I’ve wanted to write this post for a while, and I’ve tried to start and structure it a few times, but it has been difficult getting to grips with the scale of the subject. There was often either too much conflicting information or sometimes a complete lack of information about Reynolds tubes. Hopefully I’ve got a good grasp now, although it has still taken longer than expected to get all of this out of my head and crammed into a short, informative and hopefully coherent blog post.
My previous timeline post about the SBDU frame details and frame numbers was all about how the SBDU used specific features that could be used to define periods of frame construction – the use of certain lugs and tube finishes that tell you something about the age or model of an SBDU frame; a scalloped seat stay cap or Cinelli seat lug can tell you something about what you are looking at. That post is constantly evolving and is receiving regular updates whenever I get new information.
One aspect of SBDU frames that I didn’t cover in that timeline was the frame tube. The tubes that connect the lugs and frame details together, and how these tubes changed over the period of Ilkeston as Reynolds introduced various changes. This post isn’t a history of the Reynolds company or a comprehensive account of its tubing, that is just too huge for me to take on.
I wanted to write one post that covered everything, but after just one minute of thinking about that, I saw how impossible that was going to be. To stop myself from rambling and writing a mammoth blog post, I’ve decided to cover Reynolds and the SBDU in several smaller timeline posts which I’ll group together under their own section of the blog. These posts are going to be a brief overview of some of the subtle differences you might not have thought about or noticed on an SBDU frame.
To look at Reynolds tubing for the period of Ilkeston I need to consider the years from 1974 to 1987. For me, that is 2 distinct periods of Reynolds and their tubes…
The period from 1974 up to 1982/83 – and then from 1983 to 1987
Why those periods?
There are many more periods of Reynolds history before and after these dates but these 2 periods that pivot around 1982 are the ones that specifically cover the production of the SBDU at Ilkeston. In 1982, Reynolds and the SBDU introduced several changes. Not just the new tubing names and transfers but also different tube sets and chain/seat stay profiles; some of these profile changes went on to influence some aspects of frame design.
This initial post is specifically about the very early production of 531 frames; before the public arrival of Reynolds 753 & 531SL.
As always, before I move on, here are some caveats on this blog post.
- I did not work for Reynolds or the SBDU. My information in this post is based on published Reynolds data and physical measurements of SBDU frames
- My sample of frames is tiny compared to total frame production. There may be frames that differ and conflict with my own research
- Some Reynolds information is still missing but as time goes on, if I find it, I’ll add it
So lets start with SB frames available to the public in 1974 & 1975…
Reynolds Frame Transfers 1974 – 1975…
This period was fairly simple – by far the simplest period to cover. Production for SBDU SB frames was Reynolds 531 Butted Tubes supplied by the Reynolds Tube Company Ltd.
The only slight difference you may see on original SBDU frames in this period is the Reynolds frame transfer.
In 1973 Reynolds introduced the gold colour name panel to the base of the 531 frame transfer. The transfers below are the original ‘pre 73’ transfer without the name and address detail panel. These appear in the Reynolds Top Tubes publication from 1972.
The Reynolds Top Tubes publication from 1973 shows the new transfer with the extended gold panel with the company name and address- “Manufactured by Reynolds Tube Co Ltd”. Although Reynolds had been part of the TI (Tube Investments) group since 1928, they did not adopt the TI-Reynolds company name or the TI-Reynolds name on the 531 Butted Tube transfer until later in the 1970s.
(Both of the Top Tube publications show the ‘4 Stars‘ **531** transfer – I’ll mention that a little later. Although it existed, it doesn’t yet feature on SBDU frames and appears further through the SBDU timeline).
This publication from Reynolds confirms the date of the transfer change as 1st July 1973.
This is my 1975 original paint Reynolds 531 track frame. It displays the post 1973 frame transfer with the name and address panel.
There must have been a surplus of tube sets and/or transfers, as the pre 1973 design has been seen on authenticated original (Non SBDU) frames dating from the late 70s and early 80s. There are also a few frames in the SBDU timeline that claim to be in original condition and that have the pre 1973 transfer, yet they were built, according to the frame number, in 1976. Sadly, the majority of the original paint finish SBDU frames I have seen have Reynolds frame transfers that are either 90% missing or so badly damaged that it is impossible to see if they are pre or post 1973.
So far in this post I have only referenced the Reynolds frame transfer. That is because the predominant paint scheme was the black, red and yellow ‘Team’ colours of the TI-Raleigh team. This scheme was normally fitted with ‘TI’ circular fork blade transfers. Although they were produced by Reynolds, their fork blade transfers were generally fitted later in the SBDU timeline; typically post 1982.
For a period correct restoration of an Ilkeston SBDU Reynolds 531 frame from 1974 or 75, either of the Reynolds diagonal 531 frame transfers (pre or post 73 with or without the name panel) would be considered correct. As for fork blades in this period, frames in the TI livery would have a circular TI fork blade transfer.
Reynolds Frame Tubes, Blades and Stays 1974 – 1975…
Again, this isn’t a history of Reynolds but it is nice to know the basics.
There had been several incarnations of tubing but by the start of the SBDU, Reynolds 531 Butted Tubing was considered the best tube for bicycle manufacturing. From the invention and patenting of the butting process in October 1897 and the incorporation of the “The Patent Butted Tube Company Limited” in December 1898, there have been several types; from ‘B/AA’ and ‘A’ quality through to ‘HM’ (High Manganese), to the introduction of ‘531’ quality in 1935.
There are a couple of explanations as to how ‘531’ – (five | three | one) was named. The first was that it was noticed during the production of the steel that composite parts had a ratio of approx 5:3:1. The other was to do with its strength, 53 tonnes per square inch (53:1). Most Reynolds literature mention the 531 ratio story, but however it came about, ‘531’ became its name when it was registered as a trademark.
Reynolds 531, like many other options I’ll talk about in later posts, came in different gauges. But predominantly, the butted tube set that everyone knows, came in the following profile…
Frame Tubes
These are the 4 tubes often called the front triangle (yes, a 4 sided triangle?). Once you get past the mis-matched geometry definition, you can look at the 4 tubes that make up the triangle. This is the top tube (TT), down tube, sometimes called bottom tube (DT), seat tube (ST) and head tube (HT)
Reynolds period literature has the following profile* specs for their imperial** size frame tubes
TT - 25.4 diameter | 0.8/0.5 thickness | 21/24 gauge | double butted DT - 28.6 diameter | 0.9/0.6 thickness | 20/23 gauge | double butted ST - 28.6 diameter | 0.8/0.5 thickness | 21/24 gauge | single butted HT - 31.7 diameter | 0.9 thickness | 20 gauge | plain gauge
*various gauges and lengths were available from Reynolds - spec above was std **metric tubing was available from Reynolds TT 26 /DT 28 /ST 28 /HT 32 diameter
Seat Stays
Seat stays had a taper from the top (seat lug end) down to the bottom (drop out) – a ‘single taper’. The literature of the period gave a few different options for the external tube size.
Top diameter 16 / 14 / 13 Tip diameter 11 / 10 / 9.5 0.9 thickness | 20 gauge | plain gauge
As well as options for tube diameter, Reynolds had several options for the tip of the seat stay… Open Ended, Domed and Domed and Slotted.
During this period, the SBDU finished the top of the seat stay with a flat, flush fitted plain end cap for the very early frames, before moving to the scalloped finish (see my frame detail timeline).
There is nothing I can find regarding what seat stay tip end option was preferred on the raw seat stay. However, I’m certain that the ‘Open Ended’ tip option was used as the basis of the detail used. This option fits in with the signature finish that was used at Ilkeston. SBDU didn’t use a domed end seat stay (or chain stay/fork blade for that matter). SBDU used a filed and chamfered edge on the ends of all their stays and blades.
A saw is used to cut a slot and then a round file is used to achieve the chamfer. This is something I copied on my own frame build. Here are a couple of pics of my chain stay ends and a period SBDU rear drop out.
- My period 531 SBDU seat stays measure 16mm + at the top and 10mm + at the tip
Note that I’m measuring a combination of tube and paint so measurements will be on the ‘+’ side of those quoted in the Reynolds data sheets. Because this is a ‘taper’, measurements may also be subject to a degree of change from bike to bike as seat stays will be cut at certain points to suit the size of frame.
Chain Stays
Reynolds produced 531 chain stays in several profiles and with similar tip options to the seat stays. The dimensions in the period literature are given as…
BB diameter 22.2 / 22 Tip diameter 13 / 12 / 11 / 9.5 0.8 thickness | 21 gauge | plain gauge
A basic round stay can be manipulated and formed into shape by frame builders using a dimple die or other shaping and forming tool or process. These can be sophisticated jigs and presses or simple shaped wooden blocks with force applied – they both achieve the same thing – creating an indentation to the round surface of the stay so that a tyre or chain ring can clear the tube. Chain stays can be made to suit different lengths and clearances depending on usage and tyre choice.
The chain stays on my period SBDU 531 road frame appear to match the ‘fluted’ and ‘fluted and indented’ options. I don’t know at this point if these are pre-formed from Reynolds or made to shape by the SBDU.
- The LH (non drive side) is shaped on the tyre side and round on the outside as there is no clearance issue on the outside of the non drive side chain stay.
- The RH (drive side) is shaped on the tyre side and also on the outside (chain set).
- My period 531 SBDU chain stays measure 22.2mm + at the BB and 12mm + at the tip
Fork Blades and Steering Column
Reynolds fork blades in this early period had a narrow oval profile. This is a narrow oval shape of 16mm compared to the later and wider 20mm New Continental Oval and existing Columbus Oval.
‘Domed’, ‘Domed and Slotted’ and ‘Open’ tips were offered in the same style as chain and seat stays. 531 blades were offered in different lengths and either straight or pre-raked. Several pre raked options were available.
Blade diameter at crown 29 x 16 | oval Blade diameter at tip 10.5 / 12 / 13 | round Blade thickness 1.2/0.8 | 18/21 gauge | single butted taper gauge Steerer thickness 1.6/2.3 | 16/13 gauge | single butted
A butted frame tube has its advantages of retaining strength at the joint and keeping weight down in the middle of the tube, but a fork blade has different requirements. A fork blade needs strength and rigidity at the crown to deal with the forces of cornering and braking but needs to still perform and have resilience to give the perfect ride. The Reynolds taper gauge method ensures that even after tapering, the end of the blade does not become thicker than at the butt. Once the tube is tapered, it is shaped into its oval.
SBDU fork blade tips were finished in the same style as the chain and seat stays so it appears that the normal open end blade option was used.
Different fork rakes were used for different purposes and frame size/designs, but the standard fork rake for an SBDU road frame was 42mm.
Bringing all this data together, the normal 531 Butted frame for the 1974/75 period had the following spec
Diameter (mm) | Thickness (mm) | Gauge (SWG)* | Tube Profile Top tube - 25.4 | 0.8/0.5 | 21/24 | double butted Down tube - 28.6 | 0.9/0.6 | 20/23 | double butted Seat tube - 28.6 | 0.8/0.5 | 21/24 | single butted Head tube - 31.7 | 0.9 | 20 | plain gauge Seat stay - 16/12 | 0.9 | 20 | plain gauge single taper Chain stay - 22.2/12 | 0.8 | 21 | plain gauge round & fluted Fork blade - 29x16/12 | 1.2/0.8 | 18/21 | single butted taper gauge Steerer - 25.4 | 1.6/2.3 | 16/13 | single butted SWG - Standard Wire Gauge for Sheet Metal & Wire
SBDU wasn’t just about building top class frames, they were also working with Reynolds in the research and design of other tube sets and materials such as Reynolds 753; and that is what I cover in my next post covering 1975 and 1976.
Reynolds Information Sources
Reynolds Top Tubes Publications 1972 & 1973 Veterans Cycle Club Online Library (VCC) velo-pages.com
Recommended Reading
The Custom Bicycle - Kolin and de la Rosa (British builders including TI-Raleigh) BIKE! - Moore & Benson (A good chapter of the history of Reynolds)
Other posts in my Timeline series
SBDU Frame Number & Frame Detail Timeline SBDU frame detail from 1974 to 1987
Ping. Your information about the gold panels is incorrect. In 1974 Raleigh introduced the gold panels on SOME frames, e.g. for the Carlton Raleighs. I have SB310 (1975) WITHOUT the gold band below the reynolds 531 lugs. ALL of my 1973 raleighs (I have 3 of them; competition and gran sport) lack a gold band below the reynolds 531 logo.
Hello, thanks for your comment.
My information about Reynolds 531 frame transfers and how they were used by the SBDU is correct.
Thank you
Neil
Prove it. Post 1 photo of a 1973 bike with gold band on the transfers. You are wrong. I have more Raleigh-Cartons than you and have studied them closely since 2004.
I’m quoting directly from Reynolds own technical documentation. Maybe you should take the point up with them, they may have made an error, but I have to trust in them that they know their own product, I don’t have to prove anything. Their own documentation states that transfers issued prior to July 1973 do not include their company name and address.
With reference to your own Raleigh-Carlton bikes, they are not the type of bike I blog about, so their inclusion in a discussion on my SBDU blog post doesn’t seem applicable? Just because the bikes you own and the bikes you study do not include the detail box does not mean it didn’t happen.
As I make clear IN ALL MY BLOG POSTS, all my blog posts reference SB numbered bikes only, they don’t reference Carlton, they don’t reference Lightweight Unit bikes and they don’t reference TI-Raleigh team bikes… my posts only reference SB numbered bikes, so any thing I write is applicable only to SB numbered bikes – I cannot make that any more clear. The post you are questioning actually states in the title that it relates to Reynolds 531 tubing on SBDU road frames. During 1974 – 1976 there was a mix of Reynolds 531 transfers in use on SB bikes (verified on approx 35 original paint SB numbered bikes ranging from SB9 up to approx SB1000). This mix included transfers with and without the name detail box. When Reynolds introduced the TI-Reynolds name at some point in 1977 the SBDU seemed to make a complete swap to the new version.
Any fact I publish will be from one of only two sources – the first source is manufacturers documentation, that may be Reynolds, Shimano, Campagnolo or Raleigh SBDU. The second source is my own collection of SB bikes or the 600-700 SB numbered bikes I’ve been sent.
As I said, the date of July 1973 is directly from Reynolds technical documentation – I cannot get a more verified source than that.
Thank you
Neil