I have a few 2019 projects to complete and this is the second such project that happens to be a track frame and the second that needs to be brought back to it’s original TI-Raleigh appearance. The first project I mentioned for 2019 was to repaint JR178T, my Jan Raas frame. SB632 also has a famous name linked to it. Not only is it linked to one of Britain’s most famous cyclists, it is also, so far as I am aware, the earliest known SB numbered Reynolds 753 track frame.
This frame is too important to leave in it’s current state.
I bought SB632 a couple of years ago from a former club mate of Beryl Burton. The frame was given to her by Beryl’s daughter, Denise. That story is rock solid. Unfortunately, I have no idea how or when Beryl used this frame. All I know is that it probably ended up as a training frame as the rear track ends had been heavily (and badly) modified for road use with a derailleur.
A gear hanger had been roughly welded in place and metal had been brazed to either side of the frame ends to increase their width. Finally, the stays on the right hand side had been crudely flattened to allow for freewheel and chain clearance. Not a professional job but something that served a purpose.
After lots of cutting and work with the files the ends started to resemble a track frame – they even started to reveal the tell tale signs of the original drillings.
And after some final work and a coating of primer, the ends were done.
This frame has all the features of one of the earlier SBDU 753 frames. These include Prugnat S4 lugs, an RGF bottom bracket and plain/flat and flush seat stay caps (not over size caps which came slightly later).
It was built to be light and that probably explains why the rear track ends are so thin, much thinner than normal 1053 ends. It doesn’t use the normal Fischer fork crown which would be a heavy option. SB632 appears to be fitted with a heavily modified and trimmed Vagner crown. The hole that has been drilled for a front brake is another homemade addition and I’ll fill that before painting.
I don’t have much left to do to this frame to get it ready for painting and as my projects this year seem to focus on the TI-Raleigh scheme I should be nicely setup for the red, black and yellow colours.
SB632 is from the very early SB 753 period and these 753 frames were the first to have painted and detailed lugs. This is before the typical red and black lug detailing which was shared between 531 and 753 frames for a short while; these early 753 frames only used yellow. So all the lug windows will be yellow, the fork blade stiffeners will be infilled with yellow and the small circular indents on the front, back and side of the fork crown will be yellow. It is going to look stunning.
It came with an original early Campagnolo Super Record Pista headset. Unfortunately, the fork crown race had been swapped out so I need to source one of those to continue to use the rest of the headset.
I really can’t let a frame like this lie around for much longer!
