The GF and I bought this bike complete for her as a project mid-last year from Northern Victoria. It had Hillman decals all over it, so we naturally assumed that’s what it was. After having it resprayed recently, we took it into Hillman to get the decals. After looking at it closely, they confirmed it was not a Hillman. The bottom bracket and fork has a stamped number of #6220, and apparently Hillman’s don’t go up that high.
We visited Kevin @ Paconi; who confirmed it wasn’t his. We visited Daryl Perkins; who confirmed it wasn’t his. Daryl was almost certain it was a Kypo; however after speaking with Glenn Gibson (who has all the records of Kypo’s made) he’s confirmed it’s not a Kypo.
The frame is quite small; 51cm top tube and 47cm seat tube, so it may be custom. Daryl Perkins confirmed that the top tube and down tube are Reynolds 853, with the seat tube likely to be 531, which shows it was built around the early 90’s, as was the style at the time. The tubing has pins in the chain stays, open tubing ends at its Campagnolo drop-outs, and has a combination of fillet-brazing and lugs.
Here’s some pics: -
No other markings. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Frank McCaig used to make frames in Bendigo, particularly Track frames? He has passed away but some one at Bendigo Cycling club or Ross harding cycles in Bendigo might be able to help.
Looks like a nice frame, surely those large holes in the drop outs will be recognised by someone. Thought of putting the enquiry to the BNA elders if you haven’t already?
I had a very similar track frame with ‘Harding’ decals on it… a little research revealed it was built by Frank McCaig for Harding Cycles in Bendigo. It also had campy tips and ends - though that doesn’t help in identification at all. Mine didn’t have the holes in the track ends and I don’t recall a number on the steerer. It was very nicely finished though, with some neat details.
Thanks for the suggestions guys; I’ve been in touch with Rik McCaig (Frank’s Son) who confirmed that it’s not a McCaig. Apparently he never used those rear dropouts and the fork has too much rake.
I never said I think it’s Victorian or Australian. The original Hillman decals suggested it was Victorian; obviously that is not the case. I have no idea where this frame was originally built.
Hillman suggested it be a Paconi/Perkins. Paconi suggested it be a Perkins. Daryl Perkins suggested Kypo, etc…
I find these statements odd… “he never used ___ and ___”. I know many plausible arguments can be constructed, but builders only using one type of tip/end/tubing/lugset, etc seems unlikely. I only say this because a statement like this led to a frame going “undiagnosed” for 3 years and was only resolved when I took the frame in for repair to the builder I initially suspected and he said “nah, I just used what ever was lying around”.
I’m not saying it is a McCaig - just that finding out who built a frame can be an endless process and you’ll receive lots of bits of information that will contradict. And builders themselves won’t even be able to recongnise their own work… or maybe builders just like saying - “yep, that’s one of mine”.
