasn't used and repurposed from a bike built there, from what I gather.

[oliver1850]

Does the shell measure 70 mm wide? Probably not too likely, but it might be possible to ream a stripped British shell and re-thread it Italian. If an employee built the frame for himself, he may have had an Italian BB on hand that he wanted to use.

I have an 80s Club Special that has no serial number on frame or fork. I didn't get any back story on it (eBay purchase) but it's clearly a Club Special and appears to have the original paint.

[Kirk Pacenti]

Originally Posted by oliver1850

Does the shell measure 70 mm wide? Probably not too likely, but it might be possible to ream a stripped British shell and re-thread it Italian. If an employee built the frame for himself, he may have had an Italian BB on hand that he wanted to use.

I have an 80s Club Special that has no serial number on frame or fork. I didn't get any back story on it (eBay purchase) but it's clearly a Club Special and appears to have the original paint.

I also have an all-original* Club Special. Was a barn find; supposedly with just a couple hundred miles on it. I just started tearing it down to do a full restoration on it. I have yet to find a serial number on it...

[robt57]

Originally Posted by oliver1850

Does the shell measure 70 mm wide? Probably not too likely, but it might be possible to ream a stripped British shell and re-thread it Italian.

This^^ Lived this once myself on a used frameset.

[habes78023]

Sorry for the late response, busy day but I was hoping there would be some more replies.

Measured the BB width and got 70mm, then set the caliper to 68mm to make sure they didn't slide over and it wouldn't go, so I'm thinking 70mm it is..

That was a good thought, but does seem there was no rethreading.

[dave thompson]

Originally Posted by Kirk Pacenti

I also have an all-original* Club Special. Was a barn find; supposedly with just a couple hundred miles on it. I just started tearing it down to do a full restoration on it. I have yet to find a serial number on it...

Kirk, on a Serotta of that vintage the serial number would be stamped on the steertube.

[David Kirk]

No one at Serotta would have ever used an Italian BB.....there were none lying around and there were no Italian BB taps to chase them with.....and the jigs were all based of a 68 mm shell.

It seems like maybe you have an interesting Italian frame that someone repainted and put a Serotta for in with it.

dave

[dave thompson]

Originally Posted by habes78023

Sorry for the late response, busy day but I was hoping there would be some more replies.

Measured the BB width and got 70mm, then set the caliper to 68mm to make sure they didn't slide over and it wouldn't go, so I'm thinking 70mm it is..

That was a good thought, but does seem there was no rethreading.

The only thing Serotta about that bike is the fork.

[habes78023]

Originally Posted by Kirk Pacenti

I also have an all-original* Club Special. Was a barn find; supposedly with just a couple hundred miles on it. I just started tearing it down to do a full restoration on it. I have yet to find a serial number on it...

Beautiful bike. I believe the mileage. I love finding bikes in that condition, a pleasure to work on.

I'm encouraged to hear others exist with no serial number.

[habes78023]

Originally Posted by dave thompson

The only thing Serotta about that bike is the fork.

Would the fork have no serial number? That's the main question though,

I posted pictures and the only stamping on the fork is the columbus bird logo

I'm not trying to misrepresent the frame, and I hope I'm not coming off that way.

My initial hope was that I scored a Serotta for a good price and it's had an interesting turn.

[habes78023]

Originally Posted by David Kirk

No one at Serotta would have ever used an Italian BB.....there were none lying around and there were no Italian BB taps to chase them with.....and the jigs were all based of a 68 mm shell.

It seems like maybe you have an interesting Italian frame that someone repainted and put a Serotta for in with it.

dave

This would be the strong evidence I can believe. I'm glad I shared the Italian Threaded BB.

[dave thompson]

Originally Posted by habes78023

Would the fork have no serial number? That's the main question though,

I posted pictures and the only stamping on the fork is the columbus bird logo

I'm not trying to misrepresent the frame, and I hope I'm not coming off that way.

My initial hope was that I scored a Serotta for a good price and it's had an interesting turn.

Serotta stamped serial numbers on the fork until sometime in the mid-80s then started stamping serial numbers on the bottom bracket. The fork that’s on your bike was used starting late 80s-early 90s.