I’ve bought a few frames from Hilary Stone over the years. He’s been the source for some of my best featured frames such as SB4409, my Dynaflite – an SBDU Special, and SB8790 – my unridden low profile frame. He also supplied SB9529 – a low profile Dyna-Tech and SB4944 – a 1982 531SL road frame. They have all been good, honest frames, so when this one popped up a couple of days ago with Hilary, and including a Gerald O’Donovan connected story, I quickly pressed the button and sent a message.
The description Hilary used was…
This frame has an interesting history – Gerald O’Donovan had a weekend cottage on the Lincolnshire coast and over the years he supplied his friends who lived in the village with bikes – this was one of them. It has slightly larger clearances than for the standard race frames and has miniature Raleigh badges on each seatstay cap…
Hilary Stone
The colour is quite unique. When Mike Mullett, who was the SBDU workshop manager from the late 70s through to the early 80s, saw this he mentioned that he remembered building it. He quoted the colour as “Helyette Green”. I’m not sure what that is yet as I can’t find much of a reference to it, but several people have commented on it’s similarity to ‘British Racing Green’. Although the frame has a layer of dirt covering it, the green does still shine. I’m looking forward to cleaning this with some paint renovator!
Unlike other SBDU TI-Raleigh alternative colour options which had contrasting head and seat tube panels, this frame is one solid colour. It does however share the same top and down tube style transfers together with the white seat tube bands. SB3235 is an example of the blue/black option…
SB2589 displays lots of marks and scratches, acquired through years of use. But regardless, the originality of this frame shines through. The transfers are worn, and the paint on the chain and seat stays is chipped. But it’s an original example, in a great colour and I’m so happy to have it in the collection.
In his description, Hilary mentioned miniature Raleigh badges attached to the seat stay caps. This is something I’ve only seen maybe half a dozen times on these frames. And when I’ve seen them in the past, they have been on some significant frames (significant owners), and the inclusion of this little feature on SB2589 makes this frame special to me..
That ‘Special’ word is followed through on the fork column with the stamped ‘SPEC’ wording.
The frame details are what you would expect from a 1978 Reynolds 753 SBDU frame…
- RGF bottom bracket shell with top routed cables and 4 slots
- Prugnat 62D lugs
- Single taper stays with oversize seat stay caps
- Campagnolo 1010/B ends with the Portacatena fittings and drilled by the SBDU
- Semi sloping fork crown
- fork blade stiffeners
It has no brazed on brake cable stops or gear lever bosses. They were phased in between SB2200 and SB2900.
SB2589 is going to require some careful cleaning. Although the Reynolds 753 transfer has survived really well, those TI fork blade transfers look delicate. But underneath that top layer of dirt I think there is a lovely colour waiting to come through and show itself.
The description also mentioned some larger clearances so I’m keen to get the calipers and metal rule out. I want to see how different the geometry is.
But next up for SB2589, and before any documentation happens, is some TLC and attention with paint renovator and polish!
Neil l recently contacted you via your ig account about a stock record frame that l built up and raced. Not realising his connection with SBDU ,I did not inform you that around ’77 l had a frame built for me by a chap who lived in Winnersh nr Reading. Mike Mullet. A stunning frame with cut away lugs in 531 db. I never done the frame justice, eventually selling it, still having the record for leisure use until today. Mike’s frames were a work of art so l now understand your fascination with the collection of works Raleigh machines. Doug.